Caravan Trip to Alaska
Looking to take a trip to Alaska and thinking of going with a caravan. Anyone taken a caravan trip? If so; any suggestions or advise would be appreciated.
Forum Discussion
It really comes down to a personal preference. There is no need to join a caravan, but some people like the security they feel being part of a group or enjoy the peace of mind knowing that there's a spot for them at the next campground, etc. I did my first trip in '67 and my last one was last summer, all solo. Things along the hiway have changed a bit (the road is in better shape) and other things have remained pretty much the same. If you go solo there are a couple of things to keep in mind:
Depending on the time of year you may want to call ahead for a camp reservation for the nite. I never have and have never been turned away, but some places do fill up pretty fast. Skagway, Haines, Valdez and Seward especially when the ferries come in and the Kenai during fishing season.
Drive on the top half of your tank. When the needle shows you're down to 1/2 tank, stop at the nearest station and fill up regardless of the price. The next one could be higher priced, or worse yet, further down the road than you think. And even though you have that Gas Buddy app for your phone and it shows a station within driving distance, that station might be closed depending on the time of the year or the availability of supplies.
If you break down on the road someone will stop and offer to help. You might need to stand out by your rig and wave, but someone will stop. You'll probably find that the farther you are away from civilization the friendlier people become on the road.
Assume you're going to be dry camping at times along the way and make sure you have some fresh water in your tanks and you empty your holding tanks when you have the chance. Don't assume you'll always be stopped for the night at a full service campground. Also you'll find most campgrounds that provide electrical only have 30 Amp. If your rig is set up for 50 Amp, make sure you have an adapter. You won't need 50 since you won't be running both A/Cs anyway. There are some fantastic Provincial Parks without any services in BC and the Yukon that you may want to take advantage of in your trip.
Road construction is a season up north so expect it. Frost heaves are dips or bumps in the hiway that will get you airborne if you're traveling too fast. Many are marked with signs and flags, but not all of them are, so try to learn how to read the road and slow down for them. Take the opportunity to chat with other travelers going the opposite direction whenever you stop for fuel or for the night and ask them about the road conditions ahead of you so you're better prepared the next day.
Some people stress out about the possibility of getting a flat tire. I've never had one in all my trips, but I have always carried a spare. If you don't have a spare or you don't have the ability to change a tire yourself be prepared for a long wait for help, either from someone stopping or from calling for service. Some of those service facilities can be a couple hours away and will be expensive.
Convert some money into Canadian for your trip. While most places along the way will accept US dollars they tend to take them without conversion when the rate is in their favor like it is now.
Don't expect good or any cell phone service along the way. At best you might get some connections near major cities depending on your carrier and unless you have made prior arrangements with your carrier or have purchased a Canadian SIM card you may be shocked at the charges for roaming into Canada.
Best of all, enjoy the trip no matter how you choose to travel. The scenery goes on forever. Take your time, take your pictures, remember the wildlife is WILD and the people are almost always friendly.
Depending on the time of year you may want to call ahead for a camp reservation for the nite. I never have and have never been turned away, but some places do fill up pretty fast. Skagway, Haines, Valdez and Seward especially when the ferries come in and the Kenai during fishing season.
Drive on the top half of your tank. When the needle shows you're down to 1/2 tank, stop at the nearest station and fill up regardless of the price. The next one could be higher priced, or worse yet, further down the road than you think. And even though you have that Gas Buddy app for your phone and it shows a station within driving distance, that station might be closed depending on the time of the year or the availability of supplies.
If you break down on the road someone will stop and offer to help. You might need to stand out by your rig and wave, but someone will stop. You'll probably find that the farther you are away from civilization the friendlier people become on the road.
Assume you're going to be dry camping at times along the way and make sure you have some fresh water in your tanks and you empty your holding tanks when you have the chance. Don't assume you'll always be stopped for the night at a full service campground. Also you'll find most campgrounds that provide electrical only have 30 Amp. If your rig is set up for 50 Amp, make sure you have an adapter. You won't need 50 since you won't be running both A/Cs anyway. There are some fantastic Provincial Parks without any services in BC and the Yukon that you may want to take advantage of in your trip.
Road construction is a season up north so expect it. Frost heaves are dips or bumps in the hiway that will get you airborne if you're traveling too fast. Many are marked with signs and flags, but not all of them are, so try to learn how to read the road and slow down for them. Take the opportunity to chat with other travelers going the opposite direction whenever you stop for fuel or for the night and ask them about the road conditions ahead of you so you're better prepared the next day.
Some people stress out about the possibility of getting a flat tire. I've never had one in all my trips, but I have always carried a spare. If you don't have a spare or you don't have the ability to change a tire yourself be prepared for a long wait for help, either from someone stopping or from calling for service. Some of those service facilities can be a couple hours away and will be expensive.
Convert some money into Canadian for your trip. While most places along the way will accept US dollars they tend to take them without conversion when the rate is in their favor like it is now.
Don't expect good or any cell phone service along the way. At best you might get some connections near major cities depending on your carrier and unless you have made prior arrangements with your carrier or have purchased a Canadian SIM card you may be shocked at the charges for roaming into Canada.
Best of all, enjoy the trip no matter how you choose to travel. The scenery goes on forever. Take your time, take your pictures, remember the wildlife is WILD and the people are almost always friendly.
