We would like to go to Alaska next spring but hubby absolutely refuses to take our RV up there. So we are looking at flying into Fairbanks, renting an RV for a week of look see in that area. Dropping the RV at Anchorage and taking the inland passage cruise back to Vancouver or Seattle. The cruise packages we are leaning toward include the train ride and a couple of days in Denali park. I have checked both RV rental sites (Great Alaskan) and cruise sites but wondered if there is a single site that we could use to plan and book all of it.

Google is your friend. This took me all of 30 seconds.https://www.travelalaska.com/package%20tours.aspxGary Haupt

Some friends of ours did the rental RV thing; don't know if they still do but our friends were limited to paved roads only by the rental outfit. That may limit where you go. Having been there with our camper and planning another trip we see no reason not to take the RV. Just slow down at the rough spots and you'll be fine.

A week in Alaska with or without an RV is waaaaaaay to short. So much to see and do and then to get off the beaten path and really explore Alaska while taking time to relax along the way. ;)But I am sure you will enjoy whatever time you spend in Alaska. :)

Only a week? :( ... rent a Jeep, stay in motels, that short of time period won't break the bank.IMHO you need at least a week to ten days just to wait out bad weather. On my visit, I used up my one-week bad weather buffer and had to leave before seeing Denali NP. Wildfire and choking smoke when I arrived, followed by ten days of rain and thick clouds.Had a great time still, most of it in Canada were the weather was beautiful.

You really don't want to hit Fairbanks before mid June. May is Break-up! You don't want to see or drive in that. June can be good for wildlife viewing because the trees are mostly still bare, but it's still frosty early in the month with snows many years. Yeah they only last 2-3 days, but if you are there those 2-3 days...well, it's like winter down here. Try to hit solstice, you'll never forget it.Maybe better to see the Kenai in June than Fairbanks, much more hospitable weather. Even mid May would be possible on the Kenai.

Slightly different Alaska trip | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

DougE
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
I thought long and hard about flying up and renting an RV. Finally decided I wanted someone else to worry about where I'd spend the night and where I'd eat. I took a tour/cruise option - fly into Anchorage, train up to Denali, bus to Seward, boat to Vancouver. Water, trees, a few animals. There's really not much to see without taking the local tours that are easy to arrange on a cruise. Worth the trip and now I'm satisfied I know what Alaska is like. For the future, there's just as good scenery and animals in the Rockies and much closer.
explorenorth
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
You really don't want to book a cruisetour through anybody but a travel agent who specializes in that. They can give you the best prices and get you onto the right ship and tour combination, not just the one that pays them the best commission. Feel free to PM me - after 13 Alaska cruises and 3 years as one of those specialist agents (I'm not anymore), I may be able to give you some tips as well.
tonymull
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
You really don't want to hit Fairbanks before mid June. May is Break-up! You don't want to see or drive in that. June can be good for wildlife viewing because the trees are mostly still bare, but it's still frosty early in the month with snows many years. Yeah they only last 2-3 days, but if you are there those 2-3 days...well, it's like winter down here. Try to hit solstice, you'll never forget it.

Maybe better to see the Kenai in June than Fairbanks, much more hospitable weather. Even mid May would be possible on the Kenai.
GordonThree
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
Only a week? :( ... rent a Jeep, stay in motels, that short of time period won't break the bank.

IMHO you need at least a week to ten days just to wait out bad weather. On my visit, I used up my one-week bad weather buffer and had to leave before seeing Denali NP. Wildfire and choking smoke when I arrived, followed by ten days of rain and thick clouds.

Had a great time still, most of it in Canada were the weather was beautiful.
3oaks
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
A week in Alaska with or without an RV is waaaaaaay to short.

So much to see and do and then to get off the beaten path and really explore Alaska while taking time to relax along the way. ;)

But I am sure you will enjoy whatever time you spend in Alaska. :)
scrubjaysnest
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
Some friends of ours did the rental RV thing; don't know if they still do but our friends were limited to paved roads only by the rental outfit. That may limit where you go. Having been there with our camper and planning another trip we see no reason not to take the RV. Just slow down at the rough spots and you'll be fine.
garyhaupt
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
Google is your friend. This took me all of 30 seconds.

https://www.travelalaska.com/package%20tours.aspx

Gary Haupt

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Slightly different Alaska trip

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