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Major city · United States

ChickenChicken, Alaska

Go only as a Taylor Highway fuel-and-food stop: 2–4 hours, or 1 night if you're driving to Dawson City. No road access once snow closes the highway.

Chicken is a gold-rush settlement of about three businesses at milepost 66.8 on the gravel Taylor Highway, in roadless country between Tok and the Canadian border. It exists for travellers: fuel, a café, a saloon, cabins, RV sites and a national historic gold dredge. The road is not maintained year-round, so the season runs roughly late May to September.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Aug (road open, long daylight)
avoid Oct–Apr (Taylor Highway not maintained; snow closes it)
Airport
CKX
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Chicken911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Chicken, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or espresso$3–6
  • BeerBeer or wine at the saloon$6–10
  • Budget bedRV site with hookup, a night, per roomUS$28
  • Mid-range bedRV site with hookup, a night, per roomUS$40
  • High-end bedRV site with hookup, a night, per roomUS$60

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$40 · Mid US$90 · High US$180

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Pedro Gold Dredge #4Taylor Highway fuel stopGold panning on Chicken CreekChicken statue and the town name
Airports
CKX Chicken Airport (Dirt runway 0.8 mi east of the highway; private planes year-round, no scheduled service you can rely on.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −24°C (−11°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    −18°C (0°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    −11°C (12°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  10. Oct

    Avoid

    −1°C (30°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    −10°C (14°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    −22°C (−8°F)

Best: Jun–Aug. Avoid: Oct–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (21°C (70°F)), coolest Jan (−34°C (−29°F) low), wettest Jul (9 rain days), driest Apr (3). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Chicken: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−24°C (−11°F)

−34°C (−29°F)

5 rd

Feb

−18°C (0°F)

−30°C (−22°F)

4 rd

Mar

−11°C (12°F)

−25°C (−13°F)

4 rd

Apr

6°C (43°F)

−11°C (12°F)

3 rd

May

15°C (59°F)

−2°C (28°F)

5 rd

Jun

20°C (68°F)

3°C (37°F)

8 rd

Jul

21°C (70°F)

6°C (43°F)

9 rd

Aug

18°C (64°F)

2°C (36°F)

8 rd

Sep

12°C (54°F)

−3°C (27°F)

6 rd

Oct

−1°C (30°F)

−12°C (10°F)

6 rd

Nov

−10°C (14°F)

−26°C (−15°F)

6 rd

Dec

−22°C (−8°F)

−31°C (−24°F)

6 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk. The three businesses sit within a few hundred metres of each other on the highway and the Airport Road spur. You need a car, RV or a charter/private plane to reach Chicken at all.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Tok

go

Door to door: 2–2.5 h

Drive the Taylor Highway south, about 78 mi of gravel

The nearest full-service town and Alaska Highway junction; fuel and groceries.

Eagle

caution

Door to door: 2–3 h

Taylor Highway north to the end of the road

Historic Yukon River town; check road and border conditions first.

Dawson City, Yukon

overnight

Door to door: 4–5 h

Taylor Highway north, then the Top of the World Highway and the ferry

Border crossing and a seasonal ferry: carry your passport and don't attempt it late in the day.

Delta Junction

skip

Door to door: 4–5 h

Taylor Highway south to Tok, then the Alaska Highway

Too far for a day return from Chicken.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Chicken Gold Camp & Outpost (Airport Rd)

Cabins and 50-site campground with hookups, showers and Wi-Fi; Pedro Dredge tours on site.

Chicken Creek RV Park (Goldpanner, mile 66.8)

Campground beside Chicken Creek with fuel, store and Wi-Fi; walk to the café and saloon.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget (camping, self-catering)
$40–80 excl. bed
Mid (cabin, café meals)
$80–150 excl. bed
High (private cabin, tours, fuel-heavy driving)
$150+

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Log cabin (double occupancy)1 × 1 night × US$150US$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$90US$180
Gold panning or recreational mining, half day2 × US$30US$60
Kayak rental, half day2 × US$30US$60
eSIM, about a week of data (satellite Wi-Fi is slow)2 × US$25US$50
Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$75
Trip total≈ US$288 per person per day, bed includedUS$575

2026 estimate in US dollars; fuel and vehicle costs excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or espresso$3–6
Café plate (burger, panini, soup)$12–22
Beer or wine at the saloon$6–10
Ice cream or fudge$4–8
Fuel, per gallonRemote premium over Tok prices.$5–7

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low crime, high exposure risk: the real dangers are distance, weather, wildlife and a gravel road with no services. Tell someone your route, carry water, food, a spare and fuel, and don't drive the Taylor Highway after snow.
  • The Taylor Highway is gravel and not maintained year-round: check road status before you commit, and carry a spare tyre and extra fuel.
  • Fuel here is a lifeline, not a bargain: fill up when you see the pump.
  • Cell coverage is effectively absent; Wi-Fi is satellite-based and slow.
  • Services are seasonal and can close without notice: call ahead for cabins and tours.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Alaska State Troopers (Tok)
907-883-5111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ChickenChicken, Alaska

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Alaska State Troopers (Tok)907-883-5111

Embassy

No consulates in Chicken; the nearest US federal services are in Tok and Fairbanks. International visitors should keep passport and visa documents with them for the Canada border at Top of the World Highway.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Chicken → Tok by road: about 78 mi of gravel, 2–2.5 h
  • Chicken → Dawson City: about 108 mi via the Top of the World Highway, 4–5 h with the ferry
  • Air taxi Tok → Chicken: about $80 per person each way, 30 min, limited days (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the fuel pump? — Where is the fuel pump?
  • Is the Taylor Highway open? — Is the Taylor Highway open?
  • Do you have a cabin for tonight? — Do you have a cabin for tonight?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

Print this card: there is effectively no phone signal in Chicken.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chicken. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Aug (road open, long daylight) · avoid Oct–Apr (Taylor Highway not maintained; snow closes it) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Fuel, food and bed contract for the Taylor Highway: pump hours, café and saloon hours, cabin check-in, all field-checked.
  2. Road-status fixture: Taylor Highway open/closed and Top of the World Highway ferry status before any border run.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Pedro Dredge, Chicken Creek Café, Goldpanner, RV park) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and shoulder-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Sources