travey to alaska

[Ed_Brigance]

We are planning our first trip to Alaska in 2017. We are from Arkansas and wondering the best route to take a 36 foot fifth wheel,
Thanks Ed
Good Sams has us going north thru the Dakotas into Canada

[tessa]

I am planing on going in 2017 leaving Red lake Ontario mid June. Just started planing will be checking site often.

[Ol_coot]

Totally agree with the advice given. Made our first trip 2015. Heading back next year departing early May and not coming back until late September.
Started out on our own with Roll call 2015 in back window. Before we made our second stop in Canada already started re-meeting travelers heading to Alaska. By our fourth stop, had kind of been taken under the wings of older re-returnning travelers. Really great people. But of course, I don't remember meeting any that weren't. The advice you can get here is really good.
Don't be in a hurry. Watch for the little cones and slow down. Take the time to see what is out there, it is an amazing site. My head was on a swivel. So much to see. Enjoy your trip, might just see you up there.

[fanrgs]

2gypsies wrote:
For general beauty and perhaps visiting some of our great national parks, I'd recommend you cross in western Montana. Then you could work in any of the southern Utah national parks or Grand Teton, Yellowstone or Glacier national parks.

Purchase online the 'Milepost' for history as you travel and all the maps you map need. Get Mike and Terri Church's book 'Alaskan Camping' which includes Canada and the Yukon. Purchase the TourSaver 2/1 Coupon Book before your trip. Those are the only things you'll need for planning once you cross the border.

Agree completely! Also, join the forum thread called "Roll Call Alaska 2017" and read the forum "stickies" on advice for Alaska travelers. Those threads will not only help you plan your trip, but allow you to "meet" fellow Alaska-bound travelers on-line and maybe even meet them for real next summer.

The Milepost has road logs for each of the "Access Routes" to the Alaska Highway and I would highly recommend going north on one Access Route and coming back on another. Most RVers go north through Banff and Jasper NPs and hit the Alaska Highway at Dawson Creek, BC. Then many come south at the end of the summer on the Stewart-Cassiar and Yellowhead Highways.

If you haven't spent a lot of time in the Pacific Northwest, a great route to take in one direction or the other is through Idaho and NE Washington into southern BC. The Okanagan Valley and the Kootenay Rockies in southern BC are an absolutely gorgeous combination of mountains, big glacial lakes, orchards, vineyards, wineries, and campgrounds. Of course, if you are going to take the AMHS ferry from Bellingham, you could even fit Vancouver and Victoria into that route.

But, no matter how you go, it will be a trip you will remember for a lifetime. And it might even be just the first of many trips to the "Great White North"!

[2gypsies1]

Ed Brigance wrote:
We are planning our first trip to Alaska in 2017. We are from Arkansas and wondering the best route to take a 36 foot fifth wheel,
Thanks Ed
Good Sams has us going north thru the Dakotas into Canada

The best route to the Canadian border is the one that would be good for you. Do you plan to do any siteseeing in the lower U.S. before crossing the border?

There are many, many border crossings you could take - it just depends on what you want to see first.

For general beauty and perhaps visiting some of our great national parks, I'd recommend you cross in western Montana. Then you could work in any of the southern Utah national parks or Grand Teton, Yellowstone or Glacier national parks.

Purchase online the 'Milepost' for history as you travel and all the maps you map need. Get Mike and Terri Church's book 'Alaskan Camping' which includes Canada and the Yukon. Purchase the TourSaver 2/1 Coupon Book before your trip. Those are the only things you'll need for planning once you cross the border.

Have fun planning!

[2gypsies1]

diazr2 wrote:

darsben1 wrote:
You could take the ferry from Washington one way

That's going to be my plan in 2017. I am going to leave from Anacortes land in Valdez Then drive home.. Looking forward to that one. I am planning on leaving On the first of September.

I don't believe the Alaskan ferry leaves from Anacortes and docks at Valdez.

It leaves from Bellingham and Valdez is not one of its ports.

[RICK-ards_Red]

Hwy 37 down to Hwy 16 is ok to drive, very scenic. Stop at the gas station at the intersection of Hwy 37 and Hwy 1 and ask for the gas station/services sheet. Has lots of good information on where gas is located and hours of operation. If going Hwt 97 I would recommend a stop at Liard River hot springs - very cool.

Also the little orange diamond shaped signs on the side of the road means a bump - slow down for these!!!!!
Took me two of them to figure that out 🙂

[diazr2]

darsben1 wrote:
You could take the ferry from Washington one way

That's going to be my plan in 2017. I am going to leave from Anacortes land in Valdez Then drive home.. Looking forward to that one. I am planning on leaving On the first of September.

[darsben1]

You could take the ferry from Washington one way

[diazr2]

Ha ha ha Ed there is only two roads in and two roads out so it won't be much of a choice. Yukon 1w or 97 which turns into 1 after you hit the Yukon. They are both the same well almost the same at any rate take your time it's a beautiful ride. While traveling be aware of the perma-frost up heaves and while pulling a trailer it's even more important. Just take it slow. You'll will have a grand time I am sure.