It is off the NWT Highway 1 that heads to Yellowknife, on NWT Highway 2, but if you are in need of gas and the Enterprise station is close, it is the place to go. However this time Ill be making the drive end of October, 1st week of November. The campground has pull throughs with hook-ups, fire pits, tables and dump station. Never let gas tank get below half full, and you may need to get a block heater installed and carry an extension cord. The drive sounded extra daunting since our home base is San Diego, which meant over two thousand miles of driving before we even started the Alaskan Highway. Keep in mind that some vehicles (especially older cars) have trouble starting in such cold weather. Hey! When I was planning our trip I thought I didnt want to drive more than 250 miles per day, which would be about 5 hours a day, and therefore figured it would take me 6 days of driving. Depending on how you get to Dawson Creek, the start of the highway, you will probably pass through the very large cities of Prince George or Calgary, which will be great places to stock up in. multiply the Canadian liter price by 4 and take three-fourths of that. I made the drive during the last week of April 2014 in my F150 44 without a trailer. If you are looking to explore more of the Canadian Rockies, click here to read our Canada National Parks Road Trip Itinerary. In some areas, gas stations may be closer together, while in other areas they may be farther apart. Occasionally you may hit a station that is "sold out" due to a caravan stopping, etc. Additionally, its important to note that prices for gasoline and diesel can be significantly higher in remote areas. Modern construction methods do not allow the permafrost to melt, either by building a gravel berm on top or replacing the vegetation and soil immediately with gravel. As mentioned in the beginning, however, the Dempster Highwayis a 700-km dirt road with very little services offered along the way. The Alaskan Highway passes through a few major cities but mostly through really small towns. It was a tough trip. Traveling the Alcan Feb 28 2018 Any updates I should be aware of, How are the roadsI am driving all the way down to the Lower 48 to the Southwill check back and hope someone poststhank you. click here to read our Canada National Parks Road Trip Itinerary. The road itself is . The Golden Circle refers to the area of Whitehorse, Carcross, and Haines Junction in the Yukon, and Skagway and Haines in Alaska. If your RV is in good shape, it might be ready for a long journey. But many people who arent visiting Fairbanks choose to take the Tok cutoff which takes you down to Anchorage. We had a full-size mattress in the back of the van and a 20 below sleeping bag and was very warm all night every night . Discover the best stops along the Alaska Highway in my travel guide, Alaska Highway Travel Guide 202 Best Stops, which is available on Amazon. Big Delta State Historical Park and turn off to Rika's . The 2,198 ft. long replacement bridge is the longest span on the Alaska Highway. A gas station operates at the junction of Highway 37 and the Alaska Highway in summer . We have a place in NM & with our Tundra pulling a trailer we count on 8 days (although we have made it in less that 5 days without the trailer) going Taos- Raton-Denver-Cheyenne-Billings-Calgary-Grande Prairie-Ft. Nelson-Watson Lake-Whitehorse-Tok- Anchorage. My wife and I are more concerned. I was ready for jagged mountains, glaciers, and epic hikes so we headed down to Valdez. There is so much hiking, mountain and road biking, fishing, and adventures at sea that this could fill weeks of your travel. Before you start planning your trip down the Alaska Highway, get The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Planner. We were able to explore so many other incredible destinations in Canada on the way up and down that I wouldve been really disappointed to miss if we had just flown straight to Alaska. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Alaska Highway, also known as the Alcan Highway, is a remote road that runs through Canada and Alaska, so gasoline can be more expensive than in urban areas. Or simply. Crossing into Canada from Alaska the frost heaves are terrible for many miles. The Alaska Highway is the road connecting Alaska with the rest of North America. One old log bridge can still be seen at the Aishihik river crossing. Alaksa Marine Hiway MV Malaspina. I didnt realize there was plenty of RV parking near the Springs and there was a huge dirt parking area where other RVs were camped for the day in order to ride ATVs in the surrounding trails. Where the Alaska Highway Starts Dawson Creek, BC is 700 miles north of the US/Canadian border. But to be on the safe side, as mentioned above, drive on the upper half of your fuel tank. There are some short sections though that are under construction and may be dirt road or bumpy for a bit. And found that it was better to pull over to the right and slow way down when passing trucks because they put sand and rocks on the road whenever it snows and it cracked our windshield . We melted snow while we are at Hot Springs . Of course, if you include 2 lane highways, there's even more desolate sections of roadway in the US. In some remote areas, it can be up to 150 miles or more between gas stations. You should always fill up in these major towns: Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake, Whitehorse, and Tok. This increases the cost of the gasoline before it even reaches the gas stations. With this trip, I had my entire RV packed to the brim with necessities and non-necessities that made me feel prepared and I liked that sense of independence and security. (Example: During a February 2012 trip, some gas stations were sold-out of fuel which made it 200 miles between fill-ups! Even though there are places you can stop along the way, theres nothing thats that really worth stopping for plus, the hikes and bike rides I planned on doing werent going to be fun because it was raining on and off most days. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This is the ultimate travel guide and pocket reference for anyone wishing to experience the adventure and wonder of THE ALASKA HIGHWAY! Supposedly saves about 50 miles. Copyright 2023 Nomads With A Purpose | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Additionally, its worth noting that gas prices in remote areas can be higher than in urban areas. In fact, one the way out of Alaska, we did Anchorage all the way to Whitehorse in one day, but it was a long day of driving. Many stations have very long distances between them. but how should we get there? Driving through the Canadian Rockies is almost as incredible as Alaska itself and again, highly recommended if you can fit it into your itinerary. Route 66 RV Trip The 10 BEST TIPS for RVing on the Mother Road How to prepare? Still recommend not pulling a trailer at that time frame? A post shared by Adventure Travel Family (@nomadswithapurpose) on May 21, 2019 at 6:21pm PDT. What is the longest distance between gas stations in the US? It was heavenly! The bears along the side of the road were the best part of the trip. One of the main reasons is the cost of transportation. That's about 260 miles (between actual gas stations, not city limits). Tip for border crossing: I almost always time the crossings to be later in the evening just in case the wait is long. The coldest was 30 below zero. Bring a spare tire (or two) and pay close attention to your gasthe longest distance between pumps is from Dease Lake to the Yukon border, a distance of 247 kilometres. Northern B.C. While there isnt a lot to see and do on the Alaskan Highway, if you detour less than a hundred miles off it in many directions you can find epic adventures. I want to hook up on a round trip from Seward to Anchorage & turn to Seward on the train, I want to find out if I can return via ALCAN highway driving back to the lower 48. This itinerary will cover the trip from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks. As of summer of 2015, as reported by forum members. Probably the least scenic way in my opinion. Truly there was a time when finding gas stations along the Alaska Highway was something one really had to be ready to take into consideration. Alaska Highway. One mile = 1.6 kilometers. Report inappropriate content LeBiscuit D Los Angeles. I mapped out where we could stop and researched things to do each day to make it a perfectly balanced trip butit took me about 5 minutes of driving the Alaskan Highway to realize that was a dumb idea. Gas Stations Along Alaska Highway Bob Jameson - Kenai, Alaska. If you choose to add Glacier National Park to your itinerary, be sure to read our blog Tips for Camping in Glacier National Park and 5 Best Hikes in Glacier National Park. Here are the top things road trippers should consider before shifting into high gear. reserve)] I will be towing an MB G-Wagen [I am planning to install An ~ 50 gal. I will be traveling with my 14 yr. old grandson & my two (2) English Mastiff. Gas stations are few and far between, If youre hungry get food the next time its available. --mark #10 skyhigh70 likes this. Fort Providence (141km from Enterprise/ 414km from High Level ) is the major fuel up spots along the highway to Yellowknife. The drive is long, but just like another pregnancy or childbirth, you endure it and look back so fondly at it. Well-known member Apr 4, 2010 #10 Two Hands said: We made the drive to Alaska this last summer with our 2007 Big Horn 3055RL and 2007 Chevrolet 2500HD diesel which gets about 11.5 when towing. For crossing here by Beaver Creek it probably doesnt matter but I know the border crossing by Skagway can get really long with all the tourists off the cruise ships. Although travelling the 2,000 miles between Seattle, Washington and Fairbanks, Alaska is an amazing experience, there are alternatives. Here are some related question people asked in various search engines. There's a lot of straight road the first 300 miles of highway, between Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson. Get a copy of the "Milepost" it says where pretty much every fuels stop in the North is located. My daughter and son and law have made the trip x2 and are very nonchalant about driving that Alcan. The next day I really didnt have the intention of driving so far, but there really wasnt anything that amazing to stop for except for the 17 bears we saw along the highway. Your email address will not be published. Mark Watsonis a California-based member of a Los Angeles Motorcycle Club and a keen traveler. Dont even attempt to bring a hand gun or any AR style rifles. There are normal road hazards, but with normal careful driving and some planning, you should have a safe trip. Summer. Gas stations can be found at regular intervals along the Alaska Highway, but it is always a good idea to fuel up when available as some stretches between stations can be quite long. What Are ALCAN Road Conditions Like? Are chains advised? So per your post I should be ok to do the trip with RV (gas fuel type)? This is a great hike and camping near here or even just spending a day on Kathleen Lake would be a great addition to your itinerary. The streets are very warm so Id say its a 99% chance of being just fine and beautiful with fresh green leaves along the way. I made the drive originally in July of 15 and it was beautiful. I'm so glad this helped you! I hit the brakes. Ride the free shuttle to Logan Pass and enjoy the dramatic views of the mountains and wildlife. The mountains were still fully covered in snow so we couldnt hike at the pass, but in the town of Valdez we did a short hike to this incredible viewpoint and discovered a free camping area at the base of a glacier. I found a cool website (http://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/index-Northern.html) that has webcams along the route. You can combine the Yellowhead and Cassiar Highways instead of the Alaskan Highway to get through Canada on your way to Alaska. Taking advantage of the Alaska Marine Highway is one of the best alternatives. Not sure how many miles we can put on in a day with the kids. I wish that it would be possible to add another fuel transfer tank for Diesel fuel, but tha would add another ~450# on the trailer tongue, which is not a great idea for a Bumper-Pull hitch, so I went with the ~250 mi. Much of the road will be a two-lane paved asphalt highway with a gravel shoulder wide enough for the typical vehicle. It continues on to Delta Junction at mile 1422 (km 2288), where . Over the course of the 4 month road trip we got an Airbnb for one night four times. If you like to drive during the day and stop in a campground or motel at night, youre covered. There is a lodge @ Klotz Lake about 30 miles east of Longlac. Hopefully our F150 does fine. We just drove slow and enjoyed the scenery . Are you driving from Alaska or to Alaska? They were out of this world delicious! Theres a reason the destination is Alaska. Season: Open all year North of Coldfoot, there is a 240-mile (386-km) stretch of road with no gas stations, restaurants, hotels, or any other basic services until the Prudhoe Bay oilfield at Deadhorse. There are just so many great outdoor activities, camping opportunities, and other adventures in that small area that I could be happy for weeks, if not months, there. Gas stations are not that rare. At its fullest extent the Pan-American Highway is a network of roads stretching from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina, a distance of around 48,000 kilometres (30,000 miles). Now, if you have money to throw on some excursions in Alaska, Im sure you can pay to see some incredible wildlife. I liked that it was reasonably priced, the showers were hot and free, there was a little store in the reception area that sold beer, and there was a dishwashing station. Drove to Anchorage Alaska to visit my sister and go to the Iditarod . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We are planning on driving and pulling a trailer from Alaska to Idaho the first week of October. Any advice for us, number of spare tires to bring & so on. Anyone else have knowledge (or preferably first-hand experience) with the BC winter tire requirements? You can Bring long guns (shotguns, rifles etc) and up to 5000 rounds of ammo. This sign is at the start of NV state highway 140, about 31 miles north of Winnemucca off of US HWY 95. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drive the Alaska Highway? In particular, some 100 miles of Alaska Highway route between Burwash Landing and Koidern, Yukon, became virtually impassable in May and June of 1943, as the permafrost melted, no longer protected by a layer of delicate vegetation. The raw nature is incomparable to anywhere else in the world. The Milepost is a book with mile-by-mile highway logs for 30 major routes and 60 side trips to and in Alaska. This was our total fuel expense from San Diego, California all the way to Denali (including all our detours) and back. The road is gravel, the steepest grade is 12 percent (a 12 foot rise in elevation for every 100 foot of travel), the highest summit is Atigun Pass . Luckily, I carried extra gas because some of the stations were still not open in April. If you allow for the worst case of 23l/100km, with a 65l tank and allowing for say 10 litres remaining in the tank, then by my calculations you'll get (65-10)/23 x 100 = 240 km. Grand Prairie Costco $1.19 (everywhere else in Grand Prairie was $1.32). Although the Alaska Highway was completed on October 28, 1942 and was celebrated at Soldiers Summit on November 21st (and broadcast by radio, the exact outdoor temperature censored due to wartime concerns), the highway was not usable by general vehicles until 1943. Navigation will be by using GPS/DGPS,GLONASS & hard copy Road Maps. It did get busier from Dease Lake down to the Yellowhead Highway junction. A legal winter tire (on a standard passenger vehicle or a four-wheel/all-wheel vehicle) MUST have at least 3.5 mm of tread depth. Since Im moving to the lower 48 I dont want to buy studded tires for a one-time use (I have a 4wd truck & good all-season tires). Good luck with that. The trip between the Canadian border to Fairbanks, Alaska, is a stretch of nearly 1,500 miles, and the trip from Seattle, Washington, to Fairbanks is a whopping 2,313 miles. Its also worth noting that some gas stations in remote areas of the Alaska Highway may only accept cash or travelers checks, so its a good idea to have some cash on hand. You won't run out of gas as long as you plan ahead, but it can be expensive at times. Tanana Trading Post and Tesoro Gas station to South side of highway. If you arent the planning type and intend on just driving the Alaska Highway with no detours, you dont need the book. The Alaska Highway . You definitely want to read our blog Golden Circle of Yukon + Alaska: Guide to Whitehorse, Skagway + Haines to get detailed information about Whitehorse and to help you decide if adding the Golden Circle to your itinerary is worth it. Its rainy season now so make sure your wipers are in decent shape and your fluid is topped off. :-). One spare tire ought to be fine. A station at one end sells about 30 gas containers a week to people who run out on the highway and walk to the station. Hes traveled the entirety of U. S. Route 66 seven times on his Harley-Davidson. The only two places we got a campground along the Alaskan Highway was Strawberry Flats Campground on Muncho Lake and High Country RV Park in Whitehorse both of which I highly recommend. The truth is, it would require a hell of a lot of recklessness to actually run out of gas. Another time I didnt like the vibe was when we were parked across the street from Liard Hot Springs. We slept in our van. Fuel is more expensive and gas stations and not as frequent as they are in other areas. Ive got a 2017 4Runner and studded tires. The main reason Id fly to Alaska next time is purely because the absolute best part of Alaska for us was the Kenai Peninsula. While Watson Lake and Tok are very small (were talking one block long) but big enough to fuel up, grab a bite, and find a place to stay if needed. In some areas, gas stations may be closer together, while in other areas they may be farther apart. Ford f159 pulling 7x14ft enclosed trailer. These factors contribute to the high cost of gasoline in Alaska. Check out our blog 15 Things to Do on the Kenai Peninsula: Alaskas Best Destination for help planning that part of your itinerary. This is very sad but it is a singular case and I dont think it is a fair representation of whether the Alcan is safe or not. It is primarily in Canada. Highest Pass: Summit Lake, 4,250 feet. We arrived in Dawson Creek only a few minutes before the visitor center closed, which I was thankful for so that the kids could get their Driving the Alaskan Highway certificate and so we could grab brochures to help us plan what detours we wanted to take. 450 - Junction 37 Services - 60 miles - Junction with Alaska Highway Stewart BC - station open set hours only - at end of Hwy 37A . While some of the towns on the Alaskan Highway are good to stretch your legs for a few hours, Whitehorse is a place you should plan on staying in for a few days. We didnt see a single bear in Alaska. . Central Access Route: This route starts in Ellensburg, WA and will take you through Kamloops. Most places were closed along the way . While Northern BC was pretty, Alaska is so diverse and jaw dropping-ly beautiful. Our family is considering a June trip and this blog will really help our process. A post shared by Adventure Travel Family (@nomadswithapurpose) on May 29, 2019 at 3:47pm PDT. I cannot find any information about bringing that through Canada. I had to throw this one in for anyone who is like my husband. Understand . When we reached Tok we left the Alaska Highway, 100 miles before its official end. Take advantage of every fuel station you come across. When it closed at 9 pm, we drove just a bit further to a rest area to sleep for the night. If you love planning, maps, want every detail of information on detours and alternative routes, or if you love history, I highly recommend buying it. Traveling to Fairbanks from Texas starting September 18th returning October 8, 2017. I am planning on driving this route from Fairbanks to the lower 48 in Jan/Feb time frame if anyone wants to convoy. (U.S) Gasoline Fuel Transfer Tank to use for fueling the G-Wagen. I haul RVs to Anchorage from IN Yes the roads can be a B.., but common sense, caution and a good vehicle with good tires can make it most any time of the year. There are many great overlooks and hikes to do along the road or click here to sign up for the Colombia Icefields Tour and do the Glacier Skywalk. at Beaver Creek, Yukon; north then west from Dawson Creek (an advance group started from Fort Nelson, British Columbia after traveling on winter roads on frozen marshland from railway stations on After taking a picture in front of the famous Dawson Creek Mile 0 statue, we drove an hour up to Fort St John so that the kids could swim and we could workout at the recreation center there. The inner workings of the worlds largest sockeye salmon hatchery, Alaska Caribou Cams Give Insight Into Secret Lives, Keep an eye on your fuel level. John I could sure use some of your wisdom. There was a stretch in south Texas along the King ranch that was a long one without gas. Just another note there was no lines to follow the road because the road was snow-covered so you never know if you were on the right side of the road and the roads go straight up and down and sharp right and sharp loves like roller coasters it was so much fun driving them . Should cross into Canada tomorrow from Montana. Expect a 30%-50% chance that any particular stop will be closed. Youre joking right? Are you curious what grand adventures await for you in The Last Frontier? From Fairbanks, hop on the Elliot Highway approximately 70 miles past historic gold mines to Livengood, where you'll pick up the start of the Dalton Highway. (See my detailed itinerary at the end of this blog.). Additionally, some stations may have limited hours of operation, so its important to plan accordingly and make sure you have enough fuel to reach the next station if a station is closed or has limited hours. If you do run into trouble, people along the highway tend to help each other out. From Dawson Creek, the highway extends almost 968 km (595 miles) to Lower Post, where it enters the Yukon. At the bare minimum, you should allot 3 days for this area. Planning on making the trip from Anchorage to Haines to catch the ferry in December/early January. Falfurrias to Edinburg on 281 or 77 Kingsville to . Last, spend one day in Jasper National Park. The furthest distance between two gas stations is just over 110 miles and each one is marked in The Milepost book. This part had no centerline and no shoulder and I wouldve hated to break down along this section because I think we only passed a handful of other cars between Watson Lake and Dease Lake. Awaiting delivery of the Milepost. Always take Route 97. . Do one of the many short hikes to glacier fed lakes or past meadows filled with wildflowers. . Take some time to plan out this section of the trip if you do go. You should also check my other post about the road conditions on the Alaska Highway: Is The Alaska Highway PAVED? For us it wasnt a question of should we go there? Required fields are marked *. There are plenty of motels, campgrounds, and free camping opportunities all along the Alaskan Highway. Anyone come down recently? But it ends up being a little exhausting and very expensive when you compare this number to the cost of camping. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. High Country RV: I loved this campground and that is really saying something because I rarely stay in campgrounds. I seriously doubt they will stop you at the border and ask about your tires unless your vehicle looks shaky and in terrible shape. However. There were four main thrusts in building the route: southeast from Delta Junction, Alaska toward a linkup With stops, this can take a full day. It was a long time between gas stations and finding restrooms was nonexistent for hours so we had to potty outside Several times . In the cities it is usually around $3 American/gallon. Additionally, in case of emergency, its a good idea to have a full gas can with you. The Alaskan Highway doesnt start at the US/Canadian border. Just south of Ely where the 6 connects with 318 there is a small town called Lund (one gas station) then nothing for about 105 miles to Ash Springs. Due to Alaska Highway reconstruction, There is a 40mile/64 Kilometre difference between the Yukon Log Numbers and the Alaska Road Log Numbers when you cross the border. Heading that way now with a 30 ft toy hauler. Road Surface: Paved (Mostly) Thanks for taking the time to share so much info! Dont confuse this with Dawson City which is near Alaska and north of Whitehorse. We have 2 cases of wine we want to bring with us as the moving company wont ship them. Its important to keep in mind that prices for gasoline can be significantly higher in remote areas, so its a good idea to fuel up when available. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Additionally, some of the gas stations along the Alaska Highway may be closed during the winter months or have limited hours of operation. Its another bear. The James W. Dalton Highway is a two lane gravel road that stretches for 414 miles (666km) -similar distance to that from Washington DC to Boston- between the Elliot Highway just north of the city of Fairbanks and Deadhorse near the Prudhoe Bay oil fields and the Arctic Ocean. Our Height will be 13 maximum. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Winter services are VERY limited, especially food and lodging. The Cassiar Highway is a much narrower road, especially the section closest to Watson Lake. While it was easy to find blogs on How To Drive The Alaskan Highway and Stops Along The Alaskan Highway, I personally could never find anything on Should I Drive The Alaskan Highway when I was researching our trip. This really is a trip of a lifetime and most everyone who does it once wants to go back and do it again. The Cassiar Highway offers outstanding scenery and good wildlife viewing, especially of black bears in the spring. Plus, you have the rad town of Squamish and the hip town of Whistler, both of which you could spend days exploring and eating your way through. They have regular gas in the winter for snowmobilers, not sure about the rest of the year. Of that, 1,048 km are in British Columbia, 907 km in the Yukon, and 477 km in Alaska. Whitehorse is part of the Golden Circle which encompasses Whitehorse, Carcross, Skagway, Haines and Haines Junction. TIL that a 106-mile portion of I-70 in Utah has no gasoline or exits. We intend to drive from Fairbanks via Whitehorse to Dawson City the last 2 weeks in April. Its important to plan ahead and make sure you have enough fuel to reach the next station in case one is closed or has limited hours of operation. We will be driving a truck and pulling a small trailer. See all of the above. The Alaskan Highway is a completely paved road and open all year, although you do need to carry chains from October through April. What am I missing in my planing, + I am open to suggestions & recommendations. Finding and Pricing Gas It is an invaluable 768 page book that documents the entire trip including every gas station and motel along the way. This was our total cost for all the campgrounds we stayed at over our entire 4 months of travel. Any other advice? is the place to drive in summer for long daylight hours, unspoiled wilderness and unlimited fishing, hiking and outdoor enjoyment. By the time you get to Whitehorse (and then to the border and eventually to Anchorage or Fairbanks or Denali) and you spend a few days sitting still, allowing the vibration of the road to finally stop pulsating through your body, you actually start reminiscing about the solitude that the ALCAN provides and the peace you felt in those few days escape from the consumer driven rat race of the world. The Alaska Highway begins (Mile Zero) at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and runs 1,387 miles to Delta Junction, Alaska. Dease Lake with the Alaska Highway. . First, some quick facts about driving the Alaskan Highway. What is the farthest distance between gas stations? My son, his dog and I drove from Anchorage to Denver the second week in November, 2016. While there are places you can stop along the way, the Alaskan Highway section only took us a total of 5 driving days, but this doesnt include the detour we took driving the Golden Circle and to Valdez, plus, 3 of those were only half days of driving. Another reason is that Alaska has a small population density, so there is less demand for gasoline, so refineries and wholesalers charge more for gasoline to compensate for the higher cost of business. It can freeze overnight starting mid-September up there so icy roads are possible in the mornings. Mile 1019.5 (km 1633) Boutillier Summit - 3,293 ft., the second . With the exception of the Yukon, where there are signs that explicitly say No Overnight Camping, there were plenty of dirt pullouts and rest areas to sleep at.

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