Travel from seattle to chicken alaska

[Bluestone]

We are planning a trip next year to Alaska. From Seattle WA. to Alaska. How are the roads in Canada and campgrounds? On the maps looks pretty empty. Can anyone tell me about this route? Thank You any information would be helpful.

[paulj]

GM Streetview of the airport

Expeditions Overland visit to Chicken and TOW - video

[rocmoc]

Chicken has a Airport to Nowhere. Like the Bridge to Nowhere they wanted to build with Taxpayer $ but stop, they were more successful with the Airport. Millions of dollars spent without any need of service. Looked like a nice Airport as we rode pass on a Tour Bus.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[2gypsies1]

I hope the Moderator will move this post to the Alaska forum.

OP: Look on the "RVing in Canada and Alaska" forum on this site and you'll find a post titled "Roll Call 2015". This is the site you'll find much helpful information and where you should ask your questions. Also look at the top of that forum and you'll see a "Sticky" of Alaska trip helpful hints. You might also want to read back year's forums - Roll Call 2014, Roll Call 2015, etc.

This 'Roll Call 2015' forum are folks planning to go next year and they talk and get ideas amongst themselves. They also meet up with some Roll Callers while on the trip.

As far as Chicken, please don't make that your final destination of your trip. It's part of a stop while driving the Top of the World Highway from Dawson City to Tok but it's not a final destination-type of place. There's a bar, gas pump that sometimes runs out, and out houses! 🙂 It's a unique place to stop but don't count on staying there long-term.

There aren't many major roads for the Alaskan trip and everyone goes to the same places. The roads aren't deserted and you'll probably see some of the same folks over and over again. It's really a fun trip.

Some of your destinations should be the Kenai Peninsula (towns of Homer and Seward), Denali Nat'l Park, Fairbanks, Haines, Skagway, Valdez and others.

Order online these three items and you'll be set to go:

- The Milepost - used for the roads and history. Don't rely on it for campgrounds. The ones that are mentioned pay to have the AAA reports run on them.

- Mike & Terri Church's book - "Alaskan Camping" This will be your campground directory. It includes Canada and the Yukon, also. They lived in Fairbanks and travel back and forth so they really know their campgrounds, RV parks and boondocking spots.

- the TourSaver 2/1 Coupon Book - one glacier tour will pay for the book and there are many neat tours to do along the trip.

Have fun planning!

[chalet05]

If leaving from Seattle, cross at Sumas. I agree, not much at Chicken. Top of the World conditions vary - I just did it in June with no problem. Canada has nice government campgrounds if you don't want to boondock.

The worst road I hit this year in Canada and Alaska was Skagway to Tok.

Alaska Camping book by Church is very helpful!

[catkins]

Chicken is an interesting but very small outpost. Not really much there. Dawson City was one of our favorite spots in '08 when we did a two month caravan trip to Alaska. So much to see and do. Chicken would not be on my do over list if we headed that way again. An Alaska trip is a wonderful trip. Top of the World Highway was rough and there were many fires and much smoke when we drove it - saw the front and back side of smoke and not much else. That said, I would jump at the chance to go to Alaska again!

[paulj]

Check the Alaska rollcall threads.

[Bluestone]

Just thought Chicken had some nice campgrounds. I open to any suggestions.

[paulj]

If Seattle is the starting point (rather someplace further east), he can stay in BC all the way to Yukon. Or take the Alaska state ferry (though that costs $ esp with an RV).

An important print source of info is Mileposts.

The route that Google Maps gives, Seattle to Chicken looks just fine.

By the way, why Chicken? Got gold fever? Not much else there.

[PotKorn]

lanerd wrote:
I would make my way over to I-15 and go up through Calgary and Edmonton to the Alaska Hwy. At Whitehorse, go on up to Dawson City and the Top of the World Hwy to Chicken. If you have time, take a small side trip on up to Eagle.

I would NOT go up through Whistler!

TOTWH is mostly gravel and is susceptible to the weather (especially rain).

Good luck and have a great trip.

Ron

Rather than the Top of the World, if the goal is just to get to Chicken, why not stay on the Alaska Highway until you're near Tok and then take the paved road up to Chicken? Top of the World is a beautiful drive, but no better than much of the rest of the area, and the 25 miles from the International Border at Poker Creek to Chicken will beat you to death. It was by far the worst road we encountered in a two month trip.

Also, rather than going through Edmonton, consider going west from Calgary to Canmore, then going north through the Canadian Rockies via Banff, Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, and on to Jasper, Hinton and up to Dawson Creek to catch the Alaska Highway at MM0. Canmore to Jasper is one of the most spectacular mountain drives I've ever seen.

[darsben]

Have you thought about the ferry to Valdez or Haines

[lanerd]

I would make my way over to I-15 and go up through Calgary and Edmonton to the Alaska Hwy. At Whitehorse, go on up to Dawson City and the Top of the World Hwy to Chicken. If you have time, take a small side trip on up to Eagle.

I would NOT go up through Whistler!

TOTWH is mostly gravel and is susceptible to the weather (especially rain).

Good luck and have a great trip.

Ron

[paulj]

There's a Canada/Alaska board that has lots of discussion on this topic. I'd suggest browsing there first. Then ask specific questions.