A massive white milepost stands high above the highway, further separating the stretch of asphalt from the awe-inspiring snowy hills that fill the background. It’s the end of a road that few ever see, and the entry to a world few have visited.
When you fly to a jet charter airport in Delta Junction, Alaska, you’re transported to the end of North America’s ultimate road trip: the Alaska Highway.
This small town of around 1,000 people sits at Mile 1422 of the Alaska Highway where the famed roadway joins the Richardson Highway as it winds through the ice and snow on its way to Fairbanks. Sitting at the center of the intersection, also known as the Triangle, is the Delta Junction Visitor Center. Here, you’re free to enjoy a cup of coffee and claim a certificate that highlights your achievement in conquering the Alaskan Highway.
Despite its iconic status, Delta Junction, Alaska is a town with humble yet surprisingly fascinating roots. Originally a telegraph station that opened in 1904, Delta Junction became a hotspot for the Alaskan gold rush in 1913 during the Chisana Golf Strike. A few short years later in the 1920s, the government created the 90,000-acre Delta Bison Sanctuary to house a free-roaming herd of over 500 buffalo. Then known colloquially as Buffalo City, Delta Junction reached its height and became a hub for agriculture, a reputation that lives on until today.
When you fly by private jet to Delta Junction, Alaska, you’ll arrive at the Allen Army Airfield, commonly referred to as Allen Aaf.