NORTH POLE RENTALS FIELD GUIDE
Thermal Soak and Ice Sculpture: An Eight‑Hour Retreat from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs
An eight-hour, full‑day outing from Fairbanks that pairs a scenic 60‑mile drive with the Aurora Ice Museum, a geothermal soak in 106°F mineral springs, and optional greenhouse and energy‑use tours.
Thermal Soak and Ice Sculpture: An Eight‑Hour Retreat from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs.
Escape the city for a day and follow a scenic 60‑mile route from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs Resort, where Alaska’s heat and ice live side by side. The itinerary blends roadside wilderness—where moose, foxes, or beavers are sometimes seen—with the surreal cool of a year‑round ice museum and the restorative warmth of natural hot springs.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A 60‑mile scenic drive into Alaskan wilderness
The day begins with a long, scenic drive from Fairbanks through forest and tundra; wildlife sightings along the way are part of the journey’s appeal.
The Aurora Ice Museum: a year‑round ice cathedral
Step inside the Aurora Ice Museum to see intricate carvings and rooms built from more than a thousand tons of ice and snow—bring a camera and, if you’re 21+, consider the optional Appletini served in a hand‑carved ice glass.
Mineral springs kept at a soothing 106°F
The resort’s natural hot springs deliver mineral‑rich water at roughly 106°F (41°C), offering a restorative soak after the drive; towels and swimsuits are essential.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
This full‑day excursion unfolds as a motion through Alaska’s quiet wilds to a resort that meshes rugged landscape with cultivated comforts: an otherworldly ice museum, a farm‑to‑table restaurant centered on greenhouse produce, interpretive tours about geothermal systems (optional), and long, warm soaks in natural pools.
THE ROUTE
A 60‑mile scenic drive into Alaskan wilderness
The day begins with a long, scenic drive from Fairbanks through forest and tundra; wildlife sightings along the way are part of the journey’s appeal.
THE ICE
The Aurora Ice Museum: a year‑round ice cathedral
Step inside the Aurora Ice Museum to see intricate carvings and rooms built from more than a thousand tons of ice and snow—bring a camera and, if you’re 21+, consider the optional Appletini served in a hand‑carved ice glass.
THE SOAK
Mineral springs kept at a soothing 106°F
The resort’s natural hot springs deliver mineral‑rich water at roughly 106°F (41°C), offering a restorative soak after the drive; towels and swimsuits are essential.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this day tour suits — and who should plan around the resort’s rules.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Swimsuit(s) and towel(s) are required for the hot springs. Pack a camera for the ice museum and warm layers for the drive to and from Fairbanks.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Chena Hot Springs Day Tour?
The tour is a full‑day outing with an approximate duration of eight hours.
Where does the tour travel from and to?
The outing includes a scenic 60‑mile drive from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs Resort.
Can children use the outdoor hot springs pool?
Children under 18 years of age are not permitted in the outdoor rock pool.
Is lunch included in the tour price?
Lunch at the resort’s restaurant is optional and not included in the tour price.
Are there other optional activities on site?
Yes; visitors can tour the Aurora Ice Museum and join optional geothermal and greenhouse tours, and there are optional drinks available at the ice bar for guests 21 and older.