Route to Alaska all the way through Canada?

[cdbinns]

We live in Maine and are planning a trip to Alaska this summer. We are thinking of crossing into Quebec from Maine and traveling through Canada all the way to Alaska. Most of the suggested routes seem to travel through the U.S. much of the way west and then cross the border somewhere around Montana. We are aware that it will be longer to take the northern route and that fuel is more expensive in Canada. Aside from those two issues, anything we should be aware of in choosing this route? Anything we shouldn't miss or anything we should avoid?

Thanks.

[lonnie4801]

We have children living in Saskatoon. We have done the trip through Saskatoon to Alaska three times, 2005. 2009, and 2013. I 2007 we went from Saskatoon to Newfoundland by way of Canada with one short dip into Minnesota to the International Wolf Center at Ely, then right back up to Thunder Bay. The drive across Canada was great.

This year we will be going back to Newfoundland, after our visit in Saskatoon, and I have the following route mapped out:

Saskatoon, SK to Yorkton, SK, 205 miles
Yorkton, SK to Portage la Prairie, MB, 227 miles
Portage la Prairie, MB to Vermilion Bay, ON, 249 miles
Vermilion Bay, ON to Thunder Bay, ON, 246 miles
Thunder Bay, ON to Geraldton, ON, 176 miles
Geraldton, ON to Moonbeam, ON, 227 miles
Moonbeam, ON to Temagami, ON, 230 miles
Temagami, ON to Montreal, QC, 182 miles
Montreal, QC, to Quebec City, QC, 157 miles
Quebec City, QC to St Simeon, QC, 110 miles
St Simeon, QC to Baie-Comeau, QC, 149 miles

We don't like to travel over 200 miles a day but this scheduled is mapped out to confirmed campground locations. It will change as we locate additional camping's spots that are not on the map. We just use the schedule for routing purposes, not for time frame.

From Baie-Comeau, QC we will turn north towards the Trans-Labrador Hwy.

My recommendation comes in two parts.

Part one. If you have sufficient time built into your trip schedule to allow an extra 5 to 7 days to travel through Canada then you should take it. It is not as fast as traveling in the USA but is one great drive and adventure. Things a lot of people miss when planning their "Trip of a Lifetime" to Akaka, is that Alaska is not the only destination. The best destination in Alaska is the road getting there. The little extra you expend on fuel is well worth the extra time and money. And if the current exchange rate holds through the summer fuel may actually be cheaper than in the US.

Part Two. Just go. Some routes to Alaska are better than others, but they all get you to Alaska so they are not wrong.

My trip logs and photos are in the website in my signature. If you are interested take a look,

[Little_Kopit]

Seeing Canada options.

East

West




I think its close enough to the trip now to get your provincial visitors guides and provincial maps. Go to www.google.ca use search terms "name of province" & "tourism". Go into site and request these items. If you have special interests, such as, formation of Northwest Mounted Police (name before RCMP) or hiking, or, fishing.......telephone these offices. The probably have special pamphlets.

Then when you get them pick out what you want to see.

Again my ideas, 15 days going across to AK, YT, NWT & 15 days coming back. I've had times of working Ontario and in Quebec, so my 15 days will be more to the west

:B

[hone_eagle]

litre

[sljohnson1938]

is fuel in Canada sold by the liter or imperial gallon?

[sljohnson1938]

is fuel in Canada sold by the liter or imperial gallon?

[SideHillSoup]

garyhaupt wrote:
Operating an RV and spending a bunch of time arguing about how to save a few bucks on fuel is a wee bit of a conundrum, no?

Take the route you haven't before. See stuff you haven't seen before. Meet people you wouldn't have even said hello to. Or not, but man...there is so much to see in this world, if you just stick to the same old routes, same scenery and same people....well, I just think that that is such a lost opportunity.


Gary Haupt

Agree
Soup

[garyhaupt]

Operating an RV and spending a bunch of time arguing about how to save a few bucks on fuel is a wee bit of a conundrum, no?

Take the route you haven't before. See stuff you haven't seen before. Meet people you wouldn't have even said hello to. Or not, but man...there is so much to see in this world, if you just stick to the same old routes, same scenery and same people....well, I just think that that is such a lost opportunity.


Gary Haupt

[explorenorth]

almcc wrote:
When we've headed for the Alaska Highway we always have taken the Yellowhead highway that starts west of Winnipeg, it's a good route and takes you into Edmonton, closer to the start instead of hitting Calgary and going north.

But you miss the Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular roads in North America.

[sue_t]

Artum Snowbird wrote:
Pulsar, you are correct for the most part, but you haven't factored in the value of each others dollars. Also our gas is better because it has rendered whale fat, melted igloos, and ground up hockey pucks in it.

Enjoy your day.

You forgot to mention that because we measure distance in metric, you get better mileage because there's 1.6 kilometres to each mile.

[almcc]

When we've headed for the Alaska Highway we always have taken the Yellowhead highway that starts west of Winnipeg, it's a good route and takes you into Edmonton, closer to the start instead of hitting Calgary and going north. There are a lot of local RV parks run by community groups along the route. It's generally 2 lane with an occasional third lane for passing but we've never found it that busy.

[bsinmich]

As I went to bed last night I thought about my math giving heaper gas. I am usually pretty good at math but sure got that price wrong. Our gas here is $2.00 per gallon and that is 53 cents per litre. It is still cheaper than what I paid in Ontario last month.

[Pipeman]

We use Hwy #2 from upper Michigan to Shelby, Montana and then up to Sweetgrass to enter into Canada, when we go out to western Canada(Alberta), except where it dips way down south. We then head up to Marquette, MI. and keep going until we hit #2 again. We were out there this past summer. The highways are pretty good with road construction here and there. The speed limit varies with the state that you're in. Montana used to be whatever you thought was safe and prudent but they do have a speed limit now. Granted we are from southern Ontario but after going through Chicago one year we will never, ever, ever, did I say ever, take that way again. There aren't any problems getting diesel or gas. There are plenty of half decent campgrounds to stay at and if you get in early enough, like we do, you don't have to worry about reservations. Yup the price of fuel is different in both countries but it's falling daily with diesel here being more expensive. Last night gas was 88 cents a liter and diesel was $1.10 a liter. A US gallon is 3.785 ltrs and a Canadian gallon is 4.546 ltrs. Enjoy your trip whatever way you take to get there. We haven't been out west via the Canadian way in 36 years now. Just find it better for us to go through the northern US.

[cdbinns]

Thanks everyone for the input and special thanks to Pulsar for taking the time to provide the info on fuel prices and for correcting my assumption that the northern route will be longer.

We do not have a specific time table other than the plan to leave here in mid-May. We want to take our time to see the sights along the way. We will definitely be taking the northern route as we drive west. The Icefields parkway, Banff, Jasper are definitely on our itinerary. We are planning to head back east in the US after visiting some friends in Seattle so we will get to experience both routes. If you have any suggestions for things we absolutely should visit, particularly between Ontario and Alberta, please let us know.

Maybe we will see some of you on the road.

[pulsar]

edbehnke wrote:
pulsar, fuel is simply more expensive in canada. don't over think it.

and, at this point fuel is getting cheaper every minute.

I was responding to a specific comment:

Artum Snowbird wrote:
You will probably not find the price of fuel is so different....

Instead of simply posting "fuel is simply more expensive in Canada," I thought it better to post the numbers.

My second post had two purposes: to correct the misconception that the "northern route" would be longer and to satisfy my own curiosity about what the expected fuel costs would be for the different routes the original poster might take. You did notice that there was very little difference in the estimated costs?

I'm sorry you found the sharing of my research worthless, hopefully it had some value to someone other than myself.

Tom