Planning drive to Alaska

Drove to Alaska twice, 2001 & 2003, two of the best and most memorable road trips ever. Highly recommend bug hats, ball caps with mosquito netting.

 

Done this trip many times! Shoot me a dm and I'll give ya my bests and worsts. 4 times in tacomas, Gen 1, 2, and 3. Once in a Subaru, once in a brand new gmc 2500. The subie and gmc both had major issues. The tacomas had no problem, even in -50 rounding out tires and leaving it running all night in Jan.

 

Get a copy of 'The Milepost"...it has all roads with mileage that correspond to the road mile markers. It also has tourist info for anything along your route. As far as gear....you don't really need to go ape-shit with bringing everything under the sun. There are lots of checklists out there that are great starting points. Made the trip myself back in 2010 on my motorcycle. I went minimalist and still brought things that I really didn't need. great route....try to take as much time as you can, it's worth it.

 

The bugs can be bad but just like the road conditions it’s exaggerated nine times out of ten. I’ve been to Deadhorse three times, Tuk once and to the end of every drivable main road in Alaska and didn’t need a spare tire on any of the trips. I’ve done it on motorcycles and in trucks, with snow on the ground and in the late summer sun, you name it. Even rode a snow machine from Tok over the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City for a great drunk weekend with Canadians.

 

What’s the minimum amount of time one can drive from say northern CA to wherever in Alaska is the go to spot then drive back home. Maybe 6-8 hours max driving per day. Few stops here and there for interesting things. So semi rushed but still fun.

Done in summer of course. I’ve always wanted to do this but have a job I can’t take months off work to have a good drive there. So it’s gotta be semi quick.

 

How long could you have? You probably won’t be able to do it on only 6-8 hours of driving per day. At that rate it would take a week just to reach the Alaska/Canada border from Santa Cruz.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/pMJKT1nCMiaEqKUN7

I’m only 2-1/2 hours south of Santa cruz

 

If you have limited time I would fly in...or put the truck on the ferry in Bellingham.

 

Bucket list to make this drive. We flew in to anchorage this summer and picked up a built up Tacoma from Alaska Overland and camped/explored for a week before dropping off the truck and flying home. Good option for those that don’t have the time to do the drive but want to have a equipped truck/4Runner

 

Canadian who has worked extensively in BC and the Yukon, my route would be - Take the Ferry from Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert, drive to Hazelton and take Hwy 37 (the Stewart Cassiar) north to Watson Lake. Side trip to Skagway. Drive the South Canol Road, one of the most beautiful drives in the world, from Johnson's Crossing to Ross River (Lost Liver) then to Carmacks and up the Alaska Highway. Dempster and Tombstones are an incredible and long side trip. If you make it all the way north, get out to see the Pingos.

Return, From Watson Lake south, take the Alaska Highway, Liard hotsprings are ok, there are plenty better, northern Rockies through Muncho Lake are nice. At Prince George, head south east on Highway 16 to Jasper, down the parkway to Banff/Lake Louise, then west to Revelstoke. From Revelstoke, south to Shelter Bay, 1hr free ferry and over through Trout Lake to Kaslo/Balfour, ferry across Kootenay Lake and south homeward. Cool side trip after the ferry at Balfour would be over Grey Creek Pass to Kimberly and south through Cranbrook homeward.

Canada has strict firearms regs that are changing you read this. Check before you get to the border to make sure what you are bringing can be brought in and definitely declare all the weapons and ammo you have when you get to the border. Don't wait to be asked.

You don't need a gun for bear protection. I work in the bush, used to legally carry a 44mag (Redhawk), I drew it once from the holster in the scariest bear encounter I have ever had, but never had to use it. I don't even carry bear spray with me anymore. If you do carry bear spray, don't have it in the cab. If it goes off by accident, as one once did in a helicopter (everybody died), tragedy ensues.

 

The ferry takes longer than the drive. It’s a fun trip with a lot of great scenery but not a time saver. I’d still recommend it at least once, especially for those that might have a problem going through Canada due to past criminal offenses or who want to take a firearm that is not allowed across the border.

 

This guy just put out a video on the ferry: https://youtu.be/CTRuXWcEhO4

Interesting that you can camp on deck.

 

Past charges against you can be an issue, even as simple as as 25 year old DUI charge. If asked, be honest, they do check and lying to them is always frowned upon and will make things more difficult.

I live along the border and cross a few time a month. Window down, hat and sunglasses off, documents (passport) at the ready. Be polite, answer their questions, declare all goods. They have a job to do and let them do it as quickly and efficiently as they can. you are entering a foreign country with different rules and customs than you have at home. Respect that.

 

So true. I crossed the border once with firearms and the maximum allowable limit of ammunition, primers and gun powder (5000 loaded rounds, 5000 primers and 12lbs of powder if I recall). Pulled up to the booth, handed the officer and itemized list along with the paperwork ready to be signed for the firearms and was on my way in less than ten minutes because I had to park and walk inside to sign and pay the firearm fee. Truck was never even looked at the entire time.

 

5 days!? that a cruise not a ferry ride

 

It’s still a ferry, just with rooms available. It has a deck full of cars and nothing fancy like a cruise ship. All it had was a basic cafeteria for food, a movie theater and some viewing decks.

 

brutal

 

It was actually pretty cool. I spent a lot of time sitting outside on the deck or inside on the various viewing areas drinking whiskey and watching the beautiful scenery go by.

 

You can sleep on deck in a tent or a lounge chair as well I think.