RVing to AlaskaA Beginner’s Guide

When it comes to epic road trips, the RV trek to Alaska just about tops the list. The biggest, emptiest and northernmost state in the country is a worthy undertaking for any traveler, and it’s sure to o�er some unforgettable adventures.

But getting that far into the wild is no easy feat. Even if you’re not much of a planner, you’ll want to do some homework before you head for America’s final frontier. (Don’t worry: Even if you go to extremes and map out your entire route, there will be plenty of room for spontaneity -- we’re talking about the wilderness, after all!)

No matter where you’re driving from, the road will be a long and sometimes challenging one. You really can’t overdo it in the way of preparation! To help you get ready, we’ve compiled this beginner’s guide to give you the basic knowledge you need to start your northward journey o� on the right foot.

Before we dive in, let’s get one thing out of the way: If you want to take on this crazy project of a road trip, the two most important things you need to have in your arsenal are time and money. Alaska’s just too darn big and beautiful. You don’t want to have to rush through what might be the most amazing RV trip you’ll ever take!

And as far as the money part, well… unfortunately, traveling for months on end (and yes, you want to be planning on the multiple-months level) is expensive, no matter

FIRST THINGS FIRST: TIME AND MONEY

ALASKA

PREPARING YOUR RIG FOR THE LONG HAUL

RVS

how frugally you go about it. Add in Alaska’s remoteness and subsequent commodi-ty expense, and you’d better start saving now.

Your very first move needs to be to figure out how much time and money you can budget for your trip. For a bare-bones estimate, route your trip on Google Maps and see how many miles you’ll be driving. When you do the math, you’ll discover that fuel alone will likely cost you thousands of dollars, and that’s not counting other necessi-ties like food.

Make sure you can a�ord the trip before you take o�. The best-case scenario would be to save up enough cash to simply quit your job and hit the road for a few months, but you could also try to find viable ways to work remotely during your trek. Howev-er, keep in mind that in Alaska’s wilderness, a stable WiFi connection is anything but guaranteed!

You’ll also need to consider not just how much time you can devote to this trip, but when. This might go without saying, but a trip to Alaska is not a winter undertaking -- and that’s not merely to say it’s ill-advised. No matter your route, huge swaths of the roads that lead from the lower 48 to Alaska are inaccessible during winter time, so you’ll need to plan your trip around the summer.

If your bank account and your calendar are both on board, the next step is to check out your actual camper.

No matter what kind of rig you have, the road to Alaska will give your equipment a run for its money. Even the most direct route from Seattle to the border is about 2,000 miles long… one way!

Plus, the road itself isn’t as friendly as those you may be used to down here. Although the Alaskan Highway is now entirely paved, you might find gravel sections -- sometimes miles long -- where road repairs are being done. Other hazards include frost heaves, potholes, and soft shoulders.

You’ll need to give your rig a thorough, general once-over: Air up all your tires, get your oil changed, double-check your seals and make sure you’re well-stocked on all your fluids. You’ll also want to get ready for rough roads, including installing mud flaps if you’ve got a truck, zip-tying your cabinets shut and putting all your break-ables down and out of harm’s way. And don’t forget to make some rough-road preparations on your tow vehicle!

Since it’s such a lengthy drive and you never know what can happen on the road, it’s also a good idea to get yourself ready to boondock. Know how long your rig can go without dumping and filling, and if you don’t already have one, consider investing in some sort of self-contained power source, like solar panels or a generator. You can find campgrounds with hookups along the way, but there might not be one every time you want to stop -- and the ones you do find might not always have 50-amp power supplies, which is an important consideration in a big rig.

BEAR

PREPARING YOURSELF FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Here are a few other items to consider that might not be on your usual RV trip checklist:

Even though your final destination is still technically American soil, RVing to Alaska includes a leg of international travel through Canada -- which means you need to make some additional preparations.

Paper maps and/or a non-data-reliant GPS. Although you’ll find spotty data signal and WiFi along the way, it’s safe to say you’re going to spend at least a few days o� the grid as far as your cell phone’s concerned, even if your plan is internationally equipped. You won’t be able to rely on you iPhone to navigate you around the Yukon!

First aid, tool, and tire repair kits. While these preparations are always a good idea, they become a lot more critical when you’re days away from a cell phone signal. Speak-ing of which…

A satellite cell phone or tracking device. These emergency devices are an additional expense, but one you’ll be very grateful for should you encounter trouble on the road.

Bear spray. No doubt about it, you’re traveling into bear country. And while you shouldn’t have much to worry about (granted you take proper precautions with your food and garbage), a little extra protection can’t hurt. An important note: Canada doesn’t allow most weapons through customs, including pepper spray designed to be used on human assailants. You’ll need to make sure the spray you choose is actually labeled as an animal deterrent, and claim it as such at the border. (You could also con-sider purchasing your bear spray after you arrive in Canada.)

A real camera. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip filled with fast-moving wildlife! Don’t rely on your crappy phone camera to capture it.

Blackout covers for your windows. You’ll thank yourself when you’re sleeping sound-ly, even under the light of the midnight sun!

First of all, and most obviously, you need to have a valid passport. You’ll also need to prepare for the other security checks you’ll encounter at the border.

As mentioned above, Canada has strict rules regarding bringing weaponry over the border, so if you normally carry firearms, you’ll want to leave those at home.

You should also take a look at the updated rules and regulations on Canada’s o�cial customs website to see if you’ll run into any other issues bringing items across the border. For example, at the time this guide was written, Canada has disallowed the importation of raw poultry and poultry products, including eggs, from the United States, due to the risk of avian flu.

CANADA

DOG

If you’re bringing Fido along for the ride of a lifetime, kudos -- but make sure all his vaccines are up to date and documented, especially rabies. Although it might not end up being necessary, it’s also a good idea to ask your veterinarian to complete a health certificate, declaring your pet free of any contagious illnesses.

Before you leave, pick up the phone and give your various insurance agencies -- both vehicular and personal -- a call. Are you and your rig fully covered abroad? Can you get roadside assistance in Canada? These are good things to know before you encounter any possible issues.

As touched on above, you’ll need to rely on something other than your cell phone to get around, so spending some time studying your atlas beforehand isn’t a bad idea. One well-regarded resource is the yearly-updated travel guide to Alaska, “The Milepost,” a paperback book available through Amazon and other book vendors. Buy your copy early and give it a look. It’ll also give you great ideas for what to see and do during your adventure!

Even if you don’t usually extensively route your trips, when it comes to RVing to Alaska, it’s a good idea to get a general sense of your itinerary. For one thing, gas and other necessities are in short supply along the more remote sections of the road -- so you’ll want to make sure you pass through a spot with facilities as often as you’ll need to! You’ll also want to prepare for the added expense of fuel (and everything else) in these distant lands, and bring some Canadian cash along with you in case you encounter credit card trouble.

TUNNEL

Oh, and one more not-so-small detail: You need to get at least passingly comfortable with the metric system, and you definitely need to know your rig’s clearance in meters! It’ll save you a minor heart attack when you’re coming up fast on a Canadian tunnel with no internet connection to make a last-minute, fingers-crossed conversion.

Depending on where you’re starting your trip from -- and your level of patience -- you might consider driving a while out of the way to avoid the hours-long lineup at the four most congested Washington state access points (Peace Arch, Blaine, Lynden, and Sumas). There are nine other drivable access points, eight of which are further east of Seattle, and using one may cut down on your queue time signifi-cantly.

Crossing the border will likely be painless, but there’s always an element of stress when traveling into a foreign country -- even one as neighborly as Canada. Just have all your paperwork ready, answer the customs agent’s questions with a smile, and you’ll likely be on your way in no time.

CROSSING THE BORDER

Now for the fun part! What should you see and do during your Alaskan RV trip?

Although the full extent of your adventure is up to you to plan, here are a few ideas to get your plans rolling -- and to start getting excited about.

ONCE YOU’RE IN ALASKA: WHAT TO SEE AND DO

Six million acres; one road. That’s the kind of math we can get behind.

This national park’s namesake is the tallest peak in north America -- Denali, other-wise known as Mount McKinley, which stands well over 20,000 feet. It’s also home to a host of wildlife you can find in few other places in the United States, including Dall sheep, moose, caribou, grizzly bears, and wolves.

You can explore this wild landscape by hiking, climbing, whitewater rafting and fishing. Or, take advantage of the many commercial “flightseeing” services avail-able. And if the Northern lights are on your can’t-miss list, this is the place. You’ll have to be around in mid-August or later, however, for it to be dark enough to get a chance to see them.

A quick note: RV camping spots are available inside the national park itself, but if you’re dead-set on staying there, it’s a good idea to reserve them early -- as in, months in advance. Over the summer, the campgrounds routinely fill up. In the worst case, however, privately-owned sites are also available in the surrounding communities.

1. DENALI NATIONAL PARK

DENALI

If you’re looking for a tiny taste of city life in the midst of all that wilderness, head to Fairbanks. Although it’s smaller than Anchorage, it’s home to a variety of crowd-pleasing museums and activities. The youthful demographic brought in by the city’s university adds a fun and energetic element to its streets, and visitors don’t have to venture far to get back into nature -- don’t miss Chena Hot Springs!

2. FAIRBANKS

FAIRBANKS

Some of the most picturesque landscapes in Alaska -- and the world -- can be found within the famous Kenai Peninsula, which has something to o�er every adventurer. Try your hand at spelunking in Kenai Fjords National Park, home to Exit Glacier, one of the most easily accessible glaciers in Alaska.

3. THE KENAI PENINSULA

WHALE

5. TOP OF THE WORLD HIGHWAY

DAWSON CITY

Go whale watching or sailing on Resurrection Bay. And you have to stop in Homer, the town that marks the end of the paved U.S. road system, if only to have a drink in its famous Salty Dawg Saloon.

4. VALDEZ

SALMON

As you probably know, Alaska is home to some of the finest, healthiest seafood in the world: fresh, wild-caught salmon. Catch some yourself by taking a fishing tour out of Valdez, or visit the nearby Chitina, which sits smack at the crossroads of the Chiti-na and Copper Rivers -- yes, the Copper River of well-deserved king salmon fame. You can also hop on board the Alaska State Ferry to check out the nearby communi-ty of Cordova, all the while chowing down on the best fresh fish you’ve ever had.

Whether on your way in or way out, don’t miss this stunning section of Yukon High-way 9, which passes through the quirky little town of Chicken on the Alaskan side and Canada’s Dawson City, the historic center of the Klondike Gold Rush.

We hope this guide has helped you get a better understanding of what it means to take on an RV trip to Alaska. This is no simple weekend trip -- it’s the adventure of a lifetime!

Best of all, this information is just the start: Your trip will be one of the most challeng-ing, exciting undertakings you’ll experience in your travel career. There’s so much to see and do in Alaska, and the only limit is your imagination.

No matter where your Alaskan adventure takes you, be careful, stay safe, don’t be afraid to take the side roads… and most of all, enjoy the (long, winding, beautiful) ride.

READY FOR THE ROAD TRIP OF A LIFETIME?