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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Coldfoot
Stop one night at Coldfoot only if you are driving the Dalton Highway north; as a destination on its own, skip it and fly to Fairbanks or Deadhorse instead.
Coldfoot is a settlement of about 10 people on the Dalton Highway, 425 km south of Deadhorse and the last place with fuel, food and beds before that empty stretch. There is no sightseeing here: you sleep, eat, refuel and drive on. Almost everyone arrives by road or on a fly-in/drive-out tour from Fairbanks.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Aug (road open, visitor center staffed, long daylight)
- Avoid
- Oct–Apr (deep cold, ice road conditions, limited services)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget (camping or RV dry site, self-catering) $40–90 excl. bed · Mid (room at the inn, meals on site) $120–200 excl. bed · High (private room, tours, fuel-heavy driving) $250+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Alaska State Troopers (non-emergency) 907-451-5100 · Arctic Interagency Visitor Center (summer) 907-678-5209
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (free refills) | $2 |
| Entree at the kitchen | $6–13 |
| Tent site per night | $15 |
| RV hookup per night | $35 |
| Towing on the Dalton Highway | about $5 per mile |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CXF · Coldfoot Airport (gravel airstrip, turboprop only)
- No scheduled public service; arrivals are usually part of an organized tour. Check with operators.
Typical fares
- Fuel at Coldfoot
- premium price, fill up before the 425 km (264 mi) gap north (check)premium price, fill up before the 264 mi (425 km) gap north (check)
- Towing on the Dalton
- about $5 per mile
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The settlement is tiny — roughly 1 km (0.6 mi) north–south and 2 km (1.2 mi) east–west — so you walk everywhere. In winter you may need snowshoes. A car is only useful for continuing along the Dalton Highway.The settlement is tiny — roughly 0.6 mi (1 km) north–south and 1.2 mi (2 km) east–west — so you walk everywhere. In winter you may need snowshoes. A car is only useful for continuing along the Dalton Highway.
See and do
Known for
- World's northernmost truck stop
- Dalton Highway fuel and food stop
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center
- Gateway to Gates of the Arctic and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wiseman | Drive north on the Dalton Highway, about 20 km (12 mi)Drive north on the Dalton Highway, about 12 mi (20 km) | About 30 min each way |
| Deadhorse | Drive north on the Dalton Highway, about 425 km (264 mi) with no servicesDrive north on the Dalton Highway, about 264 mi (425 km) with no services | 6–8 h |
| Fairbanks | Drive south on the Dalton Highway, about 400 km (249 mi)Drive south on the Dalton Highway, about 249 mi (400 km) | 6–7 h |
| Gates of the Arctic National Park | No road access; air taxi or guided trip from Coldfoot or Bettles | Varies by operator |
Sleep
- Slate Creek Inn (Coldfoot Camp)
- The only hotel: about 50 rooms, some with private bath, some shared. Book ahead in summer — bus tours fill it. RV hookups and tent sites on site.
- Wiseman (about 20 km north)
- A few small lodges and cabins; quieter base if Coldfoot is full. Check availability directly.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the gas station? | Where is the gas station? |
| I need a tow | I need a tow |
| Is there a room available? | Is there a room available? |
| How far to the next services? | How far to the next services? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| I need help | I need help |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- There are no services for 425 km north of Coldfoot to Deadhorse: leave with a full tank, food and water.
- Fuel, food and rooms here cost far more than in Fairbanks — this is a remote supply point, not a bargain.
- Towing on the Dalton runs about $5 per mile and parts must come from Fairbanks: drive slowly on gravel and watch for truck traffic.
- Cell coverage is patchy to absent; do not rely on a phone for emergencies.
- Winter travel means extreme cold and ice; check road conditions before leaving Fairbanks.
The main risks are the road and the distance: no services for 425 km (264 mi) north, extreme cold in winter, and long waits if you break down. Carry water, food, a spare tire and warm layers, and tell someone your plan.The main risks are the road and the distance: no services for 264 mi (425 km) north, extreme cold in winter, and long waits if you break down. Carry water, food, a spare tire and warm layers, and tell someone your plan.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Coldfoot yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- World's northernmost truck stop
- Dalton Highway fuel and food stop
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center
- Gateway to Gates of the Arctic and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center (BLM, USFWS, NPS): www.blm.gov/visit/arctic-interagency-visitor-center
- Alaska Department of Transportation — Dalton Highway conditions: 511.alaska.gov/
- Northern Alaska Tour Company: www.northernalaska.com/
- Wikivoyage: Coldfoot, revision 5232423 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5232423
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Coldfoot
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Alaska State Troopers (non-emergency)907-451-5100
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center (summer)907-678-5209
No embassies in Coldfoot; the nearest consulates are in Anchorage. US travellers: contact local authorities via 911.
Services are limited and seasonal; confirm hours and availability before you arrive.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/coldfoot). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.