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 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
The Alaska highway begins in Dawson Creek in British Columbia and stretches over 1,3000 miles to its end in Delta Junction. The Richardson Highway begins in Valdez and terminates in Fairbanks. From Anchorage the most direct route is to drive the length of Glenn Highway, to its terminus at the Richardson Highay, 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.
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.
Get around
You’re going to want a car.
See
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.
Rika’s Roadhouse and Landing is a state historic park, as well as a large restaurant and bakery. There are various historic buildings from the early settlement of this area.
Do
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.
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.
Drink
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.
Connect
Go next
| Routes through Delta Junction |
| Fairbanks ← North Pole ← | N  S |
→ Tok → Whitehorse |
| END ← | N  S |
→ Jct  → Glennallen |