Alaska advice for someone who's never been there

That may be too late in the year since Alaska closes around the end of August as I remember. The prime tourist time is mid-June to mid-August.
Get a copy of `Alaska by RV' by the Howens. I think it is available in VCR or DVD format. Do a Google search for `Alaska by RV Howens' to find it. RVBookstore.com has other guides for Alaska.

Thousands of RVers make the trip up the CAssiar or Alaxka Highway every year and EVERY ONE OF THEM uses either gasoline or diesel fuel. Yes there are plenty of places to purchase fuel but don't expect to have a CHOICE of stations in the smaller communities. Learn to drive on the top half of your fuel tank so if you find the occasional gas station is closed it won't be a problem for you.

Your time schedule is not going to leave you much time to see much of the state but having a week or two in Alaska is better than not going at all.

Good luck / Skip

You are aware that the only way to drive from Haines to just about anywhere else in Alaska means you'll have to drive into Canada and go up the Alaska Hwy aren't you? Considering the distance you'd have still have to drive, I don't think you're allowing for enough time... JMHO

We went to Alaska in 2009 in our 35' Hurricane pulling our Libby (the Canada/Alaska portion of that trip starts here on our blog) and there are a few suggestions I would make:

Drive to Prince Rupert, BC and catch the ferry there. It' a beautiful drive and will reduce your ferry fares by about half. Make sure you go to Sitka while on the ferry. It's a little out of the way but a must see.

Make sure you spend some time on the Kenai Peninsula as well as Portage on the way down.

Valdez was also very nice to visit, especially the tour into Prince William Sound. The tour out of Seward on the Kenai was also very well done.

You didn't mention Denali NP, but that is on your way from Fairbanks to Anchorage and a must see.

If you take the ferry both ways, you will miss the Cassiar highway and the bears at Stewart/Hyder.

Two months is probably adequate for just Alaska but you will need more time to get there and back.

Probably a lot I have left out but it is a big state and there is a lot to see!

I've never taken the ferries very far and not to transit to Anchorage so I can't comment there. We did drive our 27' Bounder up from Los Angeles and did not have a towed. Now we have a '95 Sidekick and don't leave home without it. In 2010 we took the DGKs up and rented a 31' Winnie, no towed. We went everywhere finding campgrounds and fuel was no problem either trip. As far as skeeters, they were bad in a few places and drove the cat crazy at night the year we took him. I bought Ben's and no problem. DW stayed inside in the few places they were bad. The owners of Tolsona Wilderness Campground have lived there forever, raised their kid and now grand kids and I think GGKs, they have always used Ben's even for the babies. The heritage center in Anchorage is a don't miss as is the Whale Fat Follies. I can't remember where it's being held this summer and don't know if it will be done next summer but it is great. Gwinnie's in Anchorage is a fun place to eat as is the Brewhouse. Humppies is a fun place for lunch and has great hambergers. The place on the end of the Homer Spit has great halibut. It's right next to the Sailors Monument. The Salty Dog is fun for a beer and is on the spit. The Fiordlands NP tour is fantastic.Have fun and the most important thing is a good camera and lots of memory.

Welcome to the forums. :)




Moved from Forum Technical Support