When is generally a good time to start?

TOMMY47 wrote:
When is a good time to start into Alberta through Banff, Jasper to Alaska next year? I want to miss the snow.

Tough question to answer. We usually hit the border around the 1st of May. Sometimes it is clear sailing and sometimes we have to wait a few days for a spring snow to melt. In 2014 we were parked in Ft McCloud, Alberta for a week waiting for snow to melt along the ice Fields Parkway. It was 60 in Ft McCleod and 70 in Anchorage but a big snow in the Rockies between the two had the roads covered.
In 2012 we were in Anchorage by the 15th of May! We like to be on the road when the green grass starts sprouting along the sides of the highway. This creates many more wildlife viewing opportunities as they are coming to the roads for the fresh grass.

I would say if you want to drive straight through with no chance of being delayed by snow you should not hit the border until early June.

We are retired so a week here or there doesn't bother us at all. We have never been stranded at a place that we couldn't find things to see and do for a week.

A trip to Alaska from the lower 48 is definitely not something to be rushed. There is just to much beautiful country and wildlife to see to get in a hurry. (And then there is the infamous FROST HEAVES to contend with!) The trip is truly at least half the experience along the Alaskan Highway!

I'd say mid to late May would be good for the roads although you know how weather can change. You'll definitely have snow on the mountains and to us, that's a plus. They'll be gorgeous. We came the opposite direction one September. There was no snow on the mountains and they are black. We didn't like it at all.

Of course, if you're planning to do any hiking, you won't do much in May because the trails will still be closed. Mid-June would be good for hiking.

You would need to wait until first part of March to see what kind of winter the area had.
Later part of April should be relatively safe with a chance of a few storms coming through. First part of May could be safer.

I can leave whenever I want and have no timetable.
Also curious about getting camping sites in Banff and Jasper. I don't plan on any reservations. Once past Jasper, is overnighting easy to come by? Don't need an official camp site.
Looks like leaving Southeast Michigan in late May will get me to the border around June 1st.
I will be getting the latest editions of Milepost and another book on camping (can't remember name) before I leave.

You will getting close to the start of heavy tourist traffic. I would try to get there around Mid May. You should not have any issues of getting campsites with no reservations.

I drove the Icefields Parkway on May 13th 2 years ago - roads were fine and campgrounds were pretty much empty. See my blog post with photos.

We entered BC on May 20th last year. Higher altitudes still had some snow and there were temps below freezing. As we moved across to Alberta and Saskatchewan the temps started creeping up. By August it was getting warm in Ontario. We flew from Ottawa to Halifax for a week and the temps were warm too. It was great. Wish we had more time to do it again. Enjoy your trip.

We crossed the border at Sweetgrass May 1 this past spring. Strong head winds made us stop for the night at Fort Macleod. Next morning headed for Banff,beautiful weather that day and the next two. We then headed up to Jasper sun shining till we got to the Icefield Parkway then fog, rain and snow all the way to Jasper.
The park we planned to stay at was not open but we found another in Hinton AB. More snow that night a inch or so on the rig but 3-4 north, so we stayed another night. North to Grand Prairie the next morning with light rain on and off.
From there to Alaska it was sunshine all the way.
The one thing we found out going early is that many campgrounds, visitor centers and attractions are not yet open for tourists.

We don't do reservations and had no problems getting campsites along the Icefield Parkway and for the whole summer on our trip to Alaska. Jasper has hundreds of them. For Banff if you can time it for early week it would be better.

Best to head North middle of May.
Roads are generally better, fewer tourist, camp grounds in Yukon are just opening so no problem camping in Gov. camp grounds. Cassiar may not be open, Dawson Ferry openned last week of May this year. Temps are not usually to bad depending on the yr. mornings can be cold even below freezing but if the sun is shining it warms up quickly. If it is raining or over cast plan on mid to low 50s.

We generally don't fill the water tanks due to the possibility of freezing temps. We carry 2 gallons of RV Anifreeze for the head, bottled water for drinking. You can restock along the way Whitehorse for sure. Usually snow on the Mt., we live in Alaska so driving on snow is not an issue for us. But Black ice in a shaded corner can wake you up.

Have a good trip & drive within your abilities.