miles driven per day?

...but if you fly to Alaska you're missing out on awesome stops in Canada and the Yukon. The first time to Alaska we took the ferry and rented a Class C. The second time we drove the whole route and enjoyed it so much more.

I don't look at miles but at hours per day behind the wheel. I try to keep it to 4 hours or less and on average we spend 2-3 hours per day during a 2-3 week trip. 6 hours is the absolute maximum time unless we have to get across a "no man's land" where there is not much in terms of options as to where to stay other than a truck stop parking lot or a Wal-Mart type of big box store and that is something we will never do.

If the distances round trip are going to be more than 4,000 miles we fly to a location where we can rent and RV or if an RV is not available we will rent a car and stay at inns and bed and breakfast places. Add up the fuel costs to drive across the country and back again and compare that to flying and renting and the costs will be nearly the same but you avoid all the time driving along the highway in places you do not particularly care to be. We have rented RV's in Alaska and in Canada and it was without a doubt better than driving there and back in any vehicle.

Getting across the lower 48 Plains you can do 300-400/day without stopping for siteseeing if you drive interstates. However, once you cross Canada, don't plan on more that 150/day, if that, and if you really want to take in all there is to see enroute to Alaska. There are so many gorgeous places to see in Canada and the Yukon before you even reach Alaska. Most travelers sitesee as they go instead of backtracking after parked. This will drastically shorten your driving miles. Sometimes we even drove 50 miles from one place to another.

Have fun planning - that a fun part of the whole trip.

zippyphil wrote:

agesilaus wrote:
Be aware that your RV is unlikely to be built for an Alaskan winter.

Call you be a little more specific please. The holding takes will be heated. I'm sure there is mrudimentary

I am originally from new England and am familiar with cold weather and snow. I can't take the heat in Florida another year!

Someone had suggested I post and read the alaska page. I read the majority of all posts. I also searched Google "how to prepare your RV for an alaska trip" that gave me some ideas, they seemed rudeamentry. I may not have thought about the extra tires, (Mounted) and the likely damage your RV or toad could suffer because of the frost heaves and gravel. Carrying extra gas seems sketchy because of safety and storage, but seems logical.



Zippy

Sounds like we have a lot in common. I'm from New England originally and live in Florida. I also miss cool weather and seasons.

I've done a little cold weather camping in my fifth wheel and the issue I had was with water. I had to fill my freshwater tank and completely drain the hose every few days. I usually dumped the waste tanks right after I showered because the water was still warm and kept the hose flexible. Make sure to drain the hose or it will freeze up.

Most RVs don't have insulation rated for much below zero. Water lines freeze and so will lines under the sinks unless you keep cabinet doors open at night. Plumbing exposed to the outdoors will freeze, too - like an outdoor shower.

right you are allworth. i may have actually found a friend that would let me stay in her house or live in her garage that huge an will allow me to park inside of that. that may work out.

zippy

If you winter Alaska in an RV, be sure to post an easy to find notice inside the RV listing your next-of-kin.

this is really a great posting. i am SOOO looking forward to this!

Some of that info, like the unpaved road and needing extra tires may be outdated. They have completely paved the entire Alcan at this point. They do go thru yearly road repair after winter and you will run into that on the way. That's why I suggested asking in the Alaska/Canada forum since those people have up to date info and not: "I drove the Alcan 10 years ago..." info.

There are also a lot of travel diaries/blogs available. Search Google for "Alcan travel diary" and you'll find a lot of them. Some are useful others not.

There are two books that almost everyone recommends:

Mile Post 2014

And this one:

Alaska Campgrounds

agesilaus wrote:
Be aware that your RV is unlikely to be built for an Alaskan winter.

Call you be a little more specific please. The holding takes will be heated. I'm sure there is mrudimentary

I am originally from new England and am familiar with cold weather and snow. I can't take the heat in Florida another year!

Someone had suggested I post and read the alaska page. I read the majority of all posts. I also searched Google "how to prepare your RV for an alaska trip" that gave me some ideas, they seemed rudeamentry. I may not have thought about the extra tires, (Mounted) and the likely damage your RV or toad could suffer because of the frost heaves and gravel. Carrying extra gas seems sketchy because of safety and storage, but seems logical.



Zippy

My usual plan is from 400-500 miles per day. I start out at about 8 a.m. and start looking for an RV park at 4 or 4:30 p.m. I usually have a quick stop in the middle for fuel and a sandwich.

I enjoyed the area around Mt Rushmore and spent a week there. I drove out to Custer State Park and got some great photos of buffalo and wild burros. Bear Country in Rapid City was also a highlight of the trip.