Planning Alaska Trip

I personally would not recommend taking a rental RV on the Denali Highway and it may be restricted from the Chitina-McCarthy road. Probably the only AMHS ferry that you will have time for on a trip that short would be the Whittier-Valdez route. But that ferry would save you a day or more of driving time, so may well be worth it on your schedule.

If you really want to add Glacier Bay, Skagway, or Juneau to your limited schedule, you can fly Alaska Airlines from Anchorage to Juneau and take the AMHS ferry to Skagway or a small boat tour to Glacier Bay. We did that on one trip to Alaska and also added an overnight ferry trip from Skagway to Sitka.

I agree with others that the southern Anchorage-Seward-Kenai-Homer loop and the northern Anchorage-Denali NP-Fairbanks-Delta Junction-Valdez loop are about all you will have time for if you are flying up and renting an RV for a month. But that will give you an overview of the most populous part of the state and you can plan another, future trip to visit the Alaska Panhandle, Kodiak, Haines, Whitehorse, Dawson, etc.

After all, does anyone ever go to Alaska just once?

In my opinion, the only way to see portions of Alaska upon time constraints is to fly to Anchorage and rent an RV, period...

As noted, Anchorage is the largest city and has the most resources for RV rentals and everything else barnone...

Also, Anchorage is centrally located close enough to the more scenic places accessible by road such as the Kenai Peninsula area and many other places in the Susitna or Matanuska Valleys...

Also in my opinion weighing the options between renting an RV versus renting a car and staying in lodging rooms is like comparing apples and oranges that are no comparison :

Renting an RV gives you that unlimited flexibility in which you have lodging on wheels 24 hours a day and not a worry in the world of where exactly you have to be present at in order to spend a night under shelter...

As comparing to renting a car and relying on lodging rooms during the summer months means reservations are highly recommended for most places which translates to pretty much you have to plan on being present at that specific location on that specific day and so forth as you are now stuck on a schedule (you cannot always count on vacancy in some parts as if you do happen to find something available with no reservations, prepare to pay a lot more money like my brother in law did by changing plans he thought he could get around when I advised against it but then did it anyway as it cost an extra day and hurting the wallet even more)...For a first time Alaska visitor not knowing the areas, underestimating the greater vast distances between towns (thinking mentality of the same 400 mile distance in Alaska are like interstate road travel), while facing the potential road construction delays, plus dealing with the when not to travel on the roads when the sun is staring at you in the face while you travel, and any other possible potential delays or potential hazards that could happen in between you would end up losing more time when you are on a schedule versus the flexibility you have in an RV as you can spend the night in comfort wherever you are at with no reservations to worry about.

Once someone has visited Alaska for the first time, they would have a much better idea planning upon a day by day agenda when renting a car and making lodging reservations if that is the desire - which I would be ok with provided a person stays in a same proximity area over a length of time to explore, or knowing for sure other places you plan on being on the exact days specified (like I had carefully planned in great detail on my 1994 Southeast Alaska vacation with lodging and ferry reservations before I obtained my first RV in 1996).

These two options between renting an RV or renting a car with lodging aren't going to be a whole lot of savings between the two should you find any deal, as the advantage of having the flexibility in an RV would be worth the extra few bucks anyway (if so happens to be) in my opinion...

I don't know about now but in the past the packaged airfare bus transport and lodging tours were the more economical way to go, however you have no control and are subjected to their tight schedule to tag along upon when to wake up and board the bus, when to eat, where to eat, when the bus departs, where the bus only stops at upon specific locations to sightsee or stretchbreak reststops, for how long it stops before back on the road, etc (as sitting in a nice charter bus you do get to see either the left or right roadside view unless you got the very front seat near the bus driver)....the good thing was you didn't have to worry about driving around or making lodging reservations as it was all taken care of, however should their own schedule go wrong or a mishap occurs such as a road closure or breakdown or what have ya, they have a plan B that might work or might not work that could inconvienience the customer.

As also noted, whether in an RV or a car rental there are certain contract restrictions that do apply for remote or unpaved surfaced roads that are prohibited to drive on and worth checking into should you plan on driving the main four routes of the Dalton Highway, McCarthy Road, Denali Highway, or Taylor Highway if permitted upon the form of transportation used.

If you rent an RV, check for their restrictions on unpaved roads and the penalties. Some companies specifically prohibit travel on certain roads.

1oldtruck wrote:
Flying out and renting an RV looks good. Cost of renting the RV is $2800 or roughly the cost of fuel to drive to AK. Early bird rental is saving quite a bit of money.

Where would you recommend flying to? Assuming I fly out of Tampa where would be the nearest large airport? Any recommended carriers for this trip?

Anchorage would have more choices in rental places I would believe. Should be less expensive to fly to Anchorage as well.

When my son's in-laws rented one it was in Anchorage. Sleeping supplies (sleeping bags or sheets & blankets) come with an extra cost, if you can bring your own, might same some $....cooking supplies ??? maybe also.

Rent in Anchorage, tour the Kenai Peninsula (kind of South), perhaps check out Whittier (also south), take a jaunt up to Denali (north), maybe continue to Fairbanks & check out the Alaska Pipeline up to the Dalton Hwy (much more north). If in Fairbanks, drive to Delta Junction (east), then to Valdez (south). Valdez back up to Glennallen A-1 to Palmer (west), then back to Anchorage.

Might want to take a detour between Glennallen & Valdez A-10 to Chitina.

If wanting to skip Fairbanks area, take the Denali Hwy A-8 to Paxson & on to A-4 the Valdez Hwy, then South to Valdez & Chitina & Gleenallen & A-10 back to Palmer & Anchorage. Much of the Denali Hwy is gravel, not paved, however.

The Hwy to the start of the Dalton Hwy is paved, the Dalton is not.

As for Airlines, we have used Alaska Air in our flights & have one reserved to go in July now. My son & his family flew down to Orange County (near Los Angles) in March. Seems they used Delta. Back up as well. United seems to have flights between Anchorage & Orlando. American Airlines have flights from Tampa to Anchorage.

Seems the Salmon do a run around the 10th of July (give or take) down in the Kenai Peninsula.

Just saw this a while ago: Homer Road Construction.

Since we will be staying a lot of time with our Alaska Family, I have also been checking on prices for renting a car & staying in hotel, cabins & B&Bs. Without RV

Not sure which world be easiest on the old budget, cost of rent an RV (fuel & bedding) or rent a car & finding lodging & fuel). Might be about even.

Our daughter-in-law's mom & dad rented an RV. She provided the bedding & cooking supplies for them.

Never have, but have thought of trying the inside passage route on a Alaska Ferry from The Alaska Marine Highway System.

With a small car perhaps or maybe just walk on. If Fly to Seattle, do a walk on; Fly back home.

I suspect that Orlando has as many flights as any in Florida, from folks flying in to visit the Mouse.

Alaska Airlines did have a few flights out of Florida but some were on a seasonal basis. I have to promote Alaska Airlines, since my cousin drives one of the kerosene queens for them, normally on the Seattle to Anchorage/Fairbnks run or to Mexio and back to Seattle.

I would second the "fly & rent" option. I would assume that Tampa has as good a connection as any city in Florida? Otherwise, maybe JAX?

Going into Alaska, Anchorage is your arrival airport.

I'd like to recommend Continental, but they ain't around anymore. The substitute, United, leaves a bit to be desired but may be the best option. From FL, you may be able to get a good deal on Delta flights.

Flying out and renting an RV looks good. Cost of renting the RV is $2800 or roughly the cost of fuel to drive to AK. Early bird rental is saving quite a bit of money.

Where would you recommend flying to? Assuming I fly out of Tampa where would be the nearest large airport? Any recommended carriers for this trip?

Another option is to take a land-sea tour; ours was 10 days. Lots of $$ and we really just scratched the surface of all that Alaska (Seward's Folly) has to offer.

We would also recommend that you fly and rent a Class C out of Alaska because of your distance and time constraints. It would be a much more relaxing trip for all of you. You will also be spending a lot of money from Florida to Alaska on fuel, food, campgrounds so apply that money to the fly/rental and you'll get to spend more time actually seeing Alaska. Definitely, for your first time, there is much to see just on your way in the lower 48, then through Canada and the Yukon but if you don't have the time to stop and explore and putting in long driving days that would be boring to us and I can't imagine the kids would enjoy the long driving days and passing up things along the way.

As mentioned, driving, the trip would cost you $10,000+ from Florida so compare flying and renting.

Fly to Anchorage and rent an RV. Plan a circle route that takes in Fairbanks, Valdez, Seward and Homer. Consider the ferry between Whittier and Valdez. Two to three weeks would allow time for driving the circle and time to stay and do something in a number of places.

Just fuel to make the trip from FL to AK and return will run in the range of $5,000. An RV rents for around $125/day plus fuel and such.

Check with a cruise line. Take a cruise to or from AK one way, do your own tour of AK or use the cruise line's tour, fly back to FL.

A drive tour would need more in the range of 2 to 3 months, unless you plan to drive 12 hours a day with minimal stops. If you travel 6 to 8 hours a day and cover 350 miles and stop once a week for laundry and such, and don't do any sightseeing enroute, you will need 2 weeks+ each way just to drive.

Best wishes for a good trip.