Explore/United States/US/Dalton Highway — Fairbanks to the Arctic Ocean

USFairbanks, United StatesExpertMixed3-day tripMotoVault Pick

Dalton Highway — Fairbanks to the ArcticOcean.

Distance

666 km

Duration

3 days

Climb

2,800 m

Rating

4.9 / 5

312 reviews

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Dalton Highway — Fairbanks to the Arctic Ocean.

The only road to the Arctic Ocean — 666 km from Fairbanks to Deadhorse on the Prudhoe Bay oilfield. 80% unpaved. Crosses the Brooks Range via Atigun Pass at 1,422 m. No services for 400 km stretches. One of the most remote motorcycle journeys in the world.

Quick facts

SurfaceMixed

Distance666 km

Days3

Total climb2,800 m

Fuel stops2 along route

DifficultyExpert

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Day-by-day

3 days, 3 moods.

A suggested split across 3 days with 14 waypoints to discover along the way.

DAY 01

Fairbanks → Coldfoot Camp (Mile 175)

5 stops

FairbanksStart · Final preparation stop. Load up on fuel, water, food, and a spare tube — the next fuel is at Yukon River Camp (127 km) and then Coldfoot (270 km). Alaska tire repair shops will check your kit for free if you ask.

Elliott Highway Junction — Dalton BeginsScenic Point · The Dalton Highway (AK-11) officially begins at the junction of the Elliott Highway. The pavement ends shortly after — gravel, dust, and 18-wheeler trucks from here on.

Yukon River Camp (Mile 56)Fuel Stop · The only fuel stop between Fairbanks and Coldfoot. A simple camp with a café, tire repair, and basic accommodation. The old wooden pipeline suspension bridge over the Yukon is directly beside the road.

Arctic Circle Monument (Mile 115)Photo Spot · A roadside marker at 66°33'N — the Arctic Circle. Most riders stop here for the official certificate. The BLM provides them free. The midnight sun is visible from here from mid-June through early July.

Coldfoot Camp (Mile 175)Overnight · The last fuel and services until Deadhorse (490 km north). Coldfoot has a motel, restaurant, post office, and airstrip. The aurora borealis is frequently visible here August through March. Fuel up completely before bed.

Reviews

From riders.

312 verified rides logged on this route.

4.9/ 5

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

312 verified rides

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DAY 02

Gates of the Arctic National Park Boundary → Galbraith Lake Camp (Mile 275)

5 stops

Gates of the Arctic National Park BoundaryScenic Point · The highway passes through the southern boundary of Gates of the Arctic NP — 34,000 sq km of roadless Arctic wilderness. No rangers, no facilities, no trails. The most remote national park in the US.

Wiseman Village (Mile 189)Scenic Point · A tiny gold-rush settlement of 12 year-round residents, founded in 1907. The most remote post office in Alaska. A short detour off the main road, but worth meeting the locals.

North Fork Koyukuk River CrossingPhoto Spot · The Dalton crosses several glacial rivers on one-lane bridges — look down into the crystal-clear water as you cross. Grizzly bears fish the shallows in summer.

Atigun Pass Summit (Mile 244)Mountain Pass · The highest point on the Dalton at 1,422 m — the only road crossing of the Brooks Range. The pass is subject to sudden storms and early snowfall even in summer. The north side descends onto the Arctic Coastal Plain.

Galbraith Lake Camp (Mile 275)Overnight · A primitive BLM camp on the shore of a glacial lake in the Brooks Range foothills. No services, but one of the most dramatic wild campsites in North America. The Phillip Smith Mountains are directly north. Caribou herds cross the road here during migration.

DAY 03

Slope Mountain Viewpoint (Mile 305) → Deadhorse / Prudhoe Bay

4 stops

Slope Mountain Viewpoint (Mile 305)Scenic Point · The landscape transitions from mountain foothills to the Arctic Coastal Plain — flat tundra stretching to the horizon in every direction. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is visible alongside the road for most of this section.

Happy Valley Camp (Mile 334)Fuel Stop · A former pipeline construction camp now used as a primitive rest stop. The last dependable shelter before Deadhorse. The tundra here is underlain by continuous permafrost.

Franklin Bluffs (Mile 380)Scenic Point · Dramatic orange and ochre bluffs rising from the flat tundra — the most visually striking feature on the North Slope. Peregrine falcons nest in the cliffs. The road is best gravel condition on this section.

Deadhorse / Prudhoe BayEnd · The northern terminus of the Dalton Highway at the Prudhoe Bay oilfield — latitude 70°N. The Arctic Ocean is 2 km beyond a security gate (tours required). Take the mandatory photo at the "End of the Dalton" marker. Then turn around for the 666 km ride back to Fairbanks.