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Alaska Hwy and TOW Highway

kohldad
Explorer III
Explorer III
At this point, I planning on doing both in a truck camper. Will be north bound mid July and south bound in August. Question is if it would be better to do:

1) the Alaskan Highway north and TOW south
2) the TOW north and Alaskan Highway south
3) Does it even matter?
2015 Ram 3500 4x4 Crew Cab SRW 6.4 Hemi LB 3.73 (12.4 hand calc avg mpg after 92,000 miles with camper)
2004 Lance 815 (prev: 2004 FW 35'; 1994 TT 30'; Tents)
13 REPLIES 13

campigloo
Explorer
Explorer
We made that run last year. Since Iโ€™ve been looking at more ways to boondock and take off the beaten path roads. When I go on any of the rougher roads with dozer tracks and sharp rocks I will deflate my tires by about 50%. You still canโ€™t go fast but hopefully youโ€™ll still have your teeth.

c_traveler2
Nomad
Nomad
kohldad wrote:
At this point, I planning on doing both in a truck camper. Will be north bound mid July and south bound in August. Question is if it would be better to do:

1) the Alaskan Highway north and TOW south
2) the TOW north and Alaskan Highway south
3) Does it even matter?


It doesn't really matter which one you want to take coming or going, by road these are the only ways in or out of Alaska that I know of. During our 2018 journey the TOW going in from Dawson City was very muddy, rain and driving through the clouds. This didn't even stop the big 5th wheel rigs from traveling the TOW. Do the road to Tuktoyaktuk in Canada, a very worth while journey.
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GeeWillakers
Explorer
Explorer
We did the TOW last summer and also up to Inuvik and Tuk. One thing not mentioned about the TOW is which side the drop off is on. Itโ€™s only narrow for a few miles but the edge is on the north side so on the right (your side) if going west. Thatโ€™s the way we did it which was ok because we didnโ€™t run into any traffic coming the other way. Iโ€™d rather be on the inside close to the mountain than on the edge.

The road to Tuk was great except for the last 15 miles (will probably be finished this year). The bridges were awesome (thatโ€™s for you Peter if you ever read rv forums). Driving in sunny daylight at 3:00 am was even better.
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Tripalot
Explorer
Explorer
Tripalot wrote:
We are trying to make Inuvik this summer, I plan on using my Garmin Dash Cam to film the whole trip up to Inuvik, wish I had owned one when we did TOW. By the way, the Garmin Dash Cam is also awsome

Have you considered doing the newest highway up to Tuk ?
We flew from Inuvik to Tuk, but now there is a road, would love to drive it.
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Tripalot
Explorer
Explorer
We are trying to make Inuvik this summer, I plan on using my Garmin Dash Cam to film the whole trip up to Inuvik, wish I had owned one when we did TOW. By the way, the Garmin Dash Cam is also awsome

Have you considered doing the newest highway up to Tuk ?
We flew from Inuvik to Tuk, but now there is a road, would love to drive it.
2014 Triple E Regency GT24MB (Murphy Bed) with all the good stuff
towing a 2016 Jeep Cherokee TrailHawk
Berkley, the amazing camping cat missed dearly (1996-2012)

DrewE
Explorer II
Explorer II
The visitor center in Whitehorse is a good place to get that (and other) information, yes. There is a visitor center in Tok, as well, in the same building as the library and they should have information on the road conditions.

100 miles a day is plenty reasonable as an average, though there is a lot of variation in roads and hence actual distances traveled day by day. I averaged considerably more on my trip to Alaska a couple years ago, partly due to constraints, and had a thoroughly marvelous time. I would naturally have loved to have more time, but I also appreciate the benefits of still being employed....

kohldad
Explorer III
Explorer III
4 - Since this is the far north we are commenting here, roadways can be subject to change due to potential roadway washouts, wildfire closures, or any other kind of potential road closure that could occur, so do keep up to date with the route when arriving in Whitehorse along the way or arriving in Tok upon departing Alaska if Top of the World Highway was not first traveled


This is something I really am not in the habit of doing so thanks. I imagine the visitor center in Whitehorse would be a good place to get road updates? Is there some place in Tok to do the same? I will also talk to other campers, but hate to rely on that info because what someone considers bad I may consider fun.
2015 Ram 3500 4x4 Crew Cab SRW 6.4 Hemi LB 3.73 (12.4 hand calc avg mpg after 92,000 miles with camper)
2004 Lance 815 (prev: 2004 FW 35'; 1994 TT 30'; Tents)

kohldad
Explorer III
Explorer III
Whenever you do it, plan to take your time and enjoy the drive.


After I leave Watson Lake, I'm only figuring about 100 miles per day, is that slow enough? And that doesn't count the extra days I plan on staying in one location.
2015 Ram 3500 4x4 Crew Cab SRW 6.4 Hemi LB 3.73 (12.4 hand calc avg mpg after 92,000 miles with camper)
2004 Lance 815 (prev: 2004 FW 35'; 1994 TT 30'; Tents)

AKsilvereagle
Explorer II
Explorer II
I would decide when upon arriving in Whitehorse of which route to take :

1 - If weather forecast is great or so so for the next few days or following week, go for Dawson City and Top of the World Hwy route first.....Taylor Hwy on the Alaska side during rainy conditions might not be an enjoyable drive between Jack Wade Jct. and Chicken at mile 66 thru 96.

2 - If weather forecast is bad, just stay on Alaska Highway enroute to Alaska and hope to time it right for decent enough weather upon leaving Alaska via Taylor and Top of World Highways.

3 - (if Top of the World Highway was not first traveled) Upon arriving in Tok enroute to departing from Alaska, check on any potential SEVERE weather and road conditions before heading on Taylor Hwy. and Top of World Hwy. to Canada and Dawson City..... if the Taylor-Top of the World Hwys. have no bad reports, do take on the route.

4 - Since this is the far north we are commenting here, roadways can be subject to change due to potential roadway washouts, wildfire closures, or any other kind of potential road closure that could occur, so do keep up to date with the route when arriving in Whitehorse along the way or arriving in Tok upon departing Alaska if Top of the World Highway was not first traveled.
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almcc
Explorer
Explorer
We did your number 2 option, but it doesn't matter which way you go. When we went the TOW border crossing was open limited hours, you may want to check the hours. We had a laugh crossing, the US border guard asked if we were crossing with beer, we said Yes, and he said he would have to confiscate it (only kidding with us!). I guess that the Canadian and US border folks have some good "Happy Hours" after the border closes each day!

D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Explorer
Tripalot wrote:
We have driven the TOW highway 3X and I don't think the date matters that much. The recent weather is what affects the drive.
Whenever you do it, plan to take your time and enjoy the drive.


X2

On TOW, if you see a cone in a pot hole, steer around that cone. The big advantage in going slow is the driver gets to marvel at the amazing vistas. Look at the Google Earth images, you will be on the spine of a mountain range. Awsome, Awsome, Awsome.

We are trying to make Inuvik this summer, I plan on using my Garmin Dash Cam to film the whole trip up to Inuvik, wish I had owned one when we did TOW. By the way, the Garmin Dash Cam is also awsome.
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Tripalot
Explorer
Explorer
We have driven the TOW highway 3X and I don't think the date matters that much. The recent weather is what affects the drive.
Whenever you do it, plan to take your time and enjoy the drive.
2014 Triple E Regency GT24MB (Murphy Bed) with all the good stuff
towing a 2016 Jeep Cherokee TrailHawk
Berkley, the amazing camping cat missed dearly (1996-2012)

sljohnson1938
Explorer
Explorer
well, we did the West to East TOW and it was good. However, I understand that if there has been recent rain then it is a bad drive either way. In 2016, our last trip, the road from Tok, Alaska to Chicken was very rough, lots of pot holes, once in Canada it was much better.

I should add the highway up to Tok, was paved good road for the first 60 miles or so then the paved part ended and the rest was dirt, that was the bad part, drive real slow.
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