Central — Steese Highway Mile 127 Road Junction and Community Hub
Central, Alaska sits at roughly Mile 127 of the Steese Highway and is the gateway community for the entire Nome Creek Road and White Mountains NRA overland circuit. It’s small — maybe 100 people — but it has a seasonal fuel stop, a general store, and the critical road junction where you leave pavement and commit to the loop. The Circle Hot Springs Road also branches here, adding options. The community is quiet, no-frills, and genuinely backcountry Alaska. Treat it accordingly.
Confirm fuel availability before you leave Fairbanks — Central’s services are seasonal and hours are not guaranteed. The BLM Steese Field Office in Fairbanks is your pre-trip call for current Nome Creek Road conditions. Cell service disappears completely once you leave the Steese. Stock up on water, food, and fuel in Fairbanks and treat Central as a bonus, not a given.
Last community before the Nome Creek loop.
Place Details
| Type | Point of Interest |
|---|---|
| Street address | Airport Road, Central, Alaska Get directions → |
| Elevation (ft) | 930 ft |
| Nearest town | Central, Alaska |
| Miles from pavement | 0 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Access road surface | Paved |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Best season | May-September |
| Land manager | State Land |
| Permit required | No |
| Amenities | Cell signal |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |