When traveling in the US we like to boondock as much as possible to keep the costs down. (I’m using “boondock” here to mean free camping, which would include Walmart parking lots.) I’m wondering about the availability of places to boondock if we drive from Denver, cross into Canada from Montana, head up to Dawson Creek and continue on the Alaska highway. Any tips on how to find free or low cost camping?

FreeCampendiumWhen using these sites I also look at Google earth ad street view. Some of the reviews are good as far as what size rigs can fit etc but some like to just tell you how beautiful it was.

Boondocking isn’t Walmart. It’s camping, not “free” overnights at Walmart. Don’t confuse sleeping in someone’s parking lot for boondocking.

Once you're North of Edmonton there's plenty of boondock opportunities, as well as many rustic government campgrounds with beautiful views.Check out the Alaskan camping book from the Church's. They list a bunch of "formal" boondock sites. There's also informal ones, that may or may not be on the Internet.Many websites and old posts refer to camping in gravel lots. When I drove through the Yukon, I found a locked gate across every gravel lot I came across. Not much help for places in the states. I stayed in a parking lot in Whitefish Montana, it was next to a real estate agency downtown, sorry that's not much help.

x2 on Church's book; it's very helpful and complete and about as enjoyable to read as any book of that sort might be.The Yukon territorial parks are all $12 per night (and all include free firewood), payable either using an iron ranger or with a prepaid voucher that can be purchased at various locations. The main advantage of the voucher, at least that I can make out, is that the iron ranger can't give change.

Coming north from Denver via Montana into Alberta, you'll find Walmarts in most of the major cities, between Lethbridge and Edmonton. It thins out as you head north towards Dawson Creek. That said, there's a Walmart in Dawson Creek at the start of the Alaska Hwy, and another one in Whitehorse YT, and that's about it until you hit Fairbanks. There are also a smattering of truck stops along that route - check the truck stop websites for specific locations, but assume major cities have them. IIRC, there's a Flying J in Whitecourt, AB, and that's the last full service, big 3 truck stop (TA/Petro, Pilot/FlyingJ, Loves) up there. There is a Pilot/FlyingJ listed in Dawson Creek, but it's just a cardlock fuel station. No facilities. As others have said, if you want true rustic boondocking, there are plenty of places to pull over along the Alaska Hwy/Hwy97 route. Many are just gravel pull outs, like min-rest areas with gravel parking some have pit toilets or porta-toilets. There are also small government campgrounds in northern BC and the Yukon with iron rangers for paying the C$12 to C$20 per night for a place to park. Most have toilets, but not much in the way of other facilities.If you're creative, you won't have any problems finding low cost accommodations. Just use common sense and you'll be OK. As an after thought, there's a campground that's about $16/night with showers, dump station, but no hookups in Tok, called the Alaskan Stove Campground. It was self serve payment late in the day. We stayed there and it was fine, but it's located right next to an airstrip called 40-Mile Air, so you might hear an occasional aircraft taking off early morning.

Boondocking tips on the way from Denver to Alaska

ppine
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2018
Then why were you still making posts on 9/3?
hedgehopper
Explorer
Sep 04, 2018
ppine wrote:
You seem to have your mind made up already. There is a conflict between "driving up for the scenery" and "camping in Wal-Mart parking lots." Except for Los Anchorage there won't be any.

Alaska is far, really far. A lot of the roads are not that interesting. I have driven from Haines to Anchorage through the Yukon which was a pleasant trip.
You seem to have missed my post from August 31 which started out "We're back from our trip to Alaska."
ppine
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2018
You seem to have your mind made up already. There is a conflict between "driving up for the scenery" and "camping in Wal-Mart parking lots." Except for Los Anchorage there won't be any.

Alaska is far, really far. A lot of the roads are not that interesting. I have driven from Haines to Anchorage through the Yukon which was a pleasant trip.
hedgehopper
Explorer
Sep 03, 2018
ppine wrote:
My honest adivce after making more than 10 trips to Alaska, is to consider the State Ferry or flying up there and renting a truck camper if cost is a consideration.
Our top priority for this trip was to enjoy the scenery as we drove the Alaska highway and into Skagway. We rode the ferry on a previous trip and rented a truck camper on another.
tony_lee
Explorer
Sep 03, 2018
Anchorage: all 3 Walmart's no overnight parking period.
Fairbank's: stay as long as you want

Couple more corrections based on current conditions.

One Walmart in Anchorage does allow 24 hour stay if you ask - despite all the no overnighting signs. AND same applies to most other Walmarts with similar signs posted. Just ask nicely)
(btw, Cabekas has signs allowing RVs to stay for two nights (and also tolerates 5 car campers who come late afternoon)
Walmart Whitehorse has been cracking down over the last few days, although the tow truck was scratchung his head over how to deal with a big fiver and tow truck with all the jacks down, and a 30 foot mh with a missing front wheel and all jacks down. Other semi-permanentd just shuffled around ti different spots do doubt whether much will change. A few who had move or get towed notices posted have moved on.

Agree with Hedgehopper - campfires are the last thing i would be seeking out.

The journey is our destination so driving up is not a problem to us, especially since we are rarely in a hurry
ppine
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2018
My honest adivce after making more than 10 trips to Alaska, is to consider the State Ferry or flying up there and renting a truck camper if cost is a consideration.
hedgehopper
Explorer
Sep 03, 2018
ppine wrote:
Do whatever you want.
If you are asking for advice, expect to hear some.
You're right. Thanks for your input. Hearing from someone whose perspective is quite different from my own is helpful.
ppine
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2018
Do whatever you want.
If you are asking for advice, expect to hear some.
hedgehopper
Explorer
Sep 03, 2018
ppine wrote:
If you are driving from the Lower 48 to Alaska and are using well know sites listed in a guide somewhere you are missing the whole point of making that trip. If you are camping in Wal Mart parking lots, it is even more confusing as to why you would make such a trip.

When I drve up North I look for campfire smoke. That is one of the ways to meet families of Natives smoking fish for their dog teams, trappers, and other bush types.
Have you ever heard the expression “Difference strokes for different folks”? You believe that I am “missing the whole point of making that trip.” But what is the point? Isn’t it to have an enjoyable time? More than likely, your enjoyable trip looks totally different than mine. Sorry you’re confused.

You look for campfire smoke as a way of meeting the natives. Perhaps you missed my comment that I am allergic to campfire smoke. So for you: wonderful! For me: not so much.

Speaking of wonderful: Isn’t it wonderful that each of us is free to plan our trip the way we want and need not be concerned with the other one’s preferences?
c_traveler2
Nomad
Sep 03, 2018
hedgehopper wrote:
When traveling in the US we like to boondock as much as possible to keep the costs down. (I’m using “boondock” here to mean free camping, which would include Walmart parking lots.) I’m wondering about the availability of places to boondock if we drive from Denver, cross into Canada from Montana, head up to Dawson Creek and continue on the Alaska highway. Any tips on how to find free or low cost camping?

I don't call staying at Walmart "camping" it's just a overnight sleeping spot, that said we just recently came out of Alaska and Canada and some of the rules at Walmart have changed.

Anchorage: all 3 Walmart's no overnight parking period.
Fairbank's: stay as long as you want
Dawson Creek: we found a nice hide away approx. 10 miles up the Campbell gravel road.
Whitehorse, Canada one night allowed at the Walmart..note there's a RV dump at the fuel station next to the Walmart.
Dawson City,Canada Beautiful overnight spot up on Dome Road just outside of town, note FDS fuel stop nearest to Dawson City has the cheapest fuel.
Plenty of pullout through the Kluane Lake area in Canada.

As you approach bridges check for side roads leading down to the rivers found several good camping place that way.

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