Alaska events
Alaska motorcycle events, rides and bike nights
Alaska motorcycle events are packed into a few short months: spring swap meets, season kickoff rides in May, bike nights and charity runs all summer around Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, the Kenai and Fairbanks, and end-of-season rides before the snow. Here's how the calendar works, the summer crowds to plan around, and how to find and post local events in the free Rippin' app.
- Season
- About May to September
- Kickoff
- May
- Post your own
- Free
- Platforms
- iPhone and Android
Every year
What Alaska's motorcycle calendar looks like
Alaska's riding calendar is local, run by clubs, dealers and riders' groups in Anchorage, the Mat-Su, the Kenai and Fairbanks. These are the kinds of events that come around every year. Dates change, so check the organizer.
- Spring swap meets and showsBefore the roads dry out, swap meets and indoor shows give riders a reason to get together and get bikes ready. Watch for them in March and April.
- Season kickoff ridesOnce the sand is swept in May, clubs hold kickoff rides and bike blessings to open the season. Cold mornings, big turnouts.
- Summer charity runsCharity rides and poker runs fill the summer weekends, raising money for local causes. Clubs and veterans' groups host many of them.
- The Distinguished Gentleman's RideA worldwide charity ride for men's health, usually in May, when Alaska's season is just starting. Check the DGR site for rides in Alaska.
- End-of-season ridesLate August and early September bring last rides of the year, often timed with the fall color, before the snow comes back.
Plan around them
Summer events that shape Alaska riding
Some of Alaska's biggest summer events aren't motorcycle events, but they decide how busy the roads are. Ride to them or around them.
- Fourth of July in SewardSeward fills up for the Fourth and the Mount Marathon race. The Seward Highway is packed in both directions that weekend.
- Salmon runs on the KenaiJuly brings fishing crowds to the Kenai River, Cooper Landing and Soldotna, with heavy traffic on the Sterling Highway.
- Solstice in FairbanksAround June 21, Fairbanks usually celebrates the midnight sun, and it's a classic time to ride north and see the sun barely set.
- Alaska State Fair in PalmerLate August into Labor Day. A good destination ride from Anchorage, with heavy traffic on the Glenn and Parks highways.
In the app
Find Alaska motorcycle events in Rippin'
Bike nights and meets are how you find riders to ride with, and in a short season they fill up fast. The live list right after this section shows upcoming Alaska events on the Rippin' map.
- 1
Open Meets
Open the meets and events list. It covers bike nights, meets, rallies, swap meets, charity rides and toy runs.
- 2
Set your area
Pick Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, Soldotna, Fairbanks or wherever you ride. Events show nearest first, and repeating meets show their next date.
- 3
RSVP
Tap RSVP so the organizer knows you're coming and riders can see who else is going.
- 4
Ride in together
Start a group ride so everyone is on one live map while there's signal.
Live from the app
Alaska on Rippin' right now.
0 upcoming events and 0 rider-added roads in Alaska on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
No Alaska events are on the Rippin' map yet. Know a bike night, rally or charity ride? Post it in the app under Meets, or have the organizer add it, and it shows up here and on the map for every rider nearby.
No Alaska roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
Add yours
Post your Alaska motorcycle event
Alaska's events map is nearly empty today, which means anything you post gets seen. Any rider can post an event for free.
Clubs and shops that host a lot of events can use Organizer Pro ($8.99/mo) for unlimited and recurring meets, official events on the calendar and recurring ride plans. A shop, cafe or roadhouse can also become a poker stop, so every rider who stops in gets a card. More on motorcycle events in Rippin'.
- 1
Create the event
Add the name, time, place and a short note on what to expect.
- 2
Make it repeat
A weekly summer bike night can repeat, so you post it once and it runs all season.
- 3
Share it
Send it to your squad and post it to the feed. Riders RSVP from the app.
The trip is the event
The rides Alaska riders plan all year for
For a lot of riders, the biggest Alaska motorcycle event is the trip itself: riding the Alaska Highway up through Canada, crossing the Arctic Circle on the Dalton, running the Denali Highway across the tundra, or looping the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City. These take planning: fuel, spares, ferry or border timing, and a season window that's only a few months long.
The roads are in our Alaska roads guide, the timing is in the best time to ride in Alaska, and the overview is on the Alaska hub.
Before you go
Before you ride to an Alaska event
- Confirm the date and entry with the organizer the week before. Plans change.
- Plan fuel. Outside towns, stations can be far apart and close early.
- Check the road on Alaska 511 for construction delays and closures.
- Pack for cold and rain, even in July.
- Watch for moose on the ride home, at any hour.
- Share a ride plan with your squad so everyone knows the departure time, route and stops.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
Are there big motorcycle rallies in Alaska?
Alaska's calendar is mostly local: swap meets, kickoff rides, bike nights, charity runs and end-of-season rides. For many riders, the big event is the trip itself, like the Alaska Highway or the Dalton.
When do motorcycle events happen in Alaska?
Mostly May to September. Swap meets and indoor shows can start in March and April, before the roads are clear.
How do I find bike nights in Anchorage or Fairbanks?
Open Meets in Rippin', set your area and browse what's nearest. If your regular night isn't listed, post it and set it to repeat.
Is there a Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in Alaska?
The DGR is a worldwide ride usually held in May. Check the DGR site to see if there's one near you this year.
Can I post my own motorcycle event in Rippin'?
Yes, any rider can post a meet or event for free. Organizer Pro adds unlimited and recurring meets and official events for shops and clubs.
What should I pack for a ride to an Alaska event?
Rain gear, warm layers, a tire plug kit and inflator, and bug spray. Even July evenings can be cold, and help can be a long way off outside town.
When is the Seward Highway busiest?
Summer weekends, and especially the Fourth of July, when Seward hosts the Mount Marathon race. Ride early or midweek if you can.
Put Alaska's events on the map.
Download Rippin' free, find bike nights and rides near you, and post the ones we're missing.
Free on iPhone and Android. How Rippin' works
