Nenana, AK

Nenana is a small river town in Interior Alaska, sitting right where the Nenana and Tanana rivers meet. Located about an hour's drive southwest of Fairbanks along the Parks Highway, it offers a quiet, rural lifestyle while keeping you within easy reach of city amenities. Between the highway, the Alaska Railroad stop, and the riverfront, getting around or heading out into the backcountry is straightforward for locals.

ATTRDiego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0

The town has deep roots as a junction for trains, barges, and travelers heading into the Alaskan wilderness, famously marked by President Warren Harding driving the golden spike on the Alaska Railroad here in 1923. Today, Nenana is best known across the state for the annual Nenana Ice Classic, a beloved spring tradition where everyone bets on the exact minute the river ice breaks up. It remains a close-knit community with a strong sense of history and easy access to the water and woods.