FLY TO ALASKA--RENT RV

We did this in September several years ago. Prices go down and tourists leave the first of September. Some things may be closed but we had a great time, traveled Anchorage to Fairbanks and then to Seward. Went to Denali. We hiked and explored, panned for gold and took 1/2 day cruise at Seward. Saw whales, seals, eagles, bear and moose. We liked it so much we traded our pull behind for a Class C RV. I say do it!

In my opinion, for a short term visit to Alaska say like three weeks or less could or would be a little more beneficial on your wallet if you were to opt for the fly and rent mode versus hauling your own RV around upon factoring in geographical distance, region, and route options taken which can also dictate higher or lower fuel prices along the way to one's desire.

The advantage of renting an RV to tour Alaska is that you are buying time to spend when arriving by air as a one or two week visit starts in Alaska, rather than driving burning a week or so just to reach Alaska if you are constraint on time.

You are talkin an average price range of at least $120 per day the last I knew just for the RV rental itself, so it would be the same as staying at a hotel room in a monetary comparison, but the advantage is your hotel room is on wheels as you dictate your travels.

Considering you still having to pay for the fuel to commute around, plus the added expense of airfare and rental....I'm with PA12DRVR suggesting a 4 to 5 week RV rental will fleece lots of money from your wallet.

Since 7 of the past 8 years I toured throughout northern and western Canada in my RV rig (the missing year was 2007 because I was not granted any summer time off work), the distances normally covered upon my short vacations range from 4200 to 5060 miles per round trip which are mostly 3 weeks off however one year was 4 weeks off and one year was 5 weeks off.

Considering just fuel costs for my old rig alone since 2008 was 65% to 68% of my total RV expenses as I am one of those types that will break down every aspect and account for every cent spent on every category of travel, I am pretty eccentric when it comes to expenditures.

My $2014.19 (USD converted) RV fuel cost for 2013 covered 4789.2 miles, consumed 409.2 US gallons at 11.70 miles per gallon, with an average price of $4.922 per US gallon, bottom line of .4205c per mile.....My total travel expenses were $3073.93 in which I even splurged a bit more this year than the past upon keeping expenses to a minimum as the fuel cost accounted for 65.5% of the total, as 2011 and 2012 still accounted for over 68% in fuel cost while not splurging as much on other costs.

I am happy to consider keeping my total expenditure expenses under the average of $150 per day, in which 2008, 2009 and 2010 exceeded that by a little bit, as I made the adjustment to reach the 2011 and 2012 trips real close just under the $150/day level, as 2013 dropped big time to $133.50 per day average for 23 days as I splurged even more in other expenses.

As a basic comparison of renting an RV in Alaska for a 3 week period, say it is fuel efficient enough to cost .35c per mile to run at 1000 miles per week covering 3000 miles ($1050 fuel), plus 21 day rental at $120/day ($2520 rental) which equals $170 per day combined.

Include the roundtrip airfare and we'll say $1000 or so and that's basically $215/day for a three week rental airfare and fuel combined, excluding any food and other expenditures.

Say if the fly and rent was a 5 week period, consider a conservative figure total for the rental, fuel and airfare would still total $190/day excluding any food and other expenditures for the 5 weeks.

In my case the 2013 non fuel expenses was $46/day average for 23 days, in which 48% of that total was groceries, restaurant and tips alone....the remaining catagories were 8 showers, 5 campground fees, souvenir gifts, retail items, beverages, 4 admission fees for attractions.

A cheaperskate than me could easily lower this figure to $25/day cuz hey, a man or woman has gotta eat, so we are back to that $215/day figure.

I would figure one could spend $150/day in their own RV, and count the basic comparison on a 5 week rental which means $65/day cheaper for 35 days....rounding it off to a $2300 surplus.

Even rating at a .40c per mile cost, that still buys an extra 575 gallons of fuel....Figure a fuel efficient rig at 15 MPG that's an extra 8625 miles of travel added for the same basic cost of a 5 week rental.

Based on the comparison of this guideline with time not being an issue, a person can weigh in the factors of wear and tear, the distance factor to Alaska and back to area of origin.

The added bonus if you opt to drive ones own RV to Alaska is you get to see a lot of Canada with more wildlife sightings.

About bringing the firearm subtopic, I am with Sue's post on this one....keep a clean camp and be real aware of your surroundings as I never had a problem in going on 32 years in the far north nor felt threatened by these so called real aggressive maneaters of creatures some portray....I would also add that the greatest chance of wildlife encounter one might have would be slowing down and avoiding a collision with a bear, caribou, or buffalo while on Canadian roads, and slowing down and avoiding a moose while on Alaska roads.

While in Canada I always feel safer there visiting while only armed with bear spray when I venture around on foot along trails and not too far out in the wilderness.

Now granted, while in Alaska when I am deep in the woods or in my canoe venturing somewhere or in someone's riverboat cruising way out in the wilderness or boondocking out in no mans land, sure I'm packin'.

It's not as much the potential worry of encountering a 4 legged creature deep in the wilderness for me being armed, it's those potentially aggressive unpredictable 2 legged creatures in Alaska that could pop out of nowhere that worry me more.

Since the OP mentioned owning a firearm and prefers to possess one while in Alaska.... if decided to fly and rent an RV, the last I knew one could still transport an unloaded declared firearm in their checked baggage while complying to the rules and regulations.

Unless transporting firearms in checked baggage is not allowed anymore, I do not understand the OP mentioning about a much added cost for transport to Alaska.

I'll chime in with our experience of not ever needing to use a firearm to keep wildlife in check. Not ever. Even fifty years ago the firearm was a tool to fill the freezer, not protect.

We've hiked and camped in Yukon & Alaska for years. Have never had a bear threaten us. Have seen many, have had a grizzly stroll by our Class C while boondocked by a lake, and now live with black bears on our property, but have never been threatened. I believe your odds are greater of being killed by a moose than by a bear. Numerous years ago a moose killed a person outside a bank in Anchorage, go figure, hey?

Have felt more at risk with porcupines. Used a big stick once when I heard noise in the bush only to discover it was a porcupine.

Keep a clean camp, make lots of noise and be bear aware while hiking, don't hang around if the bears have a fresh kill in the area, and relax. You'll likely see more wildlife in Northern B.C. than you do in Yukon or Alaska, with Denali National Park being the exception.

retraite wrote:

TOMMY47 wrote:
I'll probably drive it. I want to go to Banff, etc.
My wife's friends told her I would be nuts to drive it alone.
Driving alone won't be the reason I'm nuts.
Just got to figure out a legal way to get my firearm to myself when I get to Alaska. Since I will be hiking alone, I will feel more comfortable being able to attempt a defense against dangerous critters with a firearm. Might not be true in reality but will give psychological comfort.

Tommy,

You might take a look at this thread.

Cheers.

If you are driving both ways, just take a shotgun with you from home. It's perfectly legal to take a shotgun through Canada as long as you follow the rules carefully, do the paperwork, and pay the fee.

We did this in 2010, we were there in June and our only problem was the salmon were in every where we went just after we were there.

We had three weeks to take the DGKs up there so we flew up, rented a 31 foot class c from Great Alaskan Holidays. I don't know how much it cost because my wife paid the bills.

We live closer than you do and three weeks was all we had to travel with the GKs and couldn't drive up and back in three weeks, so the fly drive was the best route. I would do it again in a NY minute,

As far as having a gun along, we have RVed there three times and never needed a gun. I grew up with them and have carried them since I got off the boats. We never camped without my trusty S&W along, I mention this because I am a gun nut and don't carry in AK because I think it's a big pita.

PM me if you want details.

My cousin and I did just what your considering in 2004 and we were gone for three weeks in late May and early June. It was the trip of my life. I would like to go back, and would like to drive this time and take a little longer browsing around. Whatever you decide I am sure you will count it as one of your best trips ever.

TOMMY47 wrote:
I'll probably drive it. I want to go to Banff, etc.
My wife's friends told her I would be nuts to drive it alone.
Driving alone won't be the reason I'm nuts.
Just got to figure out a legal way to get my firearm to myself when I get to Alaska. Since I will be hiking alone, I will feel more comfortable being able to attempt a defense against dangerous critters with a firearm. Might not be true in reality but will give psychological comfort.

Tommy,

You might take a look at this thread.

Cheers.

Moved from General RVing

Joe b--I talked to a guy who suggested buying a shotgun on line from Cabelas and picking it up in Alaska at a Cabelas that will be opening there this spring, if it's legal. I could sell it back to them as a used gun at a loss but it would be cheaper than shipping back and forth. Something to look into.

We did what you propose about 12 yrs ago. We flew in to Anchorage, rented a class C and took 3 weeks to drive around the inner circle of Alaska. It was the trip we will always remember, we still have very fond memories...:)