North to Alaska

[mboys]

Well We're now retired and heading out on April 16th toward Alaska via Pine Arizona. All packed and chomping at the bit to head out. This will be a 4 month venture for us taking our time up the west coast as to not get to Alaska too early!! Really looking forward to our first long trip and meeting you all along the way. Aside from being sure we drive slow and keep the fuel toped off any suggestions on where to stay would be appreciated. Our only for sure reservations is Chicken Alaska for the Blue Grass Festival in June as well as a King Salmon Charter in Homer. Save travels to all.
Will be adding a photo of our rig when we get a good Photo op.

Mark & Connie.

[mamestra]

We have been Alaska twice, it is one of the greatest RV trips that you can ever take. I would suggest two books that will help with your trip the first one is the Milepost this has great information on the Alcan, Cassiar and all other highways on your trip, unfortunately the campground information is very bias as the owners write the reviews, so I would also recommend Alaskan Camping by Mike and Terry Church (Rolling Homes Press) a great guide to camping along the highway and Alaska. If I can help send me a PM. Do not miss spending time at the Denali campground that is the third campground into the park.

[mlh]

Reminds me of an old Johnny Horton song ,North To Alaska. My dream trip.
Lynwood

[mhs4771]

Sounds like it's going to be a great season for Alaska, we will be headed there min June, but we're doing it with a Tour group, so all our reservations are taken care of for us.

[twindman]

Someone a few years ago went to AK and had 4-6 inches of snow on the Montana in Canada in May. Also, we went in 2010 and were there the month of July. I think it rained about 25-28 out of 30 days!!! No mountain top views, no float trips, etc. I don't do cold and rainy!!
So we are going this year and be there mid August - mid Sept.
The parks in AK are mostly parking lot type places. And of course about 50% more $$ than in the lower 48. The Buluga Lodge in Kenai has a great view from the cliff top overlooking the bay/river. Very tight spots tho. And the 7-8 spots on the very edge book up very quickly. The Kenai Princess RV park at Cooper Landing was pretty nice and you can use the motel hot tubs
IN Denali there are mid length and long bus tours into the park. You can only drive 15-20 miles out of the 80 miles total, so that is about the only option. Odds of actually seeing the top of the mountain are slim in any month, more so in June timeframe. Too many clouds.
Have fun.
p.s. Drive VERY slowly from Whitehorse to Tok. I took 3.25 hours to go around 105 miles past Destruction Bay. And that was too fast - had 5 cupboard doors open and stuff on the floor. Problem is - they have little orange flags beside the road for rough spots. So I slow down to 25 or 30 for the first couple but they weren't bad. So next time I slow to 35-45 and get bounced all over.

[mboys]

Thanks to all for your replys. Great information. We will drive SLOW. We did get plenty of repelant for the State Birds.

[K0LCB]

Good luck! Have lots of fun, stay safe

[JandC]

We visited Alaska several years ago while my brother-in-law was stationed there. I have been all over Europe and I can say that Alaska has much better mountains and scenery than anywhere I have been. We are going in June, but the Montana is staying at Lake Pleasant RV Park in Bothell Washington. We are booked on a cruise and Lake Pleasant caters to RVers leaving their rigs for cruises. Have a wonderful trip and can't wait to hear about your travels up there.

[The Oldguard]

Take extra fuel filters and engine belts also find the phone numbers for windshield repairs.
Have you wheel bearings and brakes checked along with your tires.

[Rondo]

We were in Alaska late June and early July but were not towing! We had a van and did the Seward trip, Anchorage to Denali where we had a cabin about half way up a mountain just north of Denali, on to Fairbanks, and back down to Anchorage via the eastern route and along the pipeline. Had a blas!. As we turned into Denali to get our bus ride tickets there was a cow moose and its calf standing there eating willows. The trip the next day was clear and warm and we saw all kinds of wildlife besides the "giant dandelions" along the road within the park. They actually have volunteers gong along the road digging them up since they are not native to Alaska and were brought in via vehicles using the road. McKinley makes it's own weather because of it's altitude and while we were there it cleared and we saw the peak for nearly four hours and got some awesome photos, then it created it's own clouds and covered the peak again. Take plenty of mosquito repellent because those buggers are the size of B-52s up there. Great trip and we will someday be heading back to see the great State of Alaska and it's wonders of nature. Have a great trip!

[worleyjrtx5]

We are with a group headed up around 5 June. Ist trip for us, 2d and 3d trip for some of the others. We are looking forward to it. One of the folks who has been gave us a great CD some fellow put out on driving to Alaska, can't remember who it was, but it might help. As always, Google it.

[Jay Bird]

Have a great trip and be safe.

[rames14]

Maybe we'll see you on the road. We're leaving May 15 via Waterton Lakes and the Icefield Parkway. Have a safe trip.

[RKassl]

Oh you guys are making my mouth water! We did Alaska last summer. We left NW Wisconsin May 15th. Many of the campgrounds in northern Alberta and BC had opened just a week prior to our arrival. Toad River in BC opened the day before we arrived. Muncho Lake was still ice covered. Several of the campgrounds in the Yukon were not open around Destruction Bay, Nugget City had big piles of snow yet. But OMG what an adventure it was the only way to top it is a return in 2015 God willing, once you catch the Alaska bug you have got to feed it! :-)

On our return trip home we left Toad River on July 17, you climb some elevations here and we ran into a snow storm.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[mboys]

Thanks for sharing your adventures! . We are leaving this morning and I'm already up at 2:30 am anticipating the trip. Fueled up and the fridge is running. All new set of tires on the dually yesterday after second thoughts. Better safe than sorry I suppose. See you on the trail. Safe travels.

[Chasnracin]

Have a safe trip and hope to see you when you get up here. If you stay in the Anchorage area, give us a shout. Don't forget your Milepost for driving the ALCAN. This book is a MUST to let you know where your stops will be. Don't hit the ALCAN without it!

[daily double]

We are leaving the end of May. Don't forget Victoria day in Canada is one of their busiest camping times. Maybe we'll see you on the road.

[daily double]

Do any of you wish you had taken a truck camper instead of the Monty?

[RKassl]

I thought about this for our 2015 Alaska trip. Our friends seemed to go where I would not pull the Monty. But when the wife and I talked about it, here is NOTNING like have our Monty with us. When we go back I 2015 we will adjust. Yes we saw many more tuck campers in 2013, but they make some major sacrifices. In 205 we will pull the Monty once more, you will never regret it!!!

[Chasnracin]

Truck campers are huge here in AK. In the lower 48 they are almost a novelty, but not up here. Mostly by locals though so they can get to their favorite getaway spot. If I were visiting, I would pull the Monty (or whatever you have). Most likely you will not be staying in the tiny off the beaten path type places that they go. We take ours all over up here, but keep it on solid ground. Plenty of places to boondock with generators and still be one with nature. As for the ALCAN, just take your time over the frost heaves and you will do fine. The people that have trouble are the Billy Big Riggers trying to run 70 mph over them and break an axle. Just my $.02.