A woman canoes in a lake near the Denali Highway in Interior Alaska

Photo Credit: ATIA, Michael DeYoung

Interior Region

In Alaska’s heartland, you’ll see the continent’s tallest peak, Denali, and wide expanses of tundra. The forests are teeming with wildlife ranging from the formidable grizzly bear to large herds of caribou to the state bird - the willow ptarmigan. Experience summer’s midnight sun or winter’s northern lights. Wildlife and spectacular mountain scenery can be seen along the highway that connects Anchorage to Fairbanks, running by the entrance to one of Alaska’s top destinations: Denali National Park and Preserve. The Interior is the original home of Alaska’s Athabascan peoples. Gold miners, farmers, and fur trappers later discovered the riches of this region.

Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior — one of the five regions in Alaska. Here, you can explore Alaska’s rich Alaska Native and gold rush history at the city’s museums and cultural centers and enjoy a wide variety of visitor services including lodging, restaurants, shops, tour options, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Fairbanks International Airport is served by local, domestic, and international flights.

Much of Interior Alaska is accessible by road, with the Parks Highway, Richardson Highway, and Steese Highway all intersecting in Fairbanks. The Alaska Railroad travels through part of Interior Alaska, with a stop at the entrance of Denali National Park before ending in Fairbanks. Road trippers who drive to Alaska through Canada get their first glimpse of Alaska in the Interior, crossing the border on the Alaska Highway and then heading towards the town of Tok.