Route to Alaska all the way through Canada?

We have children living in Saskatoon. We have done the trip through Saskatoon to Alaska three times, 2005. 2009, and 2013. I 2007 we went from Saskatoon to Newfoundland by way of Canada with one short dip into Minnesota to the International Wolf Center at Ely, then right back up to Thunder Bay. The drive across Canada was great.

This year we will be going back to Newfoundland, after our visit in Saskatoon, and I have the following route mapped out:

Saskatoon, SK to Yorkton, SK, 205 miles
Yorkton, SK to Portage la Prairie, MB, 227 miles
Portage la Prairie, MB to Vermilion Bay, ON, 249 miles
Vermilion Bay, ON to Thunder Bay, ON, 246 miles
Thunder Bay, ON to Geraldton, ON, 176 miles
Geraldton, ON to Moonbeam, ON, 227 miles
Moonbeam, ON to Temagami, ON, 230 miles
Temagami, ON to Montreal, QC, 182 miles
Montreal, QC, to Quebec City, QC, 157 miles
Quebec City, QC to St Simeon, QC, 110 miles
St Simeon, QC to Baie-Comeau, QC, 149 miles

We don't like to travel over 200 miles a day but this scheduled is mapped out to confirmed campground locations. It will change as we locate additional camping's spots that are not on the map. We just use the schedule for routing purposes, not for time frame.

From Baie-Comeau, QC we will turn north towards the Trans-Labrador Hwy.

My recommendation comes in two parts.

Part one. If you have sufficient time built into your trip schedule to allow an extra 5 to 7 days to travel through Canada then you should take it. It is not as fast as traveling in the USA but is one great drive and adventure. Things a lot of people miss when planning their "Trip of a Lifetime" to Akaka, is that Alaska is not the only destination. The best destination in Alaska is the road getting there. The little extra you expend on fuel is well worth the extra time and money. And if the current exchange rate holds through the summer fuel may actually be cheaper than in the US.

Part Two. Just go. Some routes to Alaska are better than others, but they all get you to Alaska so they are not wrong.

My trip logs and photos are in the website in my signature. If you are interested take a look,

Seeing Canada options.

East

West




I think its close enough to the trip now to get your provincial visitors guides and provincial maps. Go to www.google.ca use search terms "name of province" & "tourism". Go into site and request these items. If you have special interests, such as, formation of Northwest Mounted Police (name before RCMP) or hiking, or, fishing.......telephone these offices. The probably have special pamphlets.

Then when you get them pick out what you want to see.

Again my ideas, 15 days going across to AK, YT, NWT & 15 days coming back. I've had times of working Ontario and in Quebec, so my 15 days will be more to the west

:B

litre

is fuel in Canada sold by the liter or imperial gallon?

is fuel in Canada sold by the liter or imperial gallon?

garyhaupt wrote:
Operating an RV and spending a bunch of time arguing about how to save a few bucks on fuel is a wee bit of a conundrum, no?

Take the route you haven't before. See stuff you haven't seen before. Meet people you wouldn't have even said hello to. Or not, but man...there is so much to see in this world, if you just stick to the same old routes, same scenery and same people....well, I just think that that is such a lost opportunity.


Gary Haupt

Agree
Soup

Operating an RV and spending a bunch of time arguing about how to save a few bucks on fuel is a wee bit of a conundrum, no?

Take the route you haven't before. See stuff you haven't seen before. Meet people you wouldn't have even said hello to. Or not, but man...there is so much to see in this world, if you just stick to the same old routes, same scenery and same people....well, I just think that that is such a lost opportunity.


Gary Haupt

almcc wrote:
When we've headed for the Alaska Highway we always have taken the Yellowhead highway that starts west of Winnipeg, it's a good route and takes you into Edmonton, closer to the start instead of hitting Calgary and going north.

But you miss the Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular roads in North America.

Artum Snowbird wrote:
Pulsar, you are correct for the most part, but you haven't factored in the value of each others dollars. Also our gas is better because it has rendered whale fat, melted igloos, and ground up hockey pucks in it.

Enjoy your day.

You forgot to mention that because we measure distance in metric, you get better mileage because there's 1.6 kilometres to each mile.

When we've headed for the Alaska Highway we always have taken the Yellowhead highway that starts west of Winnipeg, it's a good route and takes you into Edmonton, closer to the start instead of hitting Calgary and going north. There are a lot of local RV parks run by community groups along the route. It's generally 2 lane with an occasional third lane for passing but we've never found it that busy.