sample itineraries aka not re-inventing the wheel

Left Clearwater, Fl. May 27th, traveling in a Sprinter Leisure Travel Van. So far 7,500 miles. Currently at Cabelas in Anchorage, with light rain, plan on going to Seward today. Should we take the ferry to Valdez or drive?.
HR0082. Would like to send you a private message

One thing I would highly recommend is to stay IN Denali Nat'l Park for the greatest experience. No, you won't have hookups but really, your RV is self-contained, you don't need hookups. We've stayed in the front area at Riley Creek for 5 nights and at the far campground, Teklanika, for another 5 nights. We had plenty to do for the 10 days and we were able to see a sample of every large animal in the park, along with seeing 'the mountain' 7 out of 10 days! Staying at Teklanika you can purchase the TEK bus pass and use it for your whole stay. You can go out for a short trip, get off and walk around, and pick up the next bus coming by. Or you can go for an all-day trip. You can also go in the mornings and in the evenings when the critters are out in full force. What an experience!!

Our Alaska 2013 blog. I agree that Tok is a decision point and that decision should include all of the Kenai for weather. Fairbanks is a arctic dessert and not nearly as spectacular as the Kenai peninsula and SE Alaska.

We envy anyone taking the marine ferry with their rig. The Juneau Fjord Express out of Skagway/Haines was fabulous.

Can't say much about the Caribbean jewelery stores in Juneau and Skagway, same stores, people and products. It just does not fit Alaska. Moreover the cruise ships bus the cruisers to their lodges, etc, so good to avoid.

Below is the basics of a GS Caravan Tour which was shared by a fellow camper and could also be helpful for planning.

I second the idea of a bullet list. Since 2011, we have made two trips to Alaska and will be heading back beginning sometime in June. Yesterday my husband and I were discussing how difficult it is to explain to people when they ask why we want to go back. Our first trip was truly a learning experience. The second was more going back to the places that we liked the first time and going/doing those that we had missed and thought we'd enjoy. This time we will probably do some things that take us off the roads.

The only reservations that we have are for Seward on July 2-6. Other than that, we will be doing a great deal of boondocking. We will follow a route that I have recently planned, but the length of time that we will stay in each place will depend on weather and what we find when we arrive and how much we find to do and see. In my opinion, to really enjoy Alaska, one needs to be very flexible and very relaxed. I also think that since it takes such a long time to get there, one needs to realize all the beauty and opportunities that exist along the way---no matter which route you take.

I am so ready to get on the road!

Just an early morning adder to this thread...

1) I'd strongly agree with what Joe b. posted....if you stay on the road, you'll see 10% or less of Alaska. Line up some flightseeing, some riverboating, something other than the driving.

2) Hard to explain, but IMNSHO, being in Alaska has a special kind of ambience that is of course related to the scenery, wildlife, etc, but is also more than the sum of its parts. IMNSHO, the more rigorous one gets about itinerary and schedule (except the bare minimum), the less chance that a visitor has to feel and experience that ambience.

I'd recommend making a bullet list of things you don't want to miss rather than a detailed itinerary.

thanks for all the excellent information everyone, and also, thank you to the several people who emailed me their itineraries! I have printed them out and will use them as a starting point.

Now I feel like I can get out my map and start looking at how we want to approach this trip!
I love the Decision Points- "if the weather is good, turn left, if it isn't, turn right." great information to have!

thanks,
Sue

Once a person puts some serious thoughts into "why" they want to go to northern Canada and Alaska, the trip routing becomes much easier. Of the very small group that report being disappointed with their trip, it seems most/all, never put much thought into the "why" go. For some, Alaska is just a place to make a U turn, to head back home so they can say they have been to Alaska. Others have dreamed for years, of seeing the mountains, lakes, rivers, going fishing, taking wildlife photos, etc. so they plan their trips around what they want to see and do. Doing your trip just like someone else did their's, probably isn't going to work for many first timers.

Since I grew up in southern Oklahoma on a ranch, where dry summers are a real concern to raising livestock, seeing all the water in the north country was a big event for me and still is. I have always enjoyed hunting and fishing, but for fair warning, after fishing and hunting in Alaska for 25+ years, it is hard to get too excited, about doing it here in the lower 48, in most places.

Also think about the trip up and back, have you and your travel companions, made the same trips in the lower 48, or the southern parts of Canada in the past? If so a person may want to get on north to spend more time in the north country. If a person has never been to the northern tier of states or Canada, then plan to spend more time getting to the north country. Much of the scenery in western Canada, is every bit as spectacular as in Alaska, iMHO.

I am a big fan of the gold rush history of the north and spend much of my time, in those areas of the state. Combat fishing is really not my favorite, but I do enjoy the social aspects of it, so I tend to avoid fishing much on the Kenai because of the crowds. Too many other good places in Alaska to fish, without the crowds of people. If a person can figure out what they want to see and do, in the north country, it is probably available if one looks around for it. Consider some side trips, flying to them, boat trips, anything to get off the limited highway system in Alaska. I have read that if a person only drives on the paved roads of Alaska, they can see approximately 5% of the state, add in all the gravel roads and it pushes the area up to about 10% of the state. To see more of the state, and there is a lot more of it, you have to use some different forms of transportation other than your RV. Maybe not on your first trip north, but most people that haven't waited to late in life to make their first trip, will often make multiple trips to the North before they park their rigs, due to age, health, etc. Often times it takes the first trip just to figure out what you really want to see and do on your return trips. It can be addictive, to many of us RVers.

We made the trip from the east coast last year. The only places we made reservations far in advance were for Banff and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies and for Teklanika Campground in Denali National Park. We had a basic idea of our route before we left home but it changed as we went along.

I included a page on our blog of Alaska Trip Campground List and a page with Maps of our 2013 Alaska Trip. These might give you some ideas.

I hope this helps. PM me if you have any questions.

I would not get to detailed with a full itinerary. You should pick out some high lights, Laird hot Springs, Sign Post, Dawson, Denali, etc. You are going to have many long days and hours of driving and plenty of time to read the milepost as whats ahead of you. We first drove to Alaska about 40 years ago and just planned for a day at a time without any schedules or reservations using the Milepost.. Camped by out people in the evening we learned of places ahead of us to do or see. If we liked an area we stayed longer if we didn't we moved on. With all the wifi available today and the info on this site, you could post your location daily and people would let you know what to do or see. The only day I would plan in advance is the July 4th weekend or bus trip into Denali.

Hook