Prudhoe Bay or Inuvik?

Dempster to Inuvik - stay away from all the big trucks going to Prudhoe!! Once in Inuvik take the flight/tour to Tuktayuktuk and wade in the Arctic Ocean!!

The thrill of a lifetime!!

I would pick Inuvik and make a day trip to Akavik. The grave of the "mad trapper" is in Aklavik.

http://www.aklavik.ca/?p=take_a_tour_of_the_town

Here are my views on this and keep in mind this is like asking what tires or type of oil should I use?
Both roads are remote and will provide the trip of a lifetime.
The road to Prudhoe Bay is called the haul road for a reason. It will be primarily truck traffic. The road to Inuvik will have more automobile/pickup traffic than the haul road because it services a real community at Inuvik.
Prudhoe Bay is a working/oilfield town and caters entirely to the work environment. Inuvik is an everyday town with restaurants, hotels, convenience stores, library, touristy stuff, etc.
The scenery will be similar on both roads.
Both roads can have challenging spots if it rains or snows and can be down in the 30's even in the summer.
Distance from Coldfoot to Prudhoe is 250 miles between gas stops. I don't remember the longest distance on the Inuvik road but I don't recall it to be greater than 250.
Some simple rules: slow down for oncoming traffic. 99% of the truck drivers will show the same courtesy and slow down for you. Remember they are trying to manage energy on 80,000 pound rigs so if a trucker is on your bumper get out of his way as soon as safely possible. The other vehicles on the road are another story so you get what you get. Some will slow down others will not. I slow down because I know what flying gravel does and to minimize my own damage when others don't slow down.
Leaving from Fairbanks you will go on the Top of the World Highway which as of last summer has less than 30 miles of gravel all the way to Dawson City, Yukon. Dawson City itself is worth the visit.
In a nutshell: Prudhoe Bay is black and white and all business.
Inuvik is colorful and in my opinion more fun plus you will see Dawson City which is lots of fun!

bakedalaskan1 wrote:

Some simple rules: slow down for oncoming traffic. 99% of the truck drivers will show the same courtesy and slow down for you. Remember they are trying to manage energy on 80,000 pound rigs so if a trucker is on your bumper get out of his way as soon as safely possible. The other vehicles on the road are another story so you get what you get. Some will slow down others will not. I slow down because I know what flying gravel does and to minimize my own damage when others don't slow down.

Great advice. While I didn't travel those roads my observations:
1. Truckers are the best as they will often slow or move as far right as possible.
2. Visitors including RVs: Some learn and some don't.
3. Locals: Rock damage etc is a way of life, priorites are getting to work, etc. Like "Damn the torpedoes full speed ahead."

CA Traveler wrote:
Great advice. While I didn't travel those roads my observations:
1. Truckers are the best as they will often slow or move as far right as possible.
2. Visitors including RVs: Some learn and some don't.
3. Locals: Rock damage etc is a way of life, priorites are getting to work, etc. Like "Damn the torpedoes full speed ahead."

You summed that up pretty good.
I can't really fault the locals' driving habits. They are still working for a living while we are just touring their state on a pleasure trip. However I will add, we found very few locals that wouldn't be willing to give you a hand if you needed assistance along the way.

Also you cannot drive to Prudhoe, you stop at that town at the end of the road and make a reservation to take a tour which will take you to the Arctic Sea and Prudhoe. Probably means a night in the hotel there and the tour the next day.

We haven't been there but I have yet to see any comments on how great the Arctic looks with all those oil platforms in it. All the critters are gone, out following the summer ice to the north.

Damdifino wrote:
From the point of view of remoteness, scenery, highway conditions, ambience, services and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which of the two would you pick to visit? Oh, point of departure will be Fairbanks.

I would say both are pretty much equal when using your comparison factors. Why don't you make the drive to Inuvik and take a flight/van tour from Fairbanks up the haul road to Prudhoe Bay and back. If the weather is clear the flight is really scenic and the drive back across the Brooks Range is a once in a lifetime experience! Especially in a van with a tour guide that will point out all the interesting scenery and stops along the way. Did I mention it's his windshield that takes the rock hits and not yours!!

As mentioned earlier Taylor/Top Of The World highway and Dawson City are definitely part of the must do list! But so is The Dalton Highway with a compulsory stop in Wiseman to listen to Jack Reakoff for an hour or so and a walking tour through town is a must. http://jukebox.uaf.edu/haul_road/htm/int_reakoff.htm

Been to Prudhoe more than I want. Been to inuvik once. I'd call the scenery about even.....but as was pointed out earlier, there's a reason it's called the Haul Road to Prudhoe. Lots of options to go on the Arctic Ocean tours at Prudhoe.....but other than that Inuvik itself might be more enjoyable than Prudhoe/Deadhorse

CA Traveler said it very well and 3oaks is also correct. The road is a way of life and so is a cracked windshield. I did not mean to imply that people were rude or inconsiderate. It will be quite the opposite. Most people are friendly and have good intentions. You may feel like you are isolated but you will never be alone. Helping folks is a way of life in the North country. You will also meet tourist from all over the world and be able to share experiences with them.
I could spend all day on this post so I have tried to keep it short.
Anyone may PM me and I will happily buy you a drink and talk to you about the local area if I am in town. Happy travels!

The Dempster would be my first choice.

The Tombstone Park area is beautiful, good camping at the park and excellent hiking and photography.

At the Arctic Circle, one can see for miles and miles.

http://yukonsights.ca/DempsterHwy.html