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jukes's avatar
jukes
Explorer
Jan 11, 2022

ALASKA! Driving from California to Anchorage...

Hi!!

We are thinking to drive from Santa Cruz, CA to Achorage (and explore from there).. It's showing as 60hrs, is that winter hours, would it be a faster route in the summer (very end of May)?

Any other tips? a diff route to take on the return journey?

We'd be towing our 30' travel trailer with our 7.3L diesel Excursion....


Thanks!!

15 Replies

  • bgum wrote:
    That would be under best driving conditions and not towing as it affects fuel stops.


    okay it would be end of May, and yep, towing always slows us down!
  • Most of the driving directions sites (like Mapquest) give you driving time at that very moment. Get the same directions at a another time and the driving time will be different based on current traffic.
    So you can "play" with it to figure out the best times.
  • With good weather plan on 50MPH or less due to road conditions and no issues.
    1. Met a couple with a bent 5er hitch and they were in day 19.
    2. Another dropped a trailer axle.
    3. Another was hung up in Fairbanks with issues.
    4. And another had engine issues in Haines which was beyond local help. He decided to take the Ferry to Vancouver Island.

    Just the ones I knew about.
  • We wanted to do the entire Alaskan Highway so went up from Montana and back via BC. Anchorage? Not so interesting for us vs many other areas. Fuel stop distance was not a consideration for us, but be more conservative during the winter. Hours? No clue as the trip was 9,600 miles for 3 months.
  • That would be under best driving conditions and not towing as it affects fuel stops.