July 4th

Thank you for the informative replies. Looks like we will be in the thick of it:-) By the end of June though we should be headed back. Thanks for the reminder about 1 July! We had completely forgotten that one!!

We have found that many people on both sides of the US-Canadian border on the south, combine the two holidays, Canada Day (July 1) and US Independence Day (July 4). In 2011, on our way to Alaska, we found the campgrounds in northern Montana and Idaho very full. RVers from both sides of the border, like to cross over and enjoy the festivities of a week long celebration. We found a nice campground near Moyie Springs Idaho the last of June and stayed there till July 5, when we crossed over into Canada. The CG we were in filled up before July 1 and stayed full till July 5 and maybe longer than that. Get that close to the border and folks from both sides will celebrate any holiday they can find in the area, US or Canadian. LOL :)

We avoid the Canadian NPs over any of the holidays in Canada. When everyone leaves Calgary and Edmonton to go to the parks, I hope the last one to leave remembers to turn off the lights. Those are ghost towns on Canada Day and other holidays.

In Alaska check when the salmon runs are happening, as the crowds from town will follow. Seward has a July 4th mountain foot race and the town is packed and reservations are needed for a camp site. Other than that not much problems with crowds. The same goes for Yukon as Alaska, both are large geographically, but neither have enough permanent population to be a crowding problem in most cases.

Sometimes in Homer at the Salty Dawg Saloon, if a lot of tourists are on the Spit, you may have to wait in line to get a bar stool. The same is true at the Malemute Saloon in Ester. (west side of Fairbanks)

Monday, July 1 is Canada Day and our long-weekend.

Campground space in B.C. & Yukon is at a premium on that long weekend. Plan accordingly.

The only places you may see congestion are Denali, Seward, and perhaps Talkeetna on the 4th.