North Pole (Alaska)

North Pole is a city of 2,100 people (2019) near Fairbanks in Interior Alaska. The city is a summertime attraction for tourists visiting nearby Fairbanks and, due to its location on the Richardson Highway, those traveling to and from the Alaska Highway and Valdez.

Understand

Prior to Christmas each year, the US post office in North Pole receives hundreds of thousands of letters to Santa Claus, and thousands more from people wanting the town's postmark on their Christmas greeting cards to their families. It advertises the ZIP code 99705 as the ZIP code of Santa. A community program also responds to letters addressed to 1 Santa Claus Lane.

Climate
North Pole (Alaska)
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
0.5
 
 
−1
−17
 
 
 
0.5
 
 
10
−12
 
 
 
0.3
 
 
27
−1
 
 
 
0.4
 
 
45
19
 
 
 
0.7
 
 
61
35
 
 
 
1.6
 
 
71
47
 
 
 
2.3
 
 
73
50
 
 
 
2
 
 
66
44
 
 
 
1.1
 
 
54
33
 
 
 
1
 
 
31
15
 
 
 
0.7
 
 
9
−7
 
 
 
0.8
 
 
3
−14
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches
   Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
13
 
 
−18
−27
 
 
 
13
 
 
−12
−24
 
 
 
7.6
 
 
−3
−18
 
 
 
10
 
 
7
−7
 
 
 
18
 
 
16
2
 
 
 
41
 
 
22
8
 
 
 
58
 
 
23
10
 
 
 
51
 
 
19
7
 
 
 
28
 
 
12
1
 
 
 
25
 
 
−1
−9
 
 
 
18
 
 
−13
−22
 
 
 
20
 
 
−16
−26
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Get in

By bus
  • Green. M-Sa. Operates between the transit center in Fairbanks and central North Pole and takes about a half hour. $1.50 or $3/daypass (as of July 2021, it is free due to COVID-19). (updated Jul 2021)

By car

North Pole is on Alaska State Highway 2, about 14 miles east of Fairbanks.

By air

Fairbanks International Airport (FAI IATA) is the closest airport with scheduled service.

Recreational pilots can fly to 🌍 Bradley Sky-Ranch Airport.

Get around

The town is quite small and, weather permitting, can easily be explored on foot.

By taxi

Taxis are available locally from North Pole Taxi (☏ +1 907 488-7433) or King Cab (☏ +1 907 488-8888).

See
  • 🌍 Santa Claus House, 101 St. Nicholas Dr, ☏ +1 907 488-2200, toll-free: +1 800 588-4078. 10AM-6PM. The most obvious sight in the city is the "Santa Claus House," a Christmas-themed gift shop with live reindeer next door and appearances by Santa himself. You can also arrange for anyone you wish to receive a letter from Santa just before Christmas! There is a sweet shop inside and the "World's Largest Santa" statue outside. (updated Jun 2021)
    • Meet Santa. Summer W-Su 10AM-6PM, Winter Sa Su 10AM-6PM. free. (updated Jul 2021)
  • Antler Academy (next door to Santa Claus House). M-F 9:45AM-12:30PM & 1:15PM-5:45PM. Meet and feed Santa's reindeer. $13/adult, $8/child. (updated Jul 2021)

Buy

The city of North Pole has a 5.3% sales tax.

Postage and mail - use the special Santa/North Pole cancellation slot.

Eat

Drink
  • 🌍 Elf's Den Dining and Lounge, 2556 Mistletoe Rd, ☏ +1 907 488-3268. M-F 4-10PM, Su 4-9PM. Was featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

Cope

Go next

Salcha - The Knotty Shop. Another local attraction is "The Knotty Shop" which features various items made of knotted wood as well as a room the refer to as a wildlife museum that is a large display of taxidermy. 

Routes through North Pole
Manley Hot Springs ← Fairbanks ←  N  S  → Delta Junction → Tok


This article is issued from Wikivoyage. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.