Is AWD / 4WD necessary at end of October around Fairbanks? (to rent, safe)

[deanbrew]

A group of 6 of us are heading to Fairbanks the last week of October to (hopefully) see the northern lights. We hope to get around and see different places.

I want to rent an 11-passenger van so we can all move around together, including our luggage. It is rear wheel drive. Will that be a problem if we don't intend on going on the gravel and non-plowed roads, or will RWD be unsafe or too limiting at that time of year?

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by deanbrew

A group of 6 of us are heading to Fairbanks the last week of October to (hopefully) see the northern lights. We hope to get around and see different places.

I want to rent an 11-passenger van so we can all move around together, including our luggage. It is rear wheel drive. Will that be a problem if we don't intend on going on the gravel and non-plowed roads, or will RWD be unsafe or too limiting at that time of year?

You may want to consider that staying on pavement means you'll be restricted to easily-accessible spots. Which may mean interference from city lighting. To see the aurora best you want to be away from that. Other than the main city streets and the AK HWY, roads leading very far out of town will convert to gravel. Those roads probably won't have so much snow they need plowing by then but they may be icy. 4WD probably not necessary but AWD would help. I'm sure our local experts here can provide suggestions for good spots.

[Metlakatla]

Chena Hot Springs road is paved all the way up these days. There are others; it's not hard at all to find pavement heading out of FBs. The lodge up at Chena Hot Springs is overrated, though, and kind of a dump. I like Angel Creek better.

Lots of freezing/melt/freeze/melt cycling going on during that time of year.