When traveling the Alaska Hwy is it necessary to have advanced reservations at regional campgrounds and/or RV campgrounds? I will be towing a 24-foot TT with a pickup truck. Am planning on driving 200-300 miles per day--starting early (7-8 a.m.) and ending early (3-4 p.m.). The reason I don't want to make advanced reservations is so that if I find a place where I want to stay and extra day of so, I don't want to feel obligated to leave because of a pre-determined itineray dictated by advanced reservations. I'll be traveling the highway in the end of July when going to Alaska and the end of August or first of September on my return. Ok, all of you experts, what's your advice?

No real need to make reservations very far ahead, perhaps a doy or so at places like Whitehorse or Skagway. There is always some place to park for the night if you aren't too particular, be it a creek side pull off or a big box store such as Wal Mart in Whitehorse. If you go through Dawson, it can be handy to call ahead from Whitehorse to reserve a spot, especially is some event is taking place there. They were having a music festival our last trip to Dawson in 2011 and we had trouble finding a site with hookups.

We towed a 22' TT to Alaska and return in the summer of 2013 without advance reservations. We never had any difficulty finding a place to stay but we are very flexible. In the most popular places you may not get your first choice of campgrounds and/or you may have to move your rig around every night. Have you checked the Roll Call Alaska 2014 posts? We were part of the "Class of 2013" and we helped each other find spots. I surely wish we were going this year but it just didn't work out. lizzie

I am not speaking as an expert. I am speaking as an individual who likes to fly by the seat of my pants, and I am leaving for Alaska on May 19th. I am not making any reservations in Canada or Alaska. It's all a part of living on the edge.

Just for holidays. Canadian holidays. And 300 miles in 8 hours might be a bit optimistic. Going up you find a lot of traffic and little opportunity to pass. Coming back will be better. I last drove down in early sept. and did travel 300/day but not in 8 hrs. Driving 50 is pushing it and there will be construction to deal with. Might be good to take a rest day somewhere. Don't assume that Alaska is any more scenic than BC. Enjoy it all, take some time.

There is just too much to see to plan a schedule, It's more like OOOO that's pretty let's stop.For those who have never been up the road, I would suggest you get an inflatable boat and some fishing gear. there is some hot fishing holes along the way. A tubey works great, a little pontoon works also.Please use your head and be safe.

Alaska Highway RV Camping | Good Sam Community

Raymon
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
explorenorth wrote:
YankeeBP wrote:
Lizzie, What was your experience towing a small TT? Did it hold up well to the road construction and rough sections of the Alaska Hwy? What make and model of trailer did you tow?

A friend from Oregon brought her Coleman TT up 2 years ago, and pretty much destroyed it in 6 weeks.

Must have been very careless, drove too fast, was overloaded or all three. I towed a 30 foot 5th wheel all the way from southeastern PA and back and had absolutely no damage to the trailer or pickup truck. Cannot image destroying a TT in 6 weeks time. I do not think this is the normal experience most people have when traveling through Canada or Alaska.

Slow down, have fun and enjoy the trip.

Ray
sue_t
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
When we were RVing to Yukon each year, I never ever made a reservation. Did make reservations once, for Teklanika in Denali NP. Other than that, we winged it.

We live here now and head out camping, again, with no reservations. Ever. But then we know all the good boondock spots now.
explorenorth
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
YankeeBP wrote:
Lizzie, What was your experience towing a small TT? Did it hold up well to the road construction and rough sections of the Alaska Hwy? What make and model of trailer did you tow?

A friend from Oregon brought her Coleman TT up 2 years ago, and pretty much destroyed it in 6 weeks.
Peg_Leg
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
Went in 2011, no reservations, no problems.
YankeeBP
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
Thanks All. Appreciate your input. I was wondering if 300 miles in 8 hours might be a stretch when you factor-in slow traffic, road construction and taking time to stop to take in the scenery.

Lizzie, What was your experience towing a small TT? Did it hold up well to the road construction and rough sections of the Alaska Hwy? What make and model of trailer did you tow?
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
There is just too much to see to plan a schedule, It's more like OOOO that's pretty let's stop.

For those who have never been up the road, I would suggest you get an inflatable boat and some fishing gear. there is some hot fishing holes along the way. A tubey works great, a little pontoon works also.

Please use your head and be safe.
tonymull
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
Just for holidays. Canadian holidays. And 300 miles in 8 hours might be a bit optimistic. Going up you find a lot of traffic and little opportunity to pass. Coming back will be better. I last drove down in early sept. and did travel 300/day but not in 8 hrs. Driving 50 is pushing it and there will be construction to deal with. Might be good to take a rest day somewhere. Don't assume that Alaska is any more scenic than BC. Enjoy it all, take some time.
richarfg
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
I am not speaking as an expert. I am speaking as an individual who likes to fly by the seat of my pants, and I am leaving for Alaska on May 19th. I am not making any reservations in Canada or Alaska. It's all a part of living on the edge.
lizzie
Explorer
Apr 02, 2015
We towed a 22' TT to Alaska and return in the summer of 2013 without advance reservations. We never had any difficulty finding a place to stay but we are very flexible. In the most popular places you may not get your first choice of campgrounds and/or you may have to move your rig around every night. Have you checked the Roll Call Alaska 2014 posts? We were part of the "Class of 2013" and we helped each other find spots. I surely wish we were going this year but it just didn't work out. lizzie
joe_b_
Explorer II
Apr 02, 2015
No real need to make reservations very far ahead, perhaps a doy or so at places like Whitehorse or Skagway. There is always some place to park for the night if you aren't too particular, be it a creek side pull off or a big box store such as Wal Mart in Whitehorse. If you go through Dawson, it can be handy to call ahead from Whitehorse to reserve a spot, especially is some event is taking place there. They were having a music festival our last trip to Dawson in 2011 and we had trouble finding a site with hookups.

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