Alaska Highway RV Camping

[YankeeBP]

When traveling the Alaska Hwy is it necessary to have advanced reservations at regional campgrounds and/or RV campgrounds? I will be towing a 24-foot TT with a pickup truck. Am planning on driving 200-300 miles per day--starting early (7-8 a.m.) and ending early (3-4 p.m.). The reason I don't want to make advanced reservations is so that if I find a place where I want to stay and extra day of so, I don't want to feel obligated to leave because of a pre-determined itineray dictated by advanced reservations. I'll be traveling the highway in the end of July when going to Alaska and the end of August or first of September on my return. Ok, all of you experts, what's your advice?

[jnharley]

That is not to say that we did not plan our stops along the way. We just did not make many reservations. We stayed in an electric only site at a military campground (also open to the public) just outside of Valdez over July 4thand it was a no reservations camoground and we had no trouble getting a site. We did make reservations for Denali about a month in advance and also made a reservation for the campground up on the hill outside of Homer. That is a very busy campground and we tried to extend our stays but we were not able to.

[lizzie]

Yankee BP: We towed a 2008 Crossroads Sunset Trail-Ultra lite. The TT had already seen a lot of use and we decided if it had major problems we would just sell it for scrap and come home. We had NO problems and we didn't avoid bad roads and went everywhere we wanted to go. The TT came home in great shape and is still going (our neighbor bought it). As other have advised, do not be in a hurry. Not having reservations helps with this as you do not get over anxious about how any miles you can cover in a day. You will have no control over this, so relax and poke along. Wish I could go. lizzie

[rag-ftw]

Dawson definitely, Whitehorse probably, Tecklanika definitely at least a month or two in advance. Other than that we have never needed reservations. If you want a spot on the lake at Toad River you might call ahead. Enjoy your trip and don't worry about being tied to a schedule. You will find just about everyone is pretty "laid back" along the Hyway! Lots of great opportunities for gravel pit boon docking where you could share 10 or 15 acres with the critters and no people!

[2gypsies1]

The only reservations we made for the whole summer were for the July 4 weekend (Alaskans go camping, too) and for Denali's Teklanika campground. For those we only made them about 3 weeks out when we could better judge when we'd be in the area.

As it turn out, we were early for Denali so on a whim we boondocked nearby at a gorgeous site and early the next morning we drove into Denali. We easily secured a site for our 40' motorhome in Denali's front campground, Riley Creek, for 5 nights before moving to our reservation site in Teklanika for an additional 5 nights. We easily fill our time during those 10 nights and saw every one of the 'big 5' critters, some multiple times. We had beautiful weather in mid-August and saw the mountain 7 out of 10 days.

As far as tearing up your rig - there's no need to do that if you drive slow. This is not an interstate-type trip. We had absolutely no damage to our motorhome or our towed Jeep and we didn't take any special precautions to them. Take your time and enjoy it!

[hr0082]

Three trips in the last five years and the only reservation that we made prior to leaving home was in Seward for the week of July 4th. As our time neared to be in Denali, we made reservations a couple of days in advance. The first time we were able to get Denali the day prior to our arrival.

Depending on when you would arrive, I recommend making reservations for Valdez once you are within a couple of days of arrival.

Otherwise, we stayed in provincial or state parks or we did quite a bit of boondocking, especially in the Kenai/Soldatna area. We were at Fred Meyers in Soldatna and Walmart in Kenai. Of course, we joined the boondocking crowd at the Walmart in Whitehorse.

Just take your time and stop when you want. Reservations just cut into the freedom of being in BC, Yukon and Alaska.

[Veebyes]

Just like Sue. 3 trips. No reservations except Tehlanika in Denali. Sorry, made reservations in Chicken but that was for a known about music festival.

[mockturtle]

I'm going this summer and don't intend to make any reservations. On a long trip like that, how on earth would I know when I'm going to be where? A strict itinerary takes all the fun and spontaneity out of the journey.

[petendoll]

No problems finding a place anytime anywhere. Drove it summer of 2011. Pick up a MIlepost if you don't have one. Lots of valuable info for the trip.

[jnharley]

I would think if you have a rear kitchen, you may have problems. We met a Fairbanks resident with an RV and he has to completely pack up his rear kitchen before setting out. We had to screw our rear sofa to the floor because it bounced around so much and we have Moryde IS suspension on our 5th wheel and we drove cautiously. I think many issues are caused by driving too fast for conditions. Several times we were passed by fellow RVers only to see them a little farther down the road with mechanical issues. We tried to keep it under 200 miles a day and only made reservations in a couple of places in Alaska. The long daylight hours can lull you into driving way to long. The Milepost is your friend especially for finding pullouts.

[sue_t]

We have hauled our 2003 25' fifth wheel through Yukon and Alaska many times. It is still in great condition. Rear kitchen in it too, no issues. Have had the same 2002 F250 PSD towing it, and it also is in good condition.

When travelling, we're often doing only 30 mph on the Alaska Highway rather than the speed limit of 60 mph. And we always take at least two days to go over the Top of the World Highway.

Now that we live here and I commute 35 miles one way into Whitehorse each work day, I am stunned by the number of RVers I see in the summer just thrashing their trailers and toads. Maybe they don't feel the trailer hopping and bopping on the frost heaves, but really, it is common sense. Some of them would just need to check the underside of their back bumpers, which I see sparking on the highway now and then as it hits the asphalt.

[Raymon]

explorenorth wrote:

YankeeBP wrote:
Lizzie, What was your experience towing a small TT? Did it hold up well to the road construction and rough sections of the Alaska Hwy? What make and model of trailer did you tow?

A friend from Oregon brought her Coleman TT up 2 years ago, and pretty much destroyed it in 6 weeks.

Must have been very careless, drove too fast, was overloaded or all three. I towed a 30 foot 5th wheel all the way from southeastern PA and back and had absolutely no damage to the trailer or pickup truck. Cannot image destroying a TT in 6 weeks time. I do not think this is the normal experience most people have when traveling through Canada or Alaska.

Slow down, have fun and enjoy the trip.

Ray

[sue_t]

When we were RVing to Yukon each year, I never ever made a reservation. Did make reservations once, for Teklanika in Denali NP. Other than that, we winged it.

We live here now and head out camping, again, with no reservations. Ever. But then we know all the good boondock spots now.

[explorenorth]

YankeeBP wrote:
Lizzie, What was your experience towing a small TT? Did it hold up well to the road construction and rough sections of the Alaska Hwy? What make and model of trailer did you tow?

A friend from Oregon brought her Coleman TT up 2 years ago, and pretty much destroyed it in 6 weeks.

[Peg_Leg]

Went in 2011, no reservations, no problems.