which way to go???

[Rollnhome]

Headed into Alaska for first time.
Which route North would you "old timers" or anyone for that matter suggest for the drive North, the Cassier or the Alaskan Highway. Will be returning by the route not driven North. Looking for which would give a more enjoyable overall experience for the first timer or does it really matter.

[Rollnhome]

Thank you all. Very helpful and interesting reading.

[b2egypt]

We did Alaska Marine Hwy going up from Washington to Haines, AK would love to do again.

[lonnie4801]

We have been 3 times. The Alaska Hwy, via Top of the World Hwy, going, and the Cassier returning. Works for us.

[EmersonTT]

We entered Canada just north of Whitefish, MT on May 9th, stayed one night in Kootenay Nationak Park near Radium Hot Springs, then three nights in one of the campgrounds in Banff, followed by a night in Jasper. We took two days to drive from Jasper to Dawson Creek, where we picked up the Alaska Highway. We are towing a 21 foot travel trailer. Our experience has been nothing less than absolutely spectacular. We did hit a little oil truck traffic now and then, both just south of Grand Prairie and north of Fort Nelson. But the trucks were an annoyance, nothing serious. Sometimes I would turn into a pull off to let them by, which they appreciated-- as did many of the locals, who seem less inclined to mind the speed limit than we are. Maybe it gets worse as the summer wears on, I don't know. But I can say that for many stretches we were the only vehicle on the road in either direction, and we never have had such a beautiful or interesting three weeks of driving, with scenery that won't quit and plenty of wildlife to see-- moose, bear, mountain sheep, and even a wolf! Fuel has been plentiful for both gas and diesel (100 miles was the longest stretch between services), and the road has been in excellent condition, except for a few well-marked rough spots (but mild ones) and two or three gravel stretches of 5 to 10 kms under repair just east of Whitehorse, but they also weren't too bad other than making the car and trailer really dirty. We headed south to Skagway at the junction east of Whitehorse and have taken the ferry to Haines. We will rejoin the Alaska Highway at Haines Junction.

[tralertrash]

we came up the cassiare and the north end was very rough, not as bad as the burwash landing to beaver creek stretch, but slow and tedious.

[Rollnhome]

Thanks sue.t

[sue_t]

I think heading north on the Alaska Highway and south on the Cassiar Highway gives the best experience.

Several reasons for my thinking.

The Cassiar is usually in better condition later on in the summer, after the repairs are done from the winter abuse.

The Cassiar is narrower and rougher on the north end, so it improves as you head south, which is nice.

On the Cassiar, the bears are more active later in the summer and early fall. If you want to see bears, the Cassiar is one of the best routes to drive in the fall.

Since we've done the Alaska Highway many times, we prefer taking the Cassiar both ways now. The Alaska Highway is busy with gas/oil workers & trucks. That's actually another reason to do the AK Hwy northbound...in the late summer and early fall the AK Hwy is extremely busy with rig workers/trucks/big loads south of Fort Nelson. In early summer things aren't quite so hectic as they still have much of the season ahead of them.