Welcome to Bettles Lodge in Arctic Alaska

Bettles Lodge is far from what you'd expect. That is to say, it's far from inhabited Alaska, and farther still from the contiguous United States. But for once-in-a-lifetime views, it's everything you'd hope for and more.

Arctic expeditions have a certain kind of magic, and a long tradition to back it up. And stepping down from the plane into a town that's hidden up here, you'll understand why.

The draw of the Arctic Circle is enigmatic; its allure cemented by the scattered homes of those passionate enough to make a life in its boundaries, and the miles upon miles of uninterrupted forest, rivers, and mountains beyond them.

Bettles Lodge has been proudly hosting these explorers for over 75 years, feeding and housing those who find themselves in this far-flung corner of the world. So, in Bettles, not only do you receive an official Arctic Circle certificate, you enter into that history.

Two of our team members recently made the trip to Bettles Lodge (by way of a 7-day tour of Alaska's highlights before flying to Bettles Lodge for two nights) to scout it out.

This is what they learned.

Credit: Bettles Lodge

Why visit Bettles Lodge?

If you're looking for a trip to Alaska that takes you off the beaten track, we highly recommend staying at Bettles Lodge.

Most people visit Bettles Lodge for one of two reasons: to see the Northern Lights in winter, or visit the Arctic National Parks in summer. We'll talk about these more later. For others, the chance to stay above the Arctic Circle — to experience the true pristine wilderness areas of Northern Alaska — is enough.

Staying alongside the 14 year-round residents of the community, you feel like you're in another world. And, located 180 miles north of Fairbanks, and 35 miles north of the Arctic Circle, you might as well be.

The friendliness of the people was so wholesome. We truly felt part of the small town in Bettles. - Claudia, Travel Designer

Here, daily distractions (such as a reliable cell reception and town-wide internet) are traded for a natural world unchanged since the golden age of expedition travel.

Credit: Alaska By Design

Inside the Lodge

Bettles Lodge is actually split into two buildings: Historic Bettles Lodge and the Aurora Lodge. You'll typically dine and relax in the Historic Lodge and sleep in the Aurora Lodge.

It's rustic, as Alaska often is, and the space is unbelievably cozy. The town of Bettles is tiny, with just 14 year-round residents. The people who choose to be there love it. It was fascinating getting to know the staff and their stories. - Jenna, Team Member

The lodge is everything you would hope for in an authentically Arctic stay.

You'll get to know the owner, Eric Fox, as well as he wears many hats, and will be your primary point of contact. He takes care of everything from showing you around town to cooking your meals.

Credit: Alaska By Design

Lodge Rooms

Bettles Lodge's rooms are rustic but undeniably comfortable. You can sleep in either the Historic Lodge or the Aurora Lodge. We suggest — and usually include for our guests — the Aurora Lodge, where some rooms come equipped with a private jacuzzi-style bathtub.

You'll have a large, cozy bed (or two, depending on your room type) topped with thick quilts and comforters. Their frames, like the Historic Lodge itself, are made from logs fashioned into charming Arctic decor.

Though rustic, special touches are plentiful. When you arrive, your name is written on your door and a small chocolate is waiting for you on your towels.

Credit: Alaska By Design

Dining at Bettles Lodge

Meals at Bettles Lodge are fully included in your stay, and enjoyed in the Historic Lodge, which has been serving 'hot meals to the hungry Arctic traveler since 1948.'

Guests enjoy three hearty meals daily, often along with fresh-baked goods. Alcoholic beverages are available for a fee and are made up of local Alaskan beers and wine.

You can dine at Bettles Lodge as both a guest and a passerby, so at each set mealtime you might be sharing the dining room with local townsfolk, your tour pilot, the dog musher, or traveling hunters.

Credit: Alaska By Design

Activities in the Lodges

In the lodges themselves, there is plenty to keep you occupied.

DVDs with films on the parks and wildlife, along with regular classics and best-sellers, are available to watch in the Aurora Lodge’s lounge.

We made friends with the other guests fast, and had movie nights where everyone put on their robes to watch a DVD before bed. - Jenna, Team Member

There is a pool table; a huge range of board games, puzzles, and books; and plenty of well-stuffed couches and armchairs to curl up on and enjoy. There is a gift shop with local and Alaska Native wares and souvenirs for sale.

Credit: Travel Alaska

What to Do at Bettles Lodge

As we said earlier, the town of Bettles is small, with only 14 year-round residents and a handful of amenities.

The lodge feels far away from life as you know it, and that is much of its draw. For visitors, this might be a worry. But despite the town's size, there is a lot to do.

Eric, the owner, is one of these people who has entirely adapted to life in this remote spot and welcomes you into it with ease. But, at the same time, he provides some of those creature comforts visitors need.

Credit: Bettles Lodge

Northern Lights Viewing at Bettles Lodge

Alongside being a gateway to the Arctic, Bettles is one of the best places in Alaska to see the Northern Lights.

Bettles has the clearest skies in Alaska — approximately 178 sunny (or partly sunny) days each year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). And with next to no light pollution, and long winter nights (the shortest day having just 1 hour and 39 minutes of daylight), the chance of a perfectly dark and clear sky is high.

Credit: Bettles Lodge

The lodge provides nightly wake-up calls if the lights show, and the option to travel to an Aurora-viewing cabin a short drive away, which takes the very little light from the town to none whatsoever.

The best times of year to see the Aurora Borealis are between August and April, when the sky darkens at night. We recommend traveling close to the winter solstice to make the most of the extended darkness.

For more Northern Lights viewing information, see our detailed article: Why Book an Alaska Northern Lights Tour in 2026

Credit: Alaska By Design

National Park Collectors Tour | Gates of the Arctic National Park & Kobuk Valley National Park

Bettles Lodge is the easiest way to access two of the most elusive national parks in Alaska. It is one of few places offering the chance to enter Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and Kobuk Valley National Park in one trip.

For National Park collectors, these are among the most coveted. And for casual visitors, they might feel out of reach. Typically, visiting these parks requires long preparation and extensive off-trail backcountry backpacking skills.

Bettles Lodge gets you there comfortably.

Credit: Alaska By Design

In one trip, you'll fly over the Brooks Range mountains to Gates of the Arctic and to the sand dunes of Kobuk Valley National Park, landing in both. You'll enjoy time for fishing, wandering, and photography, as well as lunch. Though like all things this far north, the trips are weather-dependent, and itineraries might change in response to rain or cloud.

In summer, the sun rises early and sets late, if ever (the magic of the midnight sun lasts from early June to early July), making it the perfect time to see both in a day.

When you return to town, you'll have the chance to stamp your park passport at the visitor center.

Credit: Alaska By Design, Alaska By Design

National Park Ranger Station & Ranger Talks

The Gates of the Arctic National Park Ranger Station is just across the street from the lodge. It serves as the Ranger Station for both Gates of the Arctic and Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge, though it also has stamps available for Kobuk Valley.

In the summer season, a ranger lives on-site in Bettles and hosts daily talks from 5pm to 5:45pm.

The talks at the ranger station are a real highlight for summer visitors, but the ranger is seasonal and isn’t available in winter. That being said, stamps are accessible here year-round.

Credit: Bettles Lodge

Winter Activities in Bettles

For visitors drawn by the winter nights (and the Northern Lights they promise), filling your days in a remote town might seem challenging. But there are a multitude of winter activities available.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are favorites, and the lodge will supply you with everything you need to glide through the snowy surroundings with ease.

Credit: NPS Photo, Laurie Smith

Alongside the included activities, join flightseeing and snowmobiling tours, ice fishing excursions, and dog sledding adventures with the town's own Alaskan husky team. There is an additional cost, but we will happily arrange any of these for you during your stay.

Winter activities are typically in full swing by December 1.

Credit: Alaska By Design

Shops and Amenities

If you've never visited somewhere truly remote before, the buildings that make up Bettles (or the lack thereof) might surprise you.

In Bettles, there's a 'general' store, a post office, a fire station, a health clinic, the national park visitor center, an air taxi office, and the lodge.

A fun thing to do is mail yourself, or a loved one, a postcard with their unique area code on it! - Jenna, Team Member

That is to say, there's everything you will need during your short stay, and not much more.

Credit: Alaska By Design

How to Get to Bettles

There is no permanent road to Bettles, so, by virtue, you can't drive to Bettles Lodge. Instead, the only way to get here is by a scenic 1-hour 15-minute flight from Fairbanks. The small-plane flight is included with your stay.

While you can fly to Fairbanks from many states, we like to build the lodge into a grander Alaska vacation.

To our clients, we suggest the Aurora Train, Alaska Railway's winter train service.

Credit: Alaska Railroad / Kerry Tasker

You'll make the most of your trip to the north, diverting your journey via Anchorage to see where 40% of the state calls home before being introduced to its remote corners.

And, if you're lucky, you'll even catch an early glimpse of the Northern Lights dancing above the train tracks, or Mount Denali towering above the rest of the Alaska Range in Denali National Park.

Credit: Alaska By Design

Book With Us Today

Want someone to take care of it?

At Alaska By Design, you'll partner with your own personal Travel Designer. They will design a custom itinerary just for you so that your trip is truly your own.

Reach out to a Travel Designer to begin planning your journey to Alaska.

They will help you choose between packages and find what suits you best, or tailor the one you've fallen for until it's just right. We'll arrange for everything you need and book it all for you so that when you arrive, you can just enjoy. Whether it's Bettles Lodge or a Denali National Park vacation that calls to you, let us know. We can't wait to begin designing your adventure.

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FAQ

Who owns Bettles Lodge?

Bettles Lodge is owned by Eric and Heather Fox. They not only own the lodge, but take care of its daily operations, doing everything from cooking the meals to acting as your tour guide. In Bettles, everyone has to wear multiple hats.

Can you drive from Fairbanks to Bettles?

Visitors cannot drive to Bettles Lodge — it is only accessible by air.

For a few weeks each year, an 'ice road' is formed between Bettles and the Dalton Highway. However, it is extremely dangerous and is for the exclusive use of truckers and locals.

What is Bettles, Alaska, known for?

Bettles, Alaska, is primarily known as a gateway to the Arctic. However, it is also one of the best places in Alaska to see the Northern Lights.

What are the best lodges in Alaska?

Lodges in Alaska range from charmingly rustic and homey to ultra-luxurious mountaintop wonders. The best lodge in Alaska for you depends on what you're looking for.

Bettles Lodge is the best Alaskan lodge in the Arctic Region, while Sheldon Chalet is the most luxurious lodge in Alaska.

If you're looking for a complete list of lodges in Alaska, see our detailed guide: Best Alaska Lodges for Your Perfect Wilderness Escape

Feature Image Credit: Dreamstime