Alaska Question

Bud99 wrote:
Us and our TC plan to head for Alaska on August 12. I thought it would be a good time to start as things won't be quite as busy at that time. We would probably get to Fairbanks approx. Aug. 20th. My wife is hearing that some of the Campgrounds and tours will be closing for the season September 1st and would like to begin our trip on August 1st.. We don't plan to travel far north of Fairbanks. My question is this, do things start closing up Sept. 1st? We had planned to start back home (Ohio) around Sept. 15.
Thanks as always,

Bud99

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I would agree with your wife. We plan a trip next year and I plan to leave home (North Carolina) in mid-late July. I want to drive back on the Cassiar hwy and understand that Sept is a good time for traveling down it. This would get us back home late Sept.
Good luck on your trip.

If you get a chance, explore the Denali Highway. We did last year, and thoroughly enjoyed it! But we always enjoy off the beaten tracks!
Denali Highway

I would recommend you leave Ohio earlier than August 12. Alaska should be a slow-going trip for the first time as there's lots to see and explore just to get there. You mentioned Fairbanks. Although it's a good stop, please don't make it your destination. Don't forget to include Denali Nat'l Park, the Kenai Peninsula, Seward, Homer, Valdez, Skagway and many, many more stops. Don't rush it because it's not something more people do often. There are plenty of places to just stop along the roadside and boondock. I would also recommend, along with the Milepost for travel information, to purchase Mike and Terri Church's 'Alaskan Camping' book which includes the Yukon and Canada also. It's the only book you'll need for finding all kinds of campgrounds, private, public and boondocking spots. Don't rely on the Milepost for camping information. Your return trip in September will be beautiful. Enjoy!!

The second & third image are Top of the World Highway. We love the route and drive it as often as we can, which is usually once a year now!

Sue T.

hi - is the 3rd pic that of the 'Top of the World' hwy ?
We drove it in 2004 and thought that it was not that bad. Seems to me it was gravel all or most of the way, but ok.

We're big fans of camping in Yukon & Alaska in late August & September. The fall colours start in early September and are well worth enjoying.

If you're content drycamping, you'll find lots of good gov't campgrounds open until the snow starts sticking to the ground. We usually head out in September to enjoy the quieter roads. As well, the roads are in the best condition of the year in September because most of the repair work is complete.

Some commercial RV parks close right after Labor Day, while others stay open. The campgrounds run by locals tend to stay open later in the season, while the ones run by those who snowbird to the Lower 48 tend to close early.

Only in September will you see colors like this:

Sept 17, 2011


Sept 6, 2012


Sept 10, 2010

Moved to RVing in Canada and Alaska.

Wayne
Moderator

We entered Alaska on Aug 6 and departed Aug 27. Campgrounds including Denali very empty but open. We were advised that the day after labor Day was a target for many campgrounds closing. That's Sept 3 this year.

All the campgrounds on the Cassier Hwy were open on the way back. Still, that was the first week of September.

The August advantage for us was the lack of annoying bugs.

Rick

I would agree with Hawkman. In 2010, we flew up to Fairbanks to see our newest granddaughter in late Sept. Flew back in early Oct. The community outside of Denali was just about closed for the winter in late Sept. Still had some of the RV parks open along the Hwy. getting down to Denali, however.

Have you checked http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/Alaska/Fairbanks.html?

There are often just pull outs along the Alaska highways in which people can overnight. We did an overnight at one (off the road a bit & up a hill with a parking area for viewing the vistas) not too far down from the Glennallen area towards Valdez on our way out from Chitina.

These might help: Free or Almost Free Campgrounds in AK and Free and low cost camping in Alaska

The Bear Lake FamCamp at Eielson AFB is a smaller cmpground, but in a wooded area with nice sites with water & electric, not sure of cost, just happened to drive by to empty at the dump site. But must be Authorized to use it.

Haven't eaten at the The Alaska Salmon Bake, but hear it's a neat place next to the Pioneer Park in Fairbanks Also $15 RV overnighting by the Park pioneerpark/visitor_information/rv_visitors.

In trying to find a name for the food place, I found this Cafe offering a vast selection of unique Alaskan meals and wild game products. Might be good.

What I have on Alaska.

:C Clicky :C for a few photos.

I think it would be helpful to start a couple of weeks earlier. Come mid-August things get quiet in Alaska and stores start closing.