Techniques are described for providing fast reroute inter-area node protection for label switched paths (LSPs) using label distribution protocol (LDP). In one example, a network device may be configured to determine that a protected node is an area border router, and use network topology information, obtained by an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) executing on the network device, to identify a second area border router in the same IGP area as the protected node, to which to automatically establish a bypass LSP and a targeted LDP session.