HOT SPRINGS · NORTHERN LIGHTS AND HOT SPRINGS IN THE USA
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 13 northern lights and hot springs in the USA worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you undress.
Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs with a small group, tour the Aurora Ice Museum, reserve dinner, soak in 106°F mineral water, and search for the aurora on the way home. Guides such as Savvy, Jessica, Tyler, Gina, and Shannon are praised for tracking skies, wildlife, and safe viewing stops.
“Savvy was great. She made the experience fun and was willing to do whatever she could to make us comfortable.”
Travel 60 miles from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs with an English-speaking guide and a group of up to 14. Tour the Aurora Ice Museum, eat dinner at the resort, soak in the 106 F mineral water, and watch for auroras. Guides such as Gina, Greg, and Ron may make extra stops when the sky is active.
“Greg is very informative. We had a great aurora sight seeing of him. Thanks.”
Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs on a 10.5-hour evening outing with a small group of up to 12. You’ll visit the Ice Museum, soak in the indoor pool or adults-only Rock Lake, and wait for the aurora. Guides such as Ed, Jake, Randy, and Paul have earned praise for clear local stories and patient aurora watching.
“We were disappointed that it was cloudy the whole time. No aurora We really enjoyed the hot springs. It was a pleasure getting to know Linus Platt our guide. Bravo Linus.”
Spend an evening at Chena Hot Springs Resort with pickup in Fairbanks, a 45-minute Ice Museum tour, hot springs access, and an aurora chase on the return drive. Guides such as Tony, Chris, Savvy, and Kevin add local stories and practical help. Dinner is optional, and the Northern Lights depend on weather.
“We want to give a huge thank you to our wonderful guide, Savvy! She took us to Chena Hot Springs and on an incredible aurora chase. Thanks to her knowledge and dedication, we witnessed a breathtakingly beautiful aurora explosion—a truly unforgettable experience. Savvy was incredibly attentive, professional, and responsible throughout the entire trip. We are so grateful to her for making this adventure so special. Thank you, Savvy”
Leave your Fairbanks hotel in a small group of up to 10, visit the Aurora Ice Museum, soak at Chena Hot Springs, and wait for the Northern Lights. Guides such as Joe, Ryan, and Daniel are known for helpful local insight and flexible aurora viewing. Bring swimwear, a towel, cash, and warm layers.
“The tour was nice and the springs were wonderful. Our guide Ryan was exceptional making sure we were comfortable and helped us to see the Northern lights after our mineral springs visit. The restaurant served good food in a nice atmosphere. Other than that the property did not have much to do for the long time you spend there. It was a little plain for what we expected for the price”
Start around 5pm with Fairbanks ice art, then stop for dinner before heading to Chena Hot Springs. Guide Kevin or Tabitha helps you photograph the Aurora Borealis and may chase clearer skies beyond the resort. Soak in the mineral pool, watch for the lights, and return around 1 to 2am.
“Hot Springs very relaxing. Not the best night for viewing but guide Tabitha was great. Learned a lot about winter life and sustainability.”
Ride from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs for an evening soak, a guided ice museum visit, and time to watch for the aurora. Guides such as Kevin, Andrew, Andre, and Tristan have helped make the outing personal and easy to follow. Bring a swimsuit, towel, warm clothes, and quarters for the lockers.
“This experience was absolutely amazing and Andrew our guide was fantastic! To say we had an amazing time is an understatement. We would absolutely recommend this experience.”
Spend about nine hours with AK Bucket List Tours on a private evening from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs. Soak in mineral-rich water, visit the Ice Museum, consider dinner, then search for the Northern Lights with a guide such as Gina or Christopher. Pickup is offered, and the tour returns to Fairbanks late.
“Gina!!! What an amazing guide. She actually studied the Northern Lights, so she's sooo knowledgable about them, as well as the guide business. She knows the staff well over at Chena, so we were able to skip lines and make sure that we were able to participate in all experiences. The Hot Springs at Chena were super warm, and there were spots for people who like the water warmer vs colder. As for actually finding the lights, Gina knew a lot of different spots that were not only beautiful, but provided gorgeous backdrops to view the aurora (which we did!).”
Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs with Heart of Alaska Tours for an evening at the Ice Museum, a soak in the natural rock pool, and a Northern Lights search. Guides including Kevin, Gavin, and Nate provide pickup, local insight, photo stops, and help with aurora viewing. Dinner and the Ice Museum appletini cost extra.
“The tour operator is excellent. Kevin is awesome. The highlight of the trip was Aurora. Kevin would stopped at places to take pic for us. The hot spring is nice but nothing spectacular. Their ice museum is meh.”
Leave Fairbanks at 5 p.m. for Chena Hot Springs, where you’ll tour the resort, visit the Aurora Ice Museum and Bar, soak in the outdoor springs, and eat on site. Your guide handles the winter driving through Tanana Valley State Forest, with a chance to spot wildlife and auroras on the return.
“It was excellent! The guide was great! We had a great experiences in Chena Hot Spring, Aurora Ice Museum and after we saw the Northern Lights! I highly recommend this tour!”
Tony and the VIP Northern Lights Tours team take you from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs for an evening of soaking, warm drinks, and possible aurora viewing. Hotel pickup, a hot springs pass, and a small group of up to six are included. The Ice Museum costs extra, and northern lights sightings are never guaranteed.
“The ice museum had an ice bar. It was romantic with the background. An experience that probably will never see it again.”
Leave Fairbanks at 5 p.m. with guide Nate or another Get After It Guiding host for Chena Hot Springs, an Ice Museum and ice bar tour, and a mineral-water soak. On the return to Fairbanks, stop to watch for the Aurora Borealis. The small group has no more than 11 people, and free aurora portraits are included.
“Nate's hot springs and northern lights tour totally exceeded all my expectations! The entire experience was thoughtfully planned from start to finish. Nate picked me up right on time and shared fun stories and facts about Alaska during the Read more”
Spend 3 to 6 hours at Chena Hot Springs before heading out on a full Aurora Chase with guide Lindsay. Your day includes round-trip transport, aurora science, photo help, snacks, hot drinks, and five edited aurora portraits when conditions and the photographer allow. Hot spring and Ice Museum admission cost extra.
By tradition, by country, or by the kind of day it makes.
