Planing a NJ to Alaska Trip,what to plan for?

fulltimedaniel wrote:

Flarpswitch wrote:
I have driven nearly all the lower 48, but as far as Alaska goes, I'll fly there and rent whatever I need to get around. How are you with mosquitos as big as sparrows and grizzlys bear as big as grizzly bears? From Oregon, Alaska in not that far away by RV, but once you get to Toad River up in Canada, you might change you plans. Try this: Set your sights for Banff and drive up the Ice Fields Parkway to Jasper. Take the Tram up the mountain and have dinner at the restaurant at the top. Camp at Pocahontas Campground near the Miette Hot Springs. Go for a soak at Miette and while you are lounging in the pool, ask yourself, "Do I really want to log more windshield time?" Go for a hike around Lake Louise, on the way between Banff and Jasper. Make a side trip to Hope, BC and visit the "Rambo" museum at the visitor center. Rambo was filmed there. By then you will say, "Alaska? Maybe some other time."

To the Op: I would ignore the above completely. I have made two trips to Alaska in the last 12 months. I am in Fairbanks now. One started in Cabo San Lucas Baja Ca. and this time from Tucson.



While the drive is beautiful for sure and you will see many animals and great scenery, Alaska itself is on another level altogether.

The road is as good as any 2 lane US or State hwy in the lower 48. there will be construction but it is well organized and is usually not a very long delay, usually minutes not hours as some would have you beleive.

Definitely get a Milepost. It is the DEFINITIVE book on the drive.

You will never regret making this trip.

Just one more bit of advice: try to strike a balance between added mileage and staying out of Canada for as long as possible to avoid the very high fuel prices. All of the Canadian roads are OK on all of the approaches. (see the Milepost)

And don''t be put off by exaggerated claims like in the post above. There is an axe being ground there I think.

So, you caught a little bit of hyperbole in my comments. Of course Alaska! Been there, done that , got the tee shirt as they say. Just saying, there is a whole lots to see along the way there and as always you will wish you had more time.

But seriously, there are 35 species of mosquito in Alaska and most of them are looking for you. Where they are prevalent, you will want to avoid the time between the third week in June through the end of July. I would not worry about bears. Some like to fish. Some like to eat berries. People are usually not on the menu. However, you are "Today's Special" on the mosquito menu.

GaryKH wrote:

Flarpswitch wrote:
I have driven nearly all the lower 48, but as far as Alaska goes, I'll fly there and rent whatever I need to get around. How are you with mosquitos as big as sparrows and grizzlys bear as big as grizzly bears? From Oregon, Alaska in not that far away by RV, but once you get to Toad River up in Canada, you might change you plans. Try this: Set your sights for Banff and drive up the Ice Fields Parkway to Jasper. Take the Tram up the mountain and have dinner at the restaurant at the top. Camp at Pocahontas Campground near the Miette Hot Springs. Go for a soak at Miette and while you are lounging in the pool, ask yourself, "Do I really want to log more windshield time?" Go for a hike around Lake Louise, on the way between Banff and Jasper. Make a side trip to Hope, BC and visit the "Rambo" museum at the visitor center. Rambo was filmed there. By then you will say, "Alaska? Maybe some other time."

Are you serious, or just joshing? A "side trip to Hope" would be about 8 hours! It sounds as if you got overwhelmed by the size of Canada!

For some, the Rambo Museum is a shrine and no effort is too great to pay homage. For the casual fan of pop culture, you might as well if it is on the way to where you are going. One more story to tell your friends. Can't have too many.

Canada is just about the right size, but sometimes we get distracted by everything along the way and never get to our intended destination. Next time. Next time.

I haven't much to add here, but my enjoyment of our 2005 trip from Maine to Alaska drives me to do so. Along the way we enjoyed many historic points along the Lewis and Clark trail. '05 was the bi-centennial of their expedition, so much fanfare was obvious. We went up via the AK highway and returned via the Cassiar. Including side trips, we logged just over 12k miles in 11 weeks. That trip is the best RV adventure in my memory bank... Enjoy you trip if you choose to do it.

SpeakEasy wrote:
Concerning gas prices in Canada - if your vehicle is like mine was back in 2011, it will like the ethanol-free stuff that is standard up there. Here is a quote from my journal on that trip:

"Although the average price of gas in Canada is about 30% higher than in the USA (equivalent of $5.03 compared to $3.87 per gallon), our gas mileage is averaging 26% higher (19.1 MPG compared to 15.2 MPG)! When you offset the higher prices with the better mileage, the average cost per mile is only about a penny more in Canada than in the USA!"

-Speak

Well first of all there is no ethanol in diesel. And in two trips to Alaska this year I see absolutely no additional mileage from the fuel in Canada. In Fact I get lower MPG because of terrain and Roads compared to similar territory in the lower 48.(on the way to Alaska)

Additionally on the Alaska Hwy pulling a trailer in the late winter early spring means you must fill up at places where the price is VERY high to be sure you have enough to make it to the next bigger population center where fuel is generally (just a bit) cheaper.

So I would say that your analysis leaves a lot out of the equation.

Now I am not making ANY judgement about whether the scenery in Canada is worth the extra cost or not that is a personal decision for sure. My statement is just based on the fact of fuel prices.

Rich, I made that trip from Ct back in 2006 and am planning to go back again this summer when my GS gets out of school in June. I won't repeat all the good advice you got so far but try to answer your OP. I was gone for 90 days and spent $106/day for the total trip. Gas was more expensive back then and was the single biggest cost. I dry camp 95% of the time and like to fish, Mtn bike, and hike. I stopped along the route at Tetons, Yellow Stone, Rocky Mtn, and Glacier NPs. All were nice especially if you were never there before. This time I will skip Rocky mtn NP. Also this year we will head up to Niagra falls and into Cn around Lake Superior and avoid Chicago and see some of Ontario. You can almost do this on one tank of gas Gas is much more expensive in CN. Stay north along the US visit Badlands, Wind cave, Custer SP, and Mt Rushmore. You probably cant get into Custer state park CG but the CG in Wind cave should have sites and you can drive into Custer. I would do Glacier and Waterton in Cn then head up to Banff and Jasper along the ice field parkway hike on the glacier. If you post how you like to camp and what you like to do you will get better info I don't want to write a novel on stuff that you would not be interested in.

wantabe351 wrote:
Wife and I are thinking of a special RV trip this year and have 3 ideas on where we would like to travel too. Rockies/Cascades or just go to Alaska..We have been to the first 2 but not Alaska. So my question is to anyone from the N.east of the US or NJ what is the time I should allow for the trip and figured about 10,000mi round trip.I'm looking as the ride being the best part of the trip, all the sites to see and camp as we travel to Alaska. For the ones who made that trip- my distance,cost,time to help plan this trip and expectations I should have for this trip....Thanks

We went 3 years ago and the ride is fantastic. We spent 3 months overall going and coming. We got a little bit of a late start 6/30 and drove directly to Glacier National Park. Went on the "Gong to the Sun" road the second day it was open (7/6). While we wanted to leave early as you can see we wouldn't have been able to do TGSR if we'd been a week or two earlier. From there we went to Banff then drove the Ice Field Parkway to Jasper. For us that was one of the unanticipated Jewels of the trip. From there we did the normal route up and the Cassirer back down.

Don't worry about getting lost there aren't as many roads up there as one would think.

Lots of bears are based mostly on the salmon runs so watch how early you get up there.

As you will find the Tour Saver Book and Church's Alaska are must haves. I got the mile post and originally thought it was good but could have gone without it; I was wrong. Without a lot of internet it turned out to be my go to for mileage and distance calculations as we just made our way along.

2 tips
1. Stay at Teklanika campground in Denali NP. It is the best you won't regret it! The only reservation we made on the whole trip.
2. Your likely to come across some caravans. It's easy to ask when they're leaving and we're they're going. They have reservations and it is good to try and stay out of sync with them. It will help ensure good availability without losing flexibility.

Good Luck! and take you time!

Concerning gas prices in Canada - if your vehicle is like mine was back in 2011, it will like the ethanol-free stuff that is standard up there. Here is a quote from my journal on that trip:

"Although the average price of gas in Canada is about 30% higher than in the USA (equivalent of $5.03 compared to $3.87 per gallon), our gas mileage is averaging 26% higher (19.1 MPG compared to 15.2 MPG)! When you offset the higher prices with the better mileage, the average cost per mile is only about a penny more in Canada than in the USA!"

-Speak

On the trip I just finished to Alaska I paid between $3.32 to more than $4.00 Per gallon for diesel in Canada.

Here in Fairbanks Diesel is $2.79.

The Canadian figures have been adjusted for Metric/US and the US Dollar conversion rate at the time.

To my mind that makes Canadian fuel expensive in comparison to Alaska, say nothing of the lower 48.

When folks say they don't think the fuel is higher in Canada it makes me wonder if they are getting the exchange/conversion correct.

2lazy4U wrote:
Canada makes up a very nice portion of the trip, not to be missed (as if you could if you drive). I think I liked Yukon better than Alaska. And yes, Glitter Gulch is disgusting.

Nothing tops the Banff Jasper drive. Chances of seeing wildlife seem better in Canada too. The Cassiar Highway has some absolutely gorgeous provincial park CGs.

Canadian fuel is not expensive. It is simply more in line with what the rest of the world pays compared to the US.

Canada makes up a very nice portion of the trip, not to be missed (as if you could if you drive). I think I liked Yukon better than Alaska. And yes, Glitter Gulch is disgusting.