Delta Junction

Delta Junction is in Interior Alaska.

Understand

Like many towns around the world, Delta Junction’s reason for existing is a confluence of travel routes. It is the northwestern terminus of the Alaska Highway, which intersect with the Richardson Highway, the primary north-south route for that portion of the state. It is also near the confluence of the Delta and Tanana rivers. Growth was further spurred by the establishment of a military base, Fort Greeley, south of the town. The population is relatively small, just under 1,000 people in the town proper.

Get in

Sign marking the terminus of the Alaska-Canada highway, also known as “The Alcan.”

By car

There are two highways that intersect at Delta Junction:

• Highway 2
  • Alaska Highway - travels northwest from Dawson Creek, British Columbia via Whitehorse, Yukon to its terminus at Delta Junction. The length of the Alaska Highway is 1488-mi / 2395-km.
  • Travels southeast from Fairbanks.
• Highway 4 (Richardson Highway) travels north from Valdez

From Anchorage the most direct route is to drive the length of Glenn Highway, to its terminus at the Richardson Highway, and head north, although an alternate route would be to head north on the George Parks Highway and turn east onto the largely unmaintained Denali Highway, which meets the Richardson in the town of Paxson, about 80 miles south of Delta Junction.

By plane

Delta Junction does have a small public-use airport, with one small operator offering scheduled flights out of Fairbanks three times a week. If you wish to fly from another place or at another time you will need to charter a plane.

By bus

• Interior Alaska Bus Line, ☏ +1-800-770-6652, akbus2@aptalaska.net. Year round service on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday between Tok and Anchorage, and Tok and Fairbanks. Trips between Tok and Anchorage stop along the way at locations including Glennallen and Palmer. Trips between Tok and Fairbanks stop along the way at locations including Delta Junction. Trips depart from Tok in the morning and return to Tok in afternoon. Therefore to travel involving switching between the routes at Tok requires multiple nights stay in Tok. Be sure to reserve in advance and allow some flexibility in your schedule as buses may be rescheduled based on demand. Travel time from Tok is 1.75 hours and from Fairbanks is 2.25 hours. (updated Aug 2022)

Get around

You’re going to want a car.

See

Caribu spotted just south of Delta Junction

Right at the intersection of the two highways there is a visitor information center operated by the local chamber of commerce. Delta Junction is near to three separate mountain ranges, including the Alaska Range, which crosses 400 miles of Interior Alaska and the Yukon. There are also bison, moose, and caribou in this area, be on the lookout, and always yield to animals on any road or trail.

• 1 Big Delta State Historical Park. Rika’s Roadhouse and Landing is within this state historic park, as well as a large restaurant and bakery. There are various historic buildings from the early settlement of this area. (updated Jun 2023)

Do

Buried section of pipeline as it crosses the highway south of Delta Junction

The town itself offers limited activities for visitors, but the surrounding area has many other opportunities.

The area is known for good hunting for ducks and geese, as well as a very limited bison hunt. Don’t just show up and expect to go hunting, you will need to obtain a hunting license, and bison permits are extremely limited and awarded through a lottery process. There are several nearby lakes suitable for both hunting fowl and fishing for trout.

The Delta River provides some extremely challenging waters for experienced boaters, with some sections designated as Class V.

The area also has a network of mountain biking trails.

If you’re curious about the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, there are areas near Delta Junction where it runs very near the highway, and there is a buried highway crossing at Donnelly Dome.

• Alaska Interior Game Ranch, 12139 Rapeseed Way, Delta Junction, AK, ☏ +1 907-895-4715. A large private ranch offering hunting of elk and bison. Prices range from $2,000 to $4,800 depending on type of animal hunted. (updated Feb 2018)

Buy

Delta Junction is a small town and has limited shopping opportunities. Basic groceries and fuel are available.

Eat

Rika’s Roadhouse can seat up to 150 people in a historic setting. Known for baked goods and a large buffet.

Sleep

There is at least one small hotel and an RV park. As with most towns in Alaska there are also bed and breakfast establishments with varying levels of quality and amenities.

Just North of Delta Junction is the Quartz Lake State Recreation Area, which has two lakes, each with a campground, and some hiking trails. The campground at Lost Lake is less developed but more private, while the larger campground at Quartz Lake has various amenities such as boat rentals and RV parking.

Go next

• Fairbanks
• Valdez
• Glennallen

Routes through Delta Junction

Fairbanks ← North Pole ←	N  S	→ Tok → Whitehorse
END ←	N  S	→ Jct → Glennallen