Alaska dream

We're planning on 2018 ourselves for our second trip. For starters, I'd recommend picking up a copy of "The Milepost" magazine. It's got information about every road, byway, and attraction along the Alaska Highway. Includes history... The Milepost

I'm sure you will get a lot of advice. I wrote a multi page travelog of our trip and perhaps something within it will help you. Read only if you are board... North To Alaska - RV Travel Log

After The MilePost, get a copy of "Traveler's Guide to Alaksa Camping". As to going alone or caravanning, if you can travel alone in the lower 48 then you can do it Alaska as well. You are not going to be out in the great alone all by yourself. Or if you really enjoy traveling with a group then do it for that reason.

Alaska is a huge place and it isn't possible to do it all in one trip, even one spanning many weeks. I've been there three times and am eager to to again.

Along with the Milepost, as mentioned above, also get the Church's Camping guide. Together they will give you the most info as to where you might want to go.

Don't forget to check out all that Canada has to offer. We crossed at Sweetgrass, MT (Coutts, Alberta, CA) headed to Calgary and then on to Banff. The Ice Field Parkway (route 93)is a must see from Banff to Jasper. We also took the Yukon highway out of Whitehorse to Dawson City, YT, (another must see) then crossed the Yukon River on a free ferry, across the Top of the World highway to Chicken, AK and then on to Tok, AK. On the way back, we took the Alaska Highway out of Tok. I could go on and on, but this is just a start. Enjoy!!

Happy planning!

We are considering heading north in 2018. So I'll be interested in following these posts,

My wife and I are also planning an Alaska trip leaving Florida 4/2018. There are many books and blogs describing the trip. I have an old milepost and will buy a new one in 2018. Traveling with a KZ travel trailer and making plans now.

One of the first things to consider is if you want to go up the Inside Passage. We had our trip all planned out doing the Inside Passage at the finish of our trip in 2016, but decided to do it at the beginning. Reservations are needed for the Alaska Marine Highway System and we decided that it would be best to get the reservation part out of the way at the beginning rather than having to be in Skagway on a certain date. Others on here have had no problems getting on the AMHS without booking far in advance like we did. We made a couple side trips because we didn't have to be anywhere on a certain date.
Having said that make reservations for July 1st if in Canada and July4th if in U.S. and any other holiday weekends you will be on the road.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time. We left May 28 and didn't get home until Sept 28, and could have spent more time out, but the camper was getting a bit of a cramped feel towards the end of the 4 months.
We also toured through Yukon and Northwest Territories, Northern Alberta and British Columbia, as well as traveling through everything from here and back.
Brian

blknomad wrote:
I keep wanting to go to Alaska in 2018 but I don't know where to start my research. What would be the best route and best crossing. Any and all ideas will be appreciated. Should I caravan or strike out alone? Just any help would be appreciated.
P.S. I would be leaving Va with a 2014 35ft Itasca towing a Toyota.

Step one, buy a mile post , it's the Bible of north country travel.

Then get a full US map, and mark the places you want to see. then play connect the dots.

rirish1 wrote:
My wife and I are also planning an Alaska trip leaving Florida 4/2018

I would not plan on getting to the Alaska Highway until 5/20/18...cold and many places will not be open assuming that they will open again. You can drive the Alcan at 60 mph until Whitehorse putting many businesses out of business.

You should post in the Alaska 2018 thread and read the Alaska 2017 thread and 2016 Alaska thread. Plenty of info in them.
We plan on returning to Alaska in 18. We went in 2015 and just got to go again.