Alaska costs

There's no harm in spending lots of time in Canada, just reduce your mileage in Canada if you're worried about fuel costs here.

Northern Canada has wide open space with many back roads worthy of several nights of boondocking and hiking, perhaps some fishing.

We've never fretted about the cost of fuel for the 3/4 ton. It just is what it is. If you're fretting about that, it will affect the enjoyment of your trip. We prefer to cost-save by not staying at commercial RV parks, not eating out, not needing internet connection every night, doing our own "tours", getting out in the bush where there is no place to spend $$, and so forth.

More To See wrote:
Zero Alaska experience here, but I consistently see $10,000 tossed out as the cost of a trip up there. From the time you leave home to getting back home it's typically three months - with two actually being spent in Alaska.

I'd be interested in a response, though, from one of those really frugal RV'ers that specialize in budget travel. Just how much could be shaved off that $10,000 with lots of effort?

The single biggest way to cut costs, is to buy as little fuel and spend as little time as possible in Canada. If at all possible, carry as much fuel as you can and plan your fuel stops to be large towns only. Try not to buy any fuel on the cassier highway. I dropped $800 on one fuel stop in deese lake this past September (1/2 tank in a U-haul & 1/3 tank in my 1 ton). I did the math, and if I had bought a 90 gallon tank and installed it in my truck, the fuel savings would have paid for the tank and install.

loggenrock wrote:
Veebyes, weren't you in AK in '08 when we were there??? ST

Yup. 08, 11 now hopefully 14. The place keeps drawing us back.

Veebyes, weren't you in AK in '08 when we were there??? ST

Veebyes wrote:
I'm thinking something over $20,000 for a four month trip all in.

It all depends on how you travel and your needs but I think your estimate is way over. Of course, it will be nice when you return with some extra money!!

We shaved the price of fuel from ~$6300 to ~$3700 by taking the small Class C in my sig. However, being in a smaller RV had other expenses, like having to go to a out to wash clothes. We also ate out more, but then we might have eaten out just as much in the bus. ;) Part of the fun of going is trying local cuisine.

If you really want to save money, give up on Alaska and go to Banff. ;) The scenery is the most spectacular we saw in the entire trip!

Just a few more thoughts on campground costs for an Alaska trip.

Staying in Alaska stste parks and Canadian provincial campgrounds can get expensive. In 2013, Alaska state parks were $15-20/night without hookups and often without a sanidump (and those with a dump charged $10 extra for the privilege). BC provincial parks were $16-25/night (Canadian $), also without sanidumps and many without water. And those provincial parks with a dump also charged $10 extra. So, you may pay as much as $30-35/night for a state or provincial park without hookups. Staying multiple nights and dumping once slightly reduces that rate. But, if you have a generator, don't forget the fuel cost for providing your own nightly power.

For that reason, many RVers willingly pay $30-35/night for a private RV "park" (ie., a gravel parking lot) that comes with full (meaning 30A electric) hookups or W/E + sanidump.

Using the few US campgrounds in Alaska (National Park, Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, etc.) can reduce those nightly costs if you have a Senior Pass. For example, the Denali Park campgrounds were $22/night with free water and a paved, multilane dump station, but were $11/night with the pass. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (Hidden Lake CG) was $10/night with water and a dump, but $5/night with the pass. The Tenderfoot Forest Service Campground on the Seward Highway was $18/night with hand-pumped water and no dump, but $9/night with the pass. And Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (Lakeview CG near Northway) was free, with or without a pass, but it was completely dry camping (don't believe the Website that says it has water!).

A boondocker's best friends in Alaska are gas stations that offer a free dump with fill-up and the Fred Meyer stores with free water and dumps (and free parking lot camping in some towns).

There is doubt in my mind that we could have done it cheaper, maybe by as much as $1500 to $2,000, but we didn't have to so we didn't. As noted, fuel is out of your hands (we also had the Muncho Lake experience), but we could have saved $$ on campsites by boondocking more, especially in the lower 48. We did not buy a coupon book since we had both been on Alaskan Tours before and had done many of the tours and activities. I also like to seek out locals for opinions and options about sightseeing. We had our canoes, our bikes, and our feet, so we can amuse ourselves without spending much money. lizzie

Some interesting numbers given. I was estimating around the $150 to $160 PD mark as well. We are 'eat at home' people most of the time. A big galley makes that easy. We also don't mind spending on a few high dollar excursions like a flightseeing tour or fishing charter.

The unforeseen can be the really big hits to expenses. Last time a crack was discovered in the frame which resulted in a rebuilding of all spring hanger mounts. This time the better part of $3000 will go into a full truck service & trailer brake service before we leave. I'm thinking something over $20,000 for a four month trip all in.

I can't offer any advice on RV costs in Alaska...but no matter how you slice it, it's expensive.

If you want a cheap trip to Alaska without going to Joe's 1960's extremes, invest in the best tent and backpack you can find and fly up. Lots of places to camp during May - September, you can mix in a variety of B&B's and you can get a variety of scheduled/unscheduled transporation options and with the money you save from fuel and other travel costs, you can eat out quite a bit.

In all seriousness, there's many ways to shave a penny or two here & there that adds up to some noticable $$, but an RV trip to AK will be near $10,000.

While not going back quite as early as Joe, I remember at least one trip where my entire trip was circa $500; fuel, eating "out" at all times, the rotating stash of cash to keep $300 visible for the Canadian authorities, sleeping in the Jeep, AND a motel in Northway and Seattle....the fact that there was motel in Northway and the fact that the Seattle motel was $19.99 should date the trip.