California to alaska

[Foldbak]

Has anybody made the trek? If so suggestions?

[scottz]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

Has anybody made the trek? If so suggestions?

Nope, just Colorado to Alaska.

Did it in 1979, 1983 (when it was 1500 miles of dirt), 2019 and again this coming summer.

Take the Cassiar Highway; beautiful. Stop at Stewart BC/Hyder AK the first part of August to see the brown bears.

Grab a copy of the Milepost. The 2024 edition comes out on April 1.

https://themilepost.com/routes/alaska-highway/

https://www.amazon.com/MILEPOST-2024...s%2C139&sr=8-1

[twindman]

Went twice from AZ. wanted to see bears at Hyder but first year way to early, so 2nd time I left around July 7 and was treated to a different grizzly each night (2) at Hyder. I didn't make it back to the USA until Sept. 10. By that time some rv parks in Montana and Canada were already closed. Canada was tricky, as one place at Destruction Bay was closed but had a sign saying hookups were working for one more week. Leave $25 in a box on the wall!. And this was about the only park in the middle of a good long stretch so no where else to stay. Fun adventure tho!

[Foldbak]

I retire next February and we would like to plan for a 6 week trip somewhere. We're in Calif. so we're thinking about the Keys, Canada, Alaska or a loop of the mid states maybe the Carolina's. We're open but need to start planning and calculating the expense now.


What ferry can accommodate a 5th wheel?

[182flyer]

Great thread Foldbak; we're planning long AK visit in 2025.

[Daryles]

There were a couple of Montanas that made the Alaska trip last summer. They gave a fantastic presentation at the rally in September.
They shared spread sheets with all documented expenses.
Hopefully they will see this thread and you cam get in touch with them for a copy of their presentation.
There is a FB group called RVing to Alaska.
Lots of good info there too.

[RKassl]

Plan Plan Plan, understand?

[182flyer]

Foldbak; if you decide to do a midwest tour, I would be very interested in your info. 2024 we're doing a late summer/fall tour from CO north to ND; east with several stops on the way to Niagra Falls; leaf peeping in northern NY/ME and then back however we must to avoid snow. I love being retired.

[Foldbak]

I'm thinking spring or fall of 2025 so I have plenty of time. At least I hope I do

[twindman]

I would recommend Ak!! It takes more planning and prep time than the other trips. I forget the exact name, but there is a paperback 'book' put out yearly about the trip. Has the latest in roadside businesses that have closed etc. Also places to eat, etc.

I left AZ July 7 and went up the west to Port Angeles, Wa. Took a ferry to Victoria. Spent 3 days or so there, and then took a ferry to Anecortes, WA instead of on into Canada. That ferry is run by Wa and they had a 1/2 price sale! LOL Then drove (I think less than 20 miles to the border and crossed customs again. But if no price difference you can just straight to canada and not go thru customs at all on this stretch. This takes you to Hyder early August with bears most years.
I think it is a US National forest thing or something. They write ups say there is a 10 foot high board walk about 300 ft along a creek. Let me tell you it is only about 4-5 feet in a few places which was a little troublesome!!! LOL Bears were more interested in the salmon in the creek than anything else, tho.
Then on up to Tok, Fairbanks, Anchorage, the Kenai, and home.

OH, if you feel adventurous you can do the Top of the World highway. Not for the timid. From Whitehorse,go north instead of west. Dawson City is the destination. Don't know if it still in business, but Diamond Gerty's Saloon is , ehem, interesting! The road from there crosses the river on a free ferry, then on a dirt/gravel road that is smoother than many paved roads. The problem we had in this route is at the border. The USA tries to fool you into thinking it is a nice road. Well pavement goes about 7 miles and then dirt. And stretches are one lane with no pull outs for sections maybe 1/8 mile long. Also there was a sort of boulder right in the middle of the road you drive over!!! We made it and then we got to the famous town of Chicken AK. A gas station and 2-3 places serving food - one of them served chicken, our course.
Anyway this is a brief description. First trip was 2010 but missed Hyder bears so went again in 2016 and ALSO did the Top of the World. We will never forget the many adventures on this trip, which is why I vote for AK over the other trips. Good luck where ever you go.

[rames14]

Foldbak, just got back from Alaska a month ago. If you purchase the Alaska Milepost (Amazon), you will find all of the routes. Your choices are very straight forward. The easiest from California is to go up to Washington and catch the Cassiar Highway to Whitehorse. Unless you go by Ferry (very expensive) all roads lead through Tok. Skagway and Haines can be reached via Whitehorse. Hyder is just off of the Cassiar Highway. Feel free to PM me and I can share some files. I tracked every cent spent on the trip. If I could make a suggestion it would be to next year, go to the Keys after attending the MOC rally in Goshen. There will be a seminar on Alaska answering all your questions. Then plan on Alaska in 2025.

[Foldbak]

Thanks for the post Tom. I don't want to do any (sketchy) driving This will be my first long trip out with the Monty so I need it to keep is somewhat stress free for DW. We've trailered from CA to the Dakotas but it was all highway. Three questions Tom.

1. What is a good destination in AK
2. Whats a budget for this kind of trip
3. How much driving time per day is comfortable

I know the cost of goods has gone up since your last trek to AK but looking for some kind of number to decide if it's affordable. I don't see the price of fuel going down anytime soon. Any I need to account for inflation from now to 2025. We would do the trip in 2024 but DW has already booked the year I've been mocking up a route using RV Life. I'm thinking 300 to 400 miles of travel per day? I'm not a youngster anymore lol.

[rames14]

Foldbak, this is 2023 data from our Alaska trip:
Days per stay - 2.4 days (1-10 days per stop)
Miles per day - 189 miles (7 - 442)
Average Speed per Day 39 mph (counts stops - max 61)
Days - 159 (Stopped counting when we arrived at Goshen for rally)
May 1st left Colorado, arrived Goshen September 6th
Miles Traveled - 13,614
Diesel Cost/Gallon - $4.54 (Diesel Cost bout $6,000)
Mileage - 10.3 mpg with kayak on truck roof.
Total Cost - $22,961
CG Cost/Day - $16.73 (thanks Solar)
You can spend a lot more if you fly in to Katmai and other tours. We did one helicopter tour, 3 fishing trips and some other add ons. Our tours were $3500.
First and foremost, regardless of route, you are going a long distance. Don’t rush it. You have to eat regardless of where you are. You eat out. Those are all in here. The roads are rough. I recommend IS.

[Foldbak]

Thanks for the detailed answer. Wow that was an expensive trip. With the price of everything right now I may have to rethink. I'll continue to plan and price out the trip. See where I land. Thanks again.

[twindman]

On the AK trip, yes 39 mph is about right. Be VERY careful when you hit the stretch where the permafrost is melting. At my time, they put little flags along the road to warn you. So I slowed to about 25 mph on the first one. No problem, so the next one I only slowed to 40 mph. OOOPS! Very rough.
Another suggestion is to look on the net for organized tours. I looked at one of their routes and stops and just stopped at the same places. Sometimes it is difficult to find a park at the right point. If you are driving 250 miles, but there are no parks withing 50 miles either way, you have to adjust. I had no problem with fuel, but pretty much filled up at or near the overnites.

I took about 10 days from Vancouver to AK, 30 days around AK, and 10 days back to the states. So add in time to get to Canada and back. So probably around 60 days. I didn't stay anyplace longer than around 3 days, so adjust to your schedule. Good driving.
p.s So 6 weeks is probably not going to cut it. BUT, going to the Keys or Carolinas you are looking at 7-8000 miles also. So at 250 miles per day, that is 32 days with no stopovers at all. I don't think anything you want to do will make it in 42 days. As to cost, I am disgusted at rv park costs these days. Most parks along interstates in the Rockies (not sure about the midwest/east) cost probably 60-100 a night. KOAs are 10-20 more than others.

[WaltBennett]

Bring lots and lots of $$$$$$.

[ojo123]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

Has anybody made the trek? If so suggestions?

Done it three times. I think the most prevalent thing I would think is how much of Alaska you want to see. If you want to the normal loop from Tok around Fairbanks and down south through Denali you better take at least a month. Be really flexible on your schedule as anything can happen in Alaska.

[swingby1]

We follow “happily ever Hanks” on YouTube and the just finished their journey to Alaska. Fun listening and they discuss all their issues and suggestions