I'm still only fantasizing about RVing the AK Hwy up and back in 2015. So I still only have big-picture "what if" sort of questions. I'll get to the specifics later.IF I want flexibility to go where I want to, when I want to, and stay there as long as I want to, space permitting, then I know I do NOT want to sign on to a caravan.But in that case, doing my own planning, how important is it to make advance campground reservations all along the way or at least part of the way? If I want the flexibility to stay at a certain spot after my first resv expires, is it your experience that I might expect to find spaces available, or is it more likely that most of the good campgrounds book up for almost the whole season well in advance, and when it's my time to leave I have to leave, whether or not?What's your experience been, for those of you who do NOT do the trip in organized caravans?Thx in advance, as usual!Tom

We have driven up and back twice and had reservations for every place we stayed. We were glad we had them because that is the way we like to travel. However, I think I only remember five or six campgrounds, on both trips, that were full. I was very pleased to find that the vast majority of campgrounds in Canada and Alaska took reservations using your name and phone number. They didn't require a credit card or deposit.

We visited towards the end of the tourist season - late July, August and early September - the only place we needed reservations was for camping in Denali - ours were made 3 days in advance of our visit for a 4 night stay. We had no trouble at all getting a campsite in any other campgrounds.Enjoy your trip.Jay

Even with our 40' motorhome, the only reservations we made were for July 4 weekend in Palmer, Alaska and 5 nights at Denali's Teklanika campground. For those we made them about 3 weeks prior when we had more of an idea when we'd be in the area.As it turned out, we got to the Denali area earlier so we boondocked nearby at a gorgeous spot full of the beautiful fireweed. We pulled into Denali early morning and easily secured a spot for an additional five nights without reservations in the front campground, Riley Creek. Ten nights in Denali and we saw 'THE Mountain' 7 out of 10 days and viewed every large animal that lives in the park. Awesome experience!For our whole trip 95% of our time we boondocked or dry camped in public parks. We had absolutely no problems finding a spot.For RV parks you'll want to pull in early afternoon. Have fun planning!!

just wondering what was the cost per night?

In the years we were tourists in Yukon and Alaska, the only reservation I made was for Teklanika at Denali for the Labor Day long weekend.We prefer to not stay at commercial campgrounds, instead using the government campgrounds. No services and in Yukon only $12/night with free firewood for the fire ring. Cleanest outhouses in the land too! We also enjoy boondocking along the way, enjoying the peace/quiet and wilderness.Once a week or so we'd stay in an RV park to clean-up, do laundry, grocery shop, wash the truck, fill the water tank, dump the tanks, etc. Never reserved for those stops. Just pulled in and asked for a spot and handed over $30-$40 for the night.

How important are resv at campgrounds on Alaska Highway

13 Replies

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Apr 30, 2014
Even with our 40' motorhome, the only reservations we made were for July 4 weekend in Palmer, Alaska and 5 nights at Denali's Teklanika campground. For those we made them about 3 weeks prior when we had more of an idea when we'd be in the area.

As it turned out, we got to the Denali area earlier so we boondocked nearby at a gorgeous spot full of the beautiful fireweed. We pulled into Denali early morning and easily secured a spot for an additional five nights without reservations in the front campground, Riley Creek. Ten nights in Denali and we saw 'THE Mountain' 7 out of 10 days and viewed every large animal that lives in the park. Awesome experience!

For our whole trip 95% of our time we boondocked or dry camped in public parks. We had absolutely no problems finding a spot.

For RV parks you'll want to pull in early afternoon. Have fun planning!!
RangerJay
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
We visited towards the end of the tourist season - late July, August and early September - the only place we needed reservations was for camping in Denali - ours were made 3 days in advance of our visit for a 4 night stay. We had no trouble at all getting a campsite in any other campgrounds.

Enjoy your trip.

Jay
Two_Hands
Explorer
Apr 30, 2014
We have driven up and back twice and had reservations for every place we stayed. We were glad we had them because that is the way we like to travel. However, I think I only remember five or six campgrounds, on both trips, that were full. I was very pleased to find that the vast majority of campgrounds in Canada and Alaska took reservations using your name and phone number. They didn't require a credit card or deposit.

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How important are resv at campgrounds on Alaska Highway

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