RV caravan to Alaska? Next season???

Ayep, I am always amazed at the 150K plus diesel pushers I see parked here in Alaska.

At WalMart parking lots.

Because they are too cheap to spend the bucks for a campground, or their rigs are too big to fit. Those big rugs are limiting, and there aren't that many pull offs that won't be filled with other people doing the same. Most are nothing more than a wide spot alongside the highways, which means plenty of noise as traffic rolls on at a good pace 24/7 in the summer months here.

A copy of the Mile Post is essential, and I agree about being prepared for large expenses that you likely wouldn't face on other trips.

On the other hand, the trip up here is one of the most scenic that there is, period.

You can also sign up to be campground attendants through the Park Service. It is not a paid position, but provides free campspace. Worth checking with them for those who want to spend a summer here. In fact, some of the local schools here offer the same, for added summertime security.

It should also be noted that part of the land is intended to BE and RV. Camp -it is part of our 20 year plan. but right now we really do not want to deal with much more.

Look up the "Dimond M Ranch" in Soldotna it is a farming RV camp Ground with lodging too.


Another thought is to Fly up and Rent an RV. Lot's do that Then most moter siduation would not be your worry.

There are solutions for problems.

It would be realativly cheep to fly up rent a car and buy a tent. Or buy a used camper then sell it on a consignment lot when ya leave.

I've driven the Alcan up and back 13 times. Each trip was an adventure.

If something happens your own your own..... When someone mentioned towing, AAA, or Sams.... I almost choked on my ice water. There's no one available to help you for hundreds of miles, once you get past Dawson, the beginning of the Alcan. There's only one town of consequence, and that's Whitehorse. The rest of that stretch is pretty dang wild. I loved it........... till I had breakdowns.

Unless Canada's wasted a fortune, I doubt if there's any cell coverage outside of the little hamlets. So, if you break down, prepared to help yourself, and drive three or four hours to find a gas station with a land line phone, so they can call someone else... and find out how many days or weeks it'll take for the part to arrive. Good lord, I can't imagine having even a vehicle towed... much less an RV. You really need to know how to change and FIX tires... you can't carry enough spares... you'll have to be able to patch and plug em and have portable compressor on hand. A full set of mechanic tools so you can fix anything that could go wrong. If something is iffy on your vehicle or rig, replace it beforehand.

Carry a literal sack of money. Last travelled the Alcan 11 years ago, and back then they required everyone to have 500cash per person. An rv might need 5000. I used a card for everything anyway, so the cash wasn't a problem.... The fuel alone is going to be very expensive. Carry EXTRA. Most of the time the stations are open, and there's one at least every two hundred miles. "MOST OF THE TIME" One year I left in early april and half the stations weren't open yet for the season. I used my extra ten gallons of gas and coasted into an open station. I saw more bears than people on the road.

Fantasymaker recommends what I usually recommend to folks. Fly up, buy a car, or better yet, rent a small rv. They'll save on Alcan gas money, at least two weeks of travel, and they'll save a fortune on hotel rooms.

Good luck... I hope to go back someday.

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

PLZ remember that PASSPORTS will be needed. to go. And there is A 3 month wait to get them.

Passport are not needed to get to Alaska.

Ok, If one goes thru Cananda yes. But We do have the ferry system in Bellingham, washington.

And When I moved from Juneau we did blow and engine in Delta Junction. I had AAA but it took them over 2 days to get to me. (But the towed me from Delta Juntion to Anchorage for Free for leaving us stranded.

They just announced on the news tonight that passports will definitely be required for all travellers by any medium after the 1st of January, 2008. People flying will require passports by the middle of this month.

i've been following this post and wow, what a great offer. I really hope they can take you up on it. I haven't chimed in before because i can't go to alaska now and that is really all she wants to hear from. I just had to comment on how nice this was.

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Nature.
Please provide more info on the Passport deal. Flying is a way of life up here. We fly to go shopping and to get medical help. Right now my husband's medical care is truly limited because a brain aneriusm was just found and flying is a big no no.

Passports will now be needed to travel within US borders?
To Get to AK fro the lower 48 with out stepping on Canadian ground one can drive to Bellingham and catch a ferry -ride the ferry to Haines or switch off to go to seward or many other places noting NOT to end up on a land locked place such a Juneau or Sitka or ect. Haines will not help come to think because I still had to hit canada. Boy Alaska is really feeling like a different country. I guess the Steward port will see more action than Haines now.

I happen to be quite pleased with Alaska. I came here on vacation and took 2 years to finish a contract to free myself to move here. I truly love it and even though at times it is harsh there is something so special about the vast lands with nature right there. The MTs. the waters. I would suggest anyone wanting to know about Alaska veiw a movie called "off the beaten Path" the story of Bob and Mary Haeg. (they are dear friends and the movie is part home movies and part Professional. We have been watching their other home movies and what a hit they are.

Do not give up on Alaska as a trip. Anne even if it is just you You will be welcomed. Any HT is always welcomed here ----Even if I hold different beliefs or views.

Can Elfie hitch a ride with one of you?

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If the grass looks greener it is probably over the septic tank. - troy n sarah tx

Our existance here is soley for the expoitation of CMG

Texican, things have changed quite a bit in the last decade on the Alaskan Highway. The biggest change being the Shakwak project. This is a mega-dollar highway project to improve and/or replace most of the highway from Whitehorse to the AK. border. A lot of the really twisty stretches have been rerouted and straightened, most bridges replaced and all of it is "paved". There are still lots of gravel stretches due to road construction, frost heaves and seal coat (tar n' chip) to deal with. I have heard old timers claim that it's nothing more than an overhyped Sunday drive anymore. Obviously there is very little cell service to be had, but road service is not the issue it once was. We did our two recent trips with a well maintained truck, and a good road service policy. Our towing policy includes any reasonable expense, regardless of mileage or cost. Yes, I confirmed this, and our company has paid thousands of dollars per claim to get trucks and RVs back to civilization from places far more remote than the AK. highway. The Ak. highway is spectacular and remote, but in a well maintained vehicle, with a current copy of the Milepost, it really is no big deal. There are many roads that provide a lot more adventure starting with the Cassier highway, then the Dalton, or the trek through the Northwest territories. We did the Dalton to the Arctic circle. That was quite a trip. Nothing but dirt, giant pipeline trucks, and lonely tundra. Great trip. Texican, one thing that's still the same is the cost of hotels. They are horrendously expensive. We alway camp, but I stayed at many combination campground/motels and was always shocked to see a motel that was pretty rough, completely full, and getting $160, or more a night! No thanks.

PASSPORTS. IIRC, the deadline for land travel to and from the US is still the end of Jan. '08. After this date you will not be able to cross the border by vehicle without one. This information has changed several times in the recent past, so further checking may be required.

tiogacountry... the problems I had were of my own making , not any real fault of the road.... I learned my lessons quickly...never start out on less than stellar tires... change everything that might need fixing, before starting out. They haven't stationed more people up there in the lonely stretches have they? That was my original point... if you break down, unless you have a sat phone, it might be a while before anybody drives by, and if they do stop, it'd be a long while before they got to a phone, and it'd be even longer before help would arrive. I know too many people who expect service to be snappy... and waiting is just not something they know how to do. The Alcan requires patience.

Kasilofhome.... unless you fly to Alaska, wouldn't you need a passport...as the ferry doesn't go to Anchor? Has the ferry system finally started carrying passengers all the way to the Interior Road system. Yep, the ferry would get you to AK, but to get to 'mainland' Alaska, you still had a days travel into Canada and back into Alaska again... to get to Fbks or Anchor.... I thought about taking the ferry each year, but since it was a sackful of cash to tote my vehicle (and 3x what gas would cost) I always opted for the Alcan.

No matter how you get there, it's worth it.

And I'd trust kasilofhome because they're actually living there now.

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

The Alcan can be a nightmare on the other hand in my last few trips I haven't had so much as a flat tire,and one of those was in a $240 ford fairmont......not exactly the poster child for a reliable vehicle.
Texican is right though. places with service can be few and far between and horrendously expensive.
I still try to carry at least 1000 miles of fuel to help reduce costs significantly.
Ive found fuel in Edmonton and Whitehorse to be relatively reasonable.
other places vary except for Watson lake.I try not to buy ANYTHING there.
The stations along the way seem to be calculated to get the most out of you. fuel will be reasonable for a while then a bit high so you go on thinking you will just fill at the next place then its higher so you go to the next now its scary high but you have to fill up so you do then 30 miles down the road its back to stateside prices!Ive met more than 1 RV'er who fueled at the 5 MOST expensive places!

Tex, please check out the Alaskan Ferry schedule. We can and do have ways around stepping on Canadian soil and have for years.
Bellingham to Juneau and then Juneau to Homer is one way.

Having planned Boy Scout High Adventure trips for 15 years- and a month long camping trip with grandkids- my advice is to plan for 2009. It takes 18 months. OR plan for 2008 but treat it as your day job. Most important intially-routes and reservations. But to know where you want to stay, you need to knowwhat you want to see.
Google is your friend....

My farther got a new RV a few months ago (traded in his old pusher for a new one)as he is going to retire in a few weeks. We have talked about a trip to Alaska but he does not want to do it for a year or 2. His first trip will be to come see me here in Florida and his new great grand baby that will be born next month.
Maybe in a year or 2 when he wants to make that trip I will post it here again and see if anyone wants to make it with him and my step mother.
They are planing on being just about full time RV living at least for a few years.