14 Best Hotels in Northwest and the Arctic, The Bush

On an intimate beach on the Chukchi Sea five miles outside Kotzebue, Iñupiat families and locals come to fish, and visitors can spend time here in one of the four simple cabins, joining fish camp activities, sharing meals, and browsing locally made art and craft pieces and meeting the people who create them. The price includes activities and payments to Kotzebue elders who share their Iñupiat way of life with guests. The cabins can accommodate two people, with bedding, continental breakfast, and dinner included. There's a shared shower in the main building and an outhouse on the beach.

Like all lodging in Prudhoe Bay, the Aurora focuses on what oil workers need when rotating in and out of the area, so most of the rooms have one twin bed, while some have queens. All rooms are clean and practical, with meals included in the price. Smoking, alcohol, and pets are prohibited, but there's a smoking lounge on-site, along with a commissary, gym, library, and coffee shop.

Close to shops, eateries, and local watering holes, this inn offers more than 50 modern rooms within easy walking distance of Nome's historic district. The staff is friendly, and there's even vehicles for rent if you want to explore the hundreds of miles of Far North roads.

This longtime B&B offers rooms with shared kitchens, a tasty continental breakfast, and an owner who can tell you just about anything you need to know about Kotzebue. Comfortable and affordable, Bibber's appeals to business travelers, those fishing and hunting in the area, and visitors exploring the sound before heading to other parts of the Arctic.

This rustic space offers small rooms with two twin beds in a yellow industrial-looking building about 2 miles south of the Dalton Highway's northernmost point. All rooms share baths. Guests can pay extra for a third person, who must bring their own sleeping gear (rooms are tiny and have no space for cots or extra beds). Meals are available for reasonable fees. The shuttle to the Arctic Ocean in the morning costs $89 per person.

This inn has a turn-of-the-century vibe with mining memorabilia and historical photos that pay homage to the city's mining past. The suites all have private baths and fridges; some have common areas shared with other rooms, and some have private kitchenettes. You can walk the bike path from Dredge to Nome, and the inn also offers vehicle rentals to guests.

Golden Sands offers simple lodging at several locations in Nome and the chance to visit its equestrian center to join a trail ride or just hang out near the horses. Private and shared-bath options are available. Most units include breakfast, and the hosts are helpful and gracious.

At the King Eider Inn near the airport, you'll find comfortable rooms with simple furnishings and decor, and it doesn't cost much more to select a unit with a kitchenette. Prices vary depending on the month, availability, and type of room. Ten of the rooms have kitchenettes and one is a suite. They also have a small selection of vehicles for guests to rent.

This B&B filled with ivory carvings and scrimshaw by local artists makes everyone feel welcome. The place offers a variety of room set-ups, along with kitchen areas and a full breakfast that comes with the room. Latitude also does birding tours.

Typhoon Merbok significantly damaged this iconic inn in late 2022, but the new owners have steadily returned the Nugget to its former glory, with the same kitschy Victorian Gold Rush–era decor and engaging vibes. Outside, a signpost marks the mileage to various points, serious and silly, around the globe. Inside, frontier memorabilia abounds in the lobby and lounge. Rooms are small and clean, although not nearly as atmospheric as the public spaces. Many Arctic tour groups stay here.

Popular for extended stays, Noxapaga offers five different apartments and houses in different residential locations around town. The largest suite can accommodate up to five guests. All suites have internet, full kitchens, and laundry facilities.

Although it's been a Kotzebue fixture since 1975, the Nullagvik Hotel offers the most modern rooms in town, along with communal areas, like a meeting room for 100 and a third-floor observation lounge overlooking the Chukchi Sea. Amenities include Wi-Fi, televisions, microwaves, and mini-refrigerators, along with access to an exercise area and a restaurant on the first floor. The lobby coffee stand will satisfy those looking for lattes.

This hotel near the end of the road at Deadhorse primarily serves workers employed in the Prudhoe Bay oil fields, but tourists are also welcome. The rooms are dormitory-style, and not all of them have their own bathroom. The hotel includes a cafeteria-style dining hall with specific hours for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Food and drinks can be purchased from vending machines around the clock. The hotel is within walking distance to Deadhorse Airport.

On the shores of the Arctic Ocean, this tiered and multicolored hotel is minimalist but comes with the modern conveniences expected by most travelers. A life-size stuffed polar bear and the mounted head of another greet visitors in the lobby. The community television is a great spot to mix and mingle with locals and guests alike. Modern, spacious rooms have sitting areas and some have kitchenettes; ask for a room with an ocean view.