How difficult is Dalton Highway?

Dalton Highway is rated hard. The route runs 414 miles.

What kind of vehicle do you need for Dalton Highway?

High-clearance vehicle with two full-size spare tires, recovery gear, and full water and fuel for multi-day travel. Most rental car companies prohibit Dalton Highway driving; check before going.

When is the best time to drive Dalton Highway?

The best months are Jun, Jul, Aug. Avoid Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.

Dalton Highway

The Dalton Highway is a 414-mile mostly-gravel route across northern Alaska from Livengood (84 miles north of Fairbanks) to Deadhorse and the oilfields of Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean. Built in 1974 to support construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the highway crosses the Yukon River, the Arctic Circle, and the Brooks Range before descending the North Slope to the Arctic coast. The road opened to the public in stages between 1981 and 1994 and is now the only public road in the United States to cross north of the Arctic Circle.

From Coldfoot at the midpoint to Deadhorse at the end, no services exist for 240 miles. Most rental car companies prohibit driving on the Dalton; visitors who plan to drive it typically rent a permit-allowed vehicle from a Fairbanks specialty outfit. Two full-size spares, full fuel, and emergency reserves are standard. Travel in summer (June through August) when the road is open and the weather supports recreational use.

Trailhead: 65.51000, -148.55000

Technical Difficulty: hard
Length: 414 miles
Direction: Out and back
Vehicle: High-clearance vehicle with two full-size spare tires, recovery gear, and full water and fuel for multi-day travel. Most rental car companies prohibit Dalton Highway driving; check before going.
Nearest town: Fairbanks, Alaska
Terrain: 414 miles of mostly gravel highway from interior Alaska across the Yukon River, the Arctic Circle, the Brooks Range, and the North Slope to the Arctic Ocean — narrow, rough, with frequent dust, mud, and potholes
Cell coverage: None along most of the road
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug
Management: Bureau of Land Management
Trailhead: 65.51000, -148.55000

Resources

Plan in Epic Plans Official site Open in Google Maps

Directions

From Fairbanks on the Steese Expressway, drive north on the Elliott Highway 84 miles to Livengood. The Dalton Highway begins at the Elliott Highway junction. The route runs 414 miles north and ends at Deadhorse on the Arctic Ocean.

Approximate Livengood (Mile 0) coordinates: 65.51° N, -148.55° W.

Photos · 23

Getting Oriented

The highway sits in the Yukon-Koyukuk and North Slope census areas — both larger than most US states with very small populations. Fairbanks (population ~32,000) is the southern gateway; Deadhorse at the northern end is a workforce camp for the oilfields with a single hotel and some basic services. Coldfoot, near the midpoint at the southern foot of the Brooks Range, is the only fuel and lodging stop for 240 miles in either direction. The road is paved for short stretches but mostly runs as graded gravel with sections of permafrost upheaval and frost heaves.

Trail Overview

From the Elliott Highway junction at Livengood, the Dalton runs north through rolling boreal forest, drops to cross the Yukon River on a wood-decked bridge, and continues through the foothills of the Brooks Range to Coldfoot at mile 175. Beyond Coldfoot, the road climbs over Atigun Pass at 4,739 feet — the highest highway pass in Alaska and the only road crossing of the Brooks Range. From Atigun the highway descends the North Slope as straight, treeless tundra runs to Deadhorse on the Arctic Ocean.

Driving the full one-way distance takes 14 to 18 hours. Most travelers split the trip with overnight stops at Coldfoot or one of the dispersed campsites. Pavement covers about 100 of the 414 miles in patches; the rest is gravel that varies from smooth to washboarded.

Points of Interest

Yukon River Bridge. Wooden-decked bridge crossing the Yukon at mile 56.
Finger Mountain BLM Wayside. Mile 98, with views of the foothills.
Arctic Circle Wayside. Mile 115. The official Arctic Circle crossing with a sign for photos.
Coldfoot. Mile 175. The only fuel and lodging midway. BLM visitor center.
Wiseman. Historic mining town three miles off the Dalton near Coldfoot.
Atigun Pass. Mile 244 at 4,739 feet. The highest highway pass in Alaska.
North Slope tundra. The treeless plain that fills the final 200 miles.
Deadhorse. The end of the road. Bus tours available to dip a hand in the Arctic Ocean.
Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Visible parallel to the highway for most of its length.

Where to Camp

Dispersed camping is allowed along most of the highway with no fees and the standard 14-day stay limit. BLM operates several developed waysides with vault toilets: Coldfoot, Marion Creek, and Galbraith Lake. Coldfoot has a fee-managed RV park and a hotel. Deadhorse has a single hotel with a multi-day reservation requirement.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

Travel June through August. The road technically opens earlier and closes later but services and weather support summer travel only.
Most rental car companies prohibit Dalton Highway driving. Use a Fairbanks specialty outfit (Arctic Outfitters, Go North Adventures) that allows it.
Carry two full-size spare tires, a plug kit, and a compressor. Tire damage is the road's leading risk.
Carry full fuel and water for the 240-mile no-services stretch.
Drive with headlights on at all times — required for the Dalton.
Yield to oncoming oilfield trucks. Pull off and stop on the shoulder when one approaches; they don't slow down.
Cell coverage is absent for most of the highway. Carry a satellite messenger.
Fuel up at every stop. Skipping a fuel stop can leave you stranded.
Watch for grizzly bears, caribou herds, musk ox, and Dall sheep.
Wiseman is privately maintained but welcomes respectful visitors.
Contact the BLM Coldfoot Interagency Visitor Center at 907-678-5209 for current conditions.

Common questions

How difficult is Dalton Highway?: Dalton Highway is rated hard. The route runs 414 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Dalton Highway?: High-clearance vehicle with two full-size spare tires, recovery gear, and full water and fuel for multi-day travel. Most rental car companies prohibit Dalton Highway driving; check before going.
When is the best time to drive Dalton Highway?: The best months are Jun, Jul, Aug. Avoid Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Is there cell service on Dalton Highway?: None along most of the road

Hazards

Tire damage. Sharp gravel and pothole-induced damage on every trip. Two full-size spares required.
Oilfield trucks. They run at high speed and don't yield. Pull off when they approach.
No services for 240 miles. Coldfoot to Deadhorse has no fuel, water, food, or repair.
Cell coverage. None for most of the road.
Atigun Pass weather. Snow possible any month of the year at the pass.
Grizzly bears. Common throughout the route. Practice food storage protocols.
Musk ox. On the road on the North Slope; they don't yield to traffic.
Permit-restricted rentals. Most rental car contracts prohibit Dalton driving.
Dust and mud. Visibility drops to zero in dust clouds; mud can immobilize a vehicle.