NORTHERN LIGHTS · USA NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURS

15 USA Northern Lights Tours Worth Flying For

40 tours  ·  from $99 a head

A winter trip has room for two or three of these at most. The 15 USA northern lights tours below justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide tonight and get back to packing.

Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour - The Aurora Ice Museum: short, unusual, and very cold
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Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour

1.Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,278 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $250Our pick

Leave Fairbanks at 4 p.m. for Chena Hot Springs, where you will tour an ice museum, soak in 106°F mineral water, and search for the aurora. Guides such as Savvy, Shannon, Jessica, Gina, and Tyler have earned praise for patient aurora chasing and photo help. Dinner and towels cost extra, and the lights are never guaranteed.

“Great experience! Kathy was an excellent guide who made sure we had everything we needed and enjoyed the trip. The hot springs were transcendent and the ice museum was super cool. Definitely worth your time even if you’re only in Alaska for a little bit! Definitely ask for Kathy, she was great”

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Northern Lights & Arctic Circle Tour - The pipeline viewing point
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Northern Lights & Arctic Circle Tour

2.Northern Lights & Arctic Circle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 942 reviews · 12 to 14 hours (approx.) · from $330

You’ll ride from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle in a small van, crossing the Yukon River and following the Dalton Highway beside the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Guides such as Jessica, Shannon, Guy, and Coltin are known for safe driving, Alaska stories, and patient aurora stops. Expect a long, rough ride, cold weather, and no guarantee of northern lights.

“Because of weather, we unfortunately didn't see wildlife or Auroras, but our guide was the best and made the things we did see very interesting. Please know it's a 13 hour tour on a very bumpy road. Bring a pillow to sit on.”

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SkyChase™ | Northern Lights Experience - Free Photography & More - From hotel pickup to the first dark-sky stop
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SkyChase™ | Northern Lights Experience – Free Photography & More

3.SkyChase™ | Northern Lights Experience – Free Photography & More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 706 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $335Top rated

Leave Fairbanks in a heated van with guides such as Tony, Andrew, or Drew, then follow real-time sky data toward clear, dark viewing spots. You’ll get a campfire meal, hot drinks, camera help, tripod access, downloadable group photos, and a 360-degree time-lapse. Pickup is included within five miles of downtown Fairbanks.

“Had a very good experience, although the lights were faint it i had a great time drew was my guide he let me take so many photos 😭and taught me some poses for the pic.”

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Northern Lights Aurora Tour with FREE Photography - Waiting in the cold without losing your toes
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Northern Lights Aurora Tour with FREE Photography

4.Northern Lights Aurora Tour with FREE Photography

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 486 reviews · 8 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $210

Arctic Night Tours picks you up in Fairbanks around 8 p.m. and chases clear skies for up to 12 hours. Guides such as Elena and Ed explain the aurora, provide snacks and warmers, and photograph you under the lights with several cameras. Expect a small group, long waits, and serious cold.

“The wife and I took this northern lights tour. Our driver and guide was Elena. She was a great driver and very knowledgeable about the science behind the northern lights. We were simply amazed at the northern lights themselves. We had a fantastic show as the lights danced above us in colors of green, purple and gold. Elena and her crew took as many photos as we wanted with a few different camera stations to capture different angles of the sky. The transport van was kept running and allowed us to warm up whenever the cold was unbearable. The northern lights were simply amazing and wife and I will always…”

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Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis Viewing) Chasing with Photography in Fairbanks - Free photography that solves the hardest part
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Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis Viewing) Chasing with Photography in Fairbanks

5.Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis Viewing) Chasing with Photography in Fairbanks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 481 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $189

Set out from Fairbanks at 10:30 pm with guides such as David, Grace, or Cole, then chase clear skies across rural Alaska. The small-group tour uses warm SUVs, stops at several viewing spots, and includes free, unedited JPG photos. There are no bathrooms, chairs, or blankets, so dress for serious cold.

“I'm such a terrible person for forgetting the name of our tour guide but he was korean and he is very patient and we are also patient with him waiting for the aurora borealis. We definitely chased and captured this phenomenal moment with the Aurora Borealis for the 1st time in extreme cold no complaints at all, he also take professional photographs with you as you are watching the lights dancing and I'm happy that he sent the URL of the pictures right away. We would definitely book again and come back for more. Thank you Sir, for your patience and for making sure we get to see aurora borealis!…”

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Mountaintop 360° Best Alaskan Cabin with Photography @Aurora Camp - Murphy Dome and the 360-degree yard
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Mountaintop 360° Best Alaskan Cabin with Photography @Aurora Camp

6.Mountaintop 360° Best Alaskan Cabin with Photography @Aurora Camp

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 322 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99Best value

At Aurora Camp near Murphy Dome, Joy and David host a 4.5-hour Northern Lights watch from a warm cabin and 10-acre yard. You get 360-degree sky views, hot drinks, snacks, live aurora monitoring, a certificate, postcard, and help taking photos. Transfers from Fairbanks are available, usually around 9:00 to 9:45 p.m.

“The camp was great. Had good snacks and hot drinks. Joy suggested us to wait another 30 minutes and the wait finally paid off. We saw amazing auroras”

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Northern Lights Viewing at Murphy Dome - Reaching the former Air Force station
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Northern Lights Viewing at Murphy Dome

7.Northern Lights Viewing at Murphy Dome

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 289 reviews · from $120

Leave Fairbanks around 10 p.m. for Murphy Dome, a high former Air Force site with wide sky views. Your guide, possibly Gina, Jacob, Chris, or another Alaska Wildlife Guide driver, watches for clear skies and aurora activity. You get hotel pickup, hot drinks, snacks, and about five hours on the road. The lights are never guaranteed.

“This was a great tour! Jacob, our guide, was super! He was knowledgeable, friendly, provided lots of extra details and made super hot chocolate! The lights showed up and showed out! This was an awesome experience! I would definitely do this tour again and I highly recommend it! Dress warm!”

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Aurora Viewing - Aurora Husky Lodge , Great view from top of the ridge - Inside Aurora Husky Lodge from 10:30 PM to 2:00 AM
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Aurora Viewing – Aurora Husky Lodge , Great view from top of the ridge

8.Aurora Viewing – Aurora Husky Lodge , Great view from top of the ridge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 283 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $130

Ride from a major Fairbanks hotel to Aurora Husky Lodge, where Michi and Keiko host a warm night of Northern Lights watching from a ridge-top cabin. Expect hot drinks, snacks, wide sky views, dog-mushing stories, camera help, and time outside on the deck from about 10:30 PM to 2:00 AM.

“Excellent effort to see the Northern Lights. Nice ride, beautiful cabin and our hosts were generous and educational. Thank you!”

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Aurora Viewing Lodge - The ride from your hotel to the viewing lodge
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Aurora Viewing Lodge

9.Aurora Viewing Lodge

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 276 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $170

Ride from your Fairbanks hotel in a heated van to a warm Alaskan log lodge for an evening of aurora watching. Guides such as Kathy, Gina, Nicole, and Siena help with the science and photography. You can warm up indoors with drinks, cookies, games, Wi-Fi, and a fire outside while you wait.

“It was a new experience for us Arizonans and though we didn’t see too many colors it was still nice to see and capture. It was very relaxing and a nice ambiance at the lodge. Thank you for a great experience. I’d love to go again to see about capturing more pictures of the northern lights”

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From Fairbanks: Northern Lights Aurora Tour with Photography - From hotel pickup to the first dark-sky stop
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From Fairbanks: Northern Lights Aurora Tour with Photography

10.Northern Lights Aurora Tour with Photography

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 220 reviews · 1 day · from $210

Meet Ed, Elena, or another Arctic Night Tours guide at your Fairbanks hotel and ride into the dark countryside in search of clear skies and aurora activity. The route may stretch toward Yukon Lake, and the outing can last 8 to 12 hours. Your guide takes portraits, aurora photos, and sometimes time-lapse video while you stay focused on the sky.

“The tour was great, the guide really showed his professional and super helpful in leading us to chase the northern light. He also explained lots of information and knowledge about northern light which is really good. He drove us to a great spot and waited for the northern light, and we successfully catch the great view with massive light above our head which was super impressive. He also super helpful on taking photo for us. I will give “Prefect” to the tour and tour guide.”

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Electric Moose Studios Aurora Adventure W/Portraits & Hot Pizza!! - A 9 p.m. pickup from Fairbanks
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Electric Moose Studios Aurora Adventure W/Portraits & Hot Pizza!!

11.Electric Moose Studios Aurora Adventure W/Portraits & Hot Pizza!!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 211 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $385

Join local guide and photographer Nathan for a six-hour northern lights outing from Fairbanks. In a group of no more than 10, you’ll travel 15 to 40 miles north, learn how auroras form and how to photograph them, enjoy hot pizza and drinks in a heated shelter, and receive professional portraits, aurora photos, and a timelapse video.

“I highly recommend this experience. Nathan is super professional and went above and beyond to make our adventure special. It was -40 degrees outside and we still felt comfortable the whole time. The pizza is excellent and a nice touch. But most of all we got an amazing Northern Lights viewing and photos of a lifetime!”

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Northern Lights and Arctic Circle Trip from Fairbanks - The Yukon River adds a real sense of place
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Northern Lights and Arctic Circle Trip from Fairbanks

12.Northern Lights and Arctic Circle Trip from Fairbanks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 175 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $320

Leave Fairbanks at 1 p.m. for a 14-hour road trip to the Arctic Circle, with stops at the Alyeska Pipeline, Yukon River, and Finger Mountain area. Your guide handles the long drive, shares geology and local stories, serves sandwiches and hot drinks, and watches for the aurora. Guides may include Ash, Jake, Ryan, or Elijah.

“This was a fantastic tour. Yes it's a long drive but I think we were blessed to have probably the best tour guide ever. His name is Elijah (hope I spelled that correctly). He was courteous, knowledgeable, conscientious (roads have ice and snow on them) and just an overall joy to be with. I had taken two other tours on our trip to Alaska and this tour/tour guide was the absolute best. We saw everything listed on the agenda plus a few other stops that were great. The tour provided food and snacks and we had an opportunity to purchase food at two other stops. There was hot coffee and…”

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Aurora Glass House – Northern Lights and Photos at Cleary Summit - Waiting for the Northern Lights
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Aurora Glass House – Northern Lights and Photos at Cleary Summit

13.Aurora Glass House – Northern Lights and Photos at Cleary Summit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 162 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $99

Ride from Fairbanks to the 270° Aurora Glass House at Cleary Summit for about five hours of Northern Lights viewing. You can watch through floor-to-ceiling windows or step outside, with hot drinks, snacks, guide support, and photography included. Guides such as Michael and Stella help you spot the aurora and capture it.

“Stella was great about communicating pick up time and location! They provided salty snacks, coffee, and instant cocoa. She let us know when the Aurora seemed to be getting brighter and was patient in taking multiple portraits of each visitor. Highly Recommend!”

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Anchorage Aurora Tour and Northern Lights Photo - Eagle River and the Mt. Baldy option
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Anchorage Aurora Tour and Northern Lights Photo

14.Anchorage Aurora Tour and Northern Lights Photo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 156 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $315

Spend about six hours chasing the aurora from Anchorage toward Chugach State Park, Eagle River, and Palmer. Guides such as Ben, Chad, Colin, Erica, and Ronnie combine aurora advice with photography help, tripods, portraits, snacks, hot drinks, blankets, and round-trip hotel pickup. Routes change with clouds and aurora conditions.

“Our guide was awesome. He had a lot of knowledge and was happy to share. Only problem was the lights didn’t really come out that much. Hoping on the pics he took we will see something. AND it was -26 degrees for the entire night!!?!?! Not on them though. Had fun and would do it again. Thank you!”

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From Fairbanks: Arctic Circle Northern Lights Full-Day Trip - The Trans-Alaska Pipeline gives the trip a purpose
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From Fairbanks: Arctic Circle Northern Lights Full-Day Trip

15.Arctic Circle Northern Lights Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 151 reviews · 14 hours · from $320

Leave your Fairbanks hotel around 1 PM with an English-speaking guide such as Ash, Paul, Ryan, or Colleen. Travel the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle, Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Yukon River, and Finger Mountain. You get sandwiches, hot drinks, certificates, and several chances to stop for the Aurora on the return drive.

“To be honest- this winter (early February) trip is not for the weak! It was freezing! I had on a fleece lined base layer (top and bottoms), a turtleneck sweater, a fleece vest, snow bibs, a puffer jacket and an OmniHeat hooded parka with hand warmers and I was still freezing!!!! Not to even mention having to pee and stripping down all of those layers IN AN OUTHOUSE!!! Just getting out of the tour van for 5 minutes felt like an eternity! Having said that- it was worth every second of me feeling like I was going to turn into a snowman! 1st Alaska Tour was nothing short of amazing…”

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New in USA Northern Lights Tours

★ 4.1Northern Lights & Murphy Dome TourFrom $12046 reviews
★ 4.6Late Night Yurt Dinner and Northern LightsFrom $21016 reviews
★ 4.2Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights TourFrom $24059 reviews
★ 5.0Aurora Husky Lodge Aurora Viewing TourFrom $1305 reviews
★ 5.0Northern Lights Adventure with Photos & HOT PIZZAFrom $3004 reviews
★ 4.8Aurora Ice Fishing TourFrom $3305 reviews
★ 4.8Aurora Borealis Northern Lights TourFrom $3217 reviews
★ 4.4Chena Lake: Aurora Borealis Viewing & Ice Fishing AdventureFrom $2397 reviews
★ 4.4Nighttime Northern Lights TourFrom $3215 reviews
★ 4.4Aurora Borealis Northern Lights Photography TourFrom $31233 reviews
★ 4.0Alaskan Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis LodgesFrom $16032 reviews
★ 5.0Private Northern Lights Viewing Tour4 reviews
★ 4.5Northern Lights Adventure of a Liftetime from AnchorageFrom $32057 reviews
★ 4.5Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Anchorage to Fairbanks One WayFrom $25957 reviews
★ 5.0Spectacular Hot Spring Experience with Northern LightsFrom $24570 reviews

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Fairbanks Northern Lights Tours33Anchorage Northern Lights Tours6Canada Northern Lights Tours14Yellowknife Northern Lights Tours10
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