Travels from Birmingham, AL to Alaska
we would like to travel from Birmingham, AL, going north to Mt. Rushmore, up to Canada to Alaska, Down to California to the best sites, then to Grand Canyon, down to Texas, then down to a Mexican Bord...
Forum Discussion
Wow! Hope you're not planning on doing that this summer. :)
You're asking for a LOT of information. I assume you have no time limit and that you'll be starting next March/April. First, there are 4 books recommended: The Milepost for Alaska, Mike and Terri Church's Alaskan Camping, the Mountain Directory - West, and a good Atlas.
Begin by highlighting in the atlas the routes you want to take and for the western states double check any mountain roads in question. For Alaska you don't have too many choices - it's either the Alaskan Hwy or the Cassier Hwy. We would recommend going up on the Alaskan and returning on the Cassier. Both are very doable in an RV.
I would also recommend that you not make advance reservations. Just GO! However, about 3 weeks before the July 4 weekend make reservations when you can better judge where you'll be in Alaska. Also do the same for your visit to Denali Nat'l Park, especially if you stay in Teklanika campground in the park (highly recommended). That's really all you need to make.
We've full-timed for 16+ years and rarely make reservations and try to stay off interstates, traveling the secondary roads. You'll see more of the countryside. I suggest you leave Alabama in March/April and take your time to the Canadian border. Plan to cross around the 3rd week of May otherwise you'll find many things still closed. Then spend the summer travel to Alaska. The roads will be slow-going so don't plan on more than 200 miles a day, if that. Many times we'd travel 50! Sitesee as you travel so you don't have to backtrack. Distances to attractions are great.
Stop often. Don't rush it. Then return around mid-August to early Sept via the Cassier Hwy and be sure to stop in Hyder to water the bears with the salmon run.
Travel down the Oregon coast on 101 and continue into California. It's a beautiful drive and the state parks in Oregon are awesome.
I would also suggest you mosey on over to the Alaska forum on this site. There's a lot of helpful information posted. There's a group that have been communicating the past year throwing ideas back and forth. They even made window signs and are now meeting up with them as they travel. There's a new post now for those traveling in 2014 so join the conversations!
In the meantime just read all you can on these forums. You'll get lots of ideas depending on your interests and the type of RVing you like to do - private parks, public parks and mix in some dry camping/boondocking. There are some beautiful places to spend a night on your trip to Alaska by just pulling off on the side of the road. You'll see many RVers doing just that.
Have a great trip!
You're asking for a LOT of information. I assume you have no time limit and that you'll be starting next March/April. First, there are 4 books recommended: The Milepost for Alaska, Mike and Terri Church's Alaskan Camping, the Mountain Directory - West, and a good Atlas.
Begin by highlighting in the atlas the routes you want to take and for the western states double check any mountain roads in question. For Alaska you don't have too many choices - it's either the Alaskan Hwy or the Cassier Hwy. We would recommend going up on the Alaskan and returning on the Cassier. Both are very doable in an RV.
I would also recommend that you not make advance reservations. Just GO! However, about 3 weeks before the July 4 weekend make reservations when you can better judge where you'll be in Alaska. Also do the same for your visit to Denali Nat'l Park, especially if you stay in Teklanika campground in the park (highly recommended). That's really all you need to make.
We've full-timed for 16+ years and rarely make reservations and try to stay off interstates, traveling the secondary roads. You'll see more of the countryside. I suggest you leave Alabama in March/April and take your time to the Canadian border. Plan to cross around the 3rd week of May otherwise you'll find many things still closed. Then spend the summer travel to Alaska. The roads will be slow-going so don't plan on more than 200 miles a day, if that. Many times we'd travel 50! Sitesee as you travel so you don't have to backtrack. Distances to attractions are great.
Stop often. Don't rush it. Then return around mid-August to early Sept via the Cassier Hwy and be sure to stop in Hyder to water the bears with the salmon run.
Travel down the Oregon coast on 101 and continue into California. It's a beautiful drive and the state parks in Oregon are awesome.
I would also suggest you mosey on over to the Alaska forum on this site. There's a lot of helpful information posted. There's a group that have been communicating the past year throwing ideas back and forth. They even made window signs and are now meeting up with them as they travel. There's a new post now for those traveling in 2014 so join the conversations!
In the meantime just read all you can on these forums. You'll get lots of ideas depending on your interests and the type of RVing you like to do - private parks, public parks and mix in some dry camping/boondocking. There are some beautiful places to spend a night on your trip to Alaska by just pulling off on the side of the road. You'll see many RVers doing just that.
Have a great trip!
