How late in the fall can one stay in Alaska

Yes it's near impossible to find a dump station between Oct 1 and May 1.
I had to make one of my septic vents a dump station for early season camping this year.

I have driven the Alcan five times. You should be fine until late September. As others have mentioned, camping facilities will be closed. Anti freeze your holding tanks until you get to warmer temps. The colors of the scenery will be breath taking. Watch the northern lights from Fairbanks before leaving.

tonyandkaren wrote:
We've been to Alaska three times. We've stayed into early October but had to leave because all of the dump stations at gas stations and little towns were closing for the season. I think you should be fine until the end of September and you'll get to see the fall leaves which are beautiful! Have a good trip!

I had not thought of the dump stations being closed. Great point.

Gary Haupt

Dedication, Sue...dedication!!! :) ST

We've camped the Alaska Highway in December 1998 and enjoyed it so much did it again in 2001. The RV was a bit fussy at -40 though.:D

Snow can come early - here's a shot from JULY 29th in 2008 headed towards Glennallen - note the "freshies" on the hilltops! Didn't cause any trouble for us, though. ST

The 13 years we lived in Nenana Alaska, just SW of Fairbanks, the first sticking snow of winter, was usually the first week of October, normally about the 5th. So it will be below freezing from that point on till the January thaw which lasts a few weeks, most years, then the bottom falls back out of the thermometers in the Interior of the state.

You'll often get snow in mid to late Sept. It usually melts if you wait a day or two. As others have said, most of the services and RV parks shut down on Sept 1st. Glitter Gulch at McKinley Park closes up tight on Sept 1st. You can still get gas or diesel, but the fueling points may be a little more spread out. This is the best time of year to see the best bright yellow and red shrubs.

Bill

We've been to Alaska three times. We've stayed into early October but had to leave because all of the dump stations at gas stations and little towns were closing for the season. I think you should be fine until the end of September and you'll get to see the fall leaves which are beautiful! Have a good trip!

By September 1st the snow line is moving down the mountains and you may see snow showers on the higher parts of your roads. Nothing sticking.

However, the campgrounds along the highways will be mostly closed. The towns are still open, but services in the more remote areas will be just about non-existent.