Fairbanks North Star Borough district, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States

Places to visit near Ester

Ester is a town in Fairbanks North Star Borough district, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States, home to about 2,422 people. Within 50 km by road there are 266 places to visit — 82 churches, 31 hill stations & viewpoints, 29 parks and 25 lakes, dams & reservoirs. The must-see places are Smith Lake (9 km), Georgeson Botanical Garden (9 km) and University of Alaska Museum of the North (10 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Ester on the map

Ester, Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Ester, Fairbanks North Star Borough district, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Ester at a glance

Location
Fairbanks North Star Borough district, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States
Population
about 2,422
Coordinates
64.8472° N, 148.0144° W
Places within 50 km
266 (8 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for churches and parks

Top places to visit near Ester

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Ester: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Ester

Stories from travellers

Things to see near Ester, by type

Churches near Ester

82 churches within 100 km of Ester. The closest is Wings of Healing Church of Ida (2 km); the best-known is Immaculate Conception Parish (17 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Ester

40 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Ester. The closest is Gold Hill (4 km); the best-known is Moose Mountain (13 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Parks near Ester

29 parks within 100 km of Ester. The closest is Bee Field (6 km); the best-known is Troth Yeddha' Park (10 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Ester

27 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Ester. The closest is Ace Lake (5 km); the best-known is Smith Lake (9 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

  • Smith Lake · lake · Fairbanks North Star Borough · ~9 km · Must-see
  • Ace Lake · lake · Fairbanks North Star Borough · ~5 km
  • Lake Killarney · lake · Fairbanks North Star Borough · ~7 km
  • Quartz Lake · lake · Fairbanks North Star Borough · ~10 km
  • Toolik Lake, Alaska · lake · Fairbanks North Star Borough · ~10 km
  • Ballaine Lake · lake · Fairbanks North Star Borough · ~12 km

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Forts & heritage near Ester

25 forts & heritage within 100 km of Ester. The closest is Black Brant Ix Sounding Rocket (10 km); the best-known is Creamer's Dairy (17 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Museums near Ester

19 museums within 100 km of Ester. The closest is UAF Planet Walk Start (Sun) (10 km); the best-known is University of Alaska Museum of the North (10 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

A one-day trip from Ester

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 39 km on the road.

  1. Start in Ester
  2. 9 km Georgeson Botanical Garden · garden, Fairbanks North Star Borough
  3. 1 km University of Alaska Museum of the North · museum, Fairbanks North Star Borough
  4. 1 km Troth Yeddha' Park · park, Fairbanks North Star Borough
  5. 2 km Smith Lake · lake, Fairbanks North Star Borough
  6. 13 km Moose Mountain · viewpoint, Fairbanks North Star Borough
  7. 13 km Back to Ester

Plan a longer trip from Ester — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Ester

No traveller has reported from around Ester yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Ester

    All places near Ester by distance

    Within 15 km of Ester

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Ester by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches8282Wings of Healing Church of Ida (2 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints3140Gold Hill (4 km)
    Other attractions3637Chena Indian Village (9 km)
    Parks2929Bee Field (6 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs2527Ace Lake (5 km)
    Forts & heritage1825Black Brant Ix Sounding Rocket (10 km)
    Museums1819UAF Planet Walk Start (Sun) (10 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1717Seed Garden (7 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves77Byers Island (9 km)
    Beaches & coast11Swim Beach (18 km)
    Buddhist sites11Vatta Buddhajayanti Mahavihara Bhikkhuni (7 km)
    Treks11Skarland Summer 6-Mile Loop (10 km)

    Ester: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Ester?

    Smith Lake (lake, about 9 km), Georgeson Botanical Garden (garden, about 9 km), University of Alaska Museum of the North (museum, about 10 km), Troth Yeddha' Park (park, about 10 km), Moose Mountain (viewpoint, about 13 km), Pioneer by the Bus Stop (park, about 14 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Ester?

    266 places on Spotwander: 82 churches, 31 hill stations & viewpoints, 36 other attractions, 29 parks, 25 lakes, dams & reservoirs.

    Which is the nearest church to Ester?

    Wings of Healing Church of Ida, about 2 km by road; The New Birth Christian Church (6 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Ester?

    Gold Hill, about 4 km by road; Ester Dome (5 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Ester?

    Bee Field, about 6 km by road; Babula Children’s Garden (9 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Ester?

    Start in Ester, visit Georgeson Botanical Garden, then University of Alaska Museum of the North, then Troth Yeddha' Park, then Smith Lake, then Moose Mountain, and drive back — about 39 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Ester?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for churches and parks.

    Towns near Ester

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Ester’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Ester on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.