Another important note is that the majority of your drive will be in Canada, so contact your cell phone provider to find out how much it will cost to use your phone there, including data charges. This is important as it can be very expensive! I have T-Mobile, which does not charge for roaming in Canada or Mexico fantastic perk! You may also be able to get a temporary international plan through your provider, but make sure to make a plan for this in advance!
Also check with your provider about specific locations where cell phone service is available. Do not count on having the internet to look up your options on yelp. You need The Milepost to be your guide and let you know what lodging or camping is available on your route! If you prefer vacation rentals or chain hotels, these are available in the bigger towns along the Alaska Highway, such as Prince George and Whitehorse. My perferred way to drive to Alaska is to do a combination of camping and roadhouses.
Roadhouses are a really fun, affordable and unique way to spend your nights along the drive. More on this below. Road houses in Alaska, the Yukon Territory and Northern British Columbia are generally small, family run establishments.
Sometimes there are in or near a town, other times they are out on their own far from the nearest town. They often do not have wifi or cell phone service and are usually in stunning locations. They always have atmosphere and usually terrific food. Typically there will be a restaurant and some rooms. Occasionally there are also cabins or camping on site. Some are more like rustic lodges and others more like motels. Camping is an affordable way to travel the Alaska Highway and gives you a lot of flexibility in where you stop for the night.
Plan on stopping early for the night to make sure you get a spot, especially further south in British Columbia and Alberta. In addition, there are many private campgrounds and RV parks that welcome tents as well.
Some private campgrounds and RV parks offer showers and laundry. The Alaska Highway is a wonderful place to see wildlife, particularly moose and bears. Keep your eyes out and watch your speed, especially around moose! For moose viewing, keep your eyes out along the sides of the road, especially when there are marshy or brushy areas or lakes near the road. Northern British Columbia, the Yukon territory and Alaska are all places where you may see moose. The Cassiar Highway is the place where I have seen the most bears on the drive to Alaska.
Even if you take a different route, you have a good chance of seeing a bear. It is important that you follow all recommended bear safety procedures , especially when camping or hiking.
Follow all post signs and warnings related to wildlife. The most important thing is to never, ever leave food out when you are not actively eating it. Keep it locked in your vehicle. There are also different kinds of wild sheep that you may see, as well as many birds and other mammals such as foxes and maybe even a lynx.
There are so many fun and quirky things to do along the Alaska Highway! Way too many to list in this article. This is one reason why taking your time makes it a lot more fun.
Make sure to have the Milepost with you as it will have literally every single thing you might want to stop for. The only states where there is a viable alternative route are the 3 states that sit along the Pacific coast - California, Oregon and Washington State.
From here, you can still get onto the Alaska Highway from around Dawson Creek and given the length of the journey, you might choose to do that - the road is generally wide and straight and makes the long journey relatively straight-forward.
This route is super scenic - the road will go through mountains, forests and beautiful scenery, but it is full of twists and turns, the road is narrow and it can be difficult to overtake for long stretches. If that sounds good to you, then head north and cross into Canada at the Sumas crossing north of Seattle and east of Vancouver. A couple of days' worth of driving or one very long day!
It is possible to drive from the contiguous United States the lower 48 States to Alaska in the winter, but the journey will take considerably longer and can be treacherous so make sure you are definitely ready for it before setting off. The roads are paved all the way and they are pretty well maintained, but winter in remote northern parts of Canada can be very harsh so driving thousands of miles through the wilderness is not for the faint hearted.
The roads are generally clear, but ice and snow are always about so expect to be driving considerably slower than you would during the summer months. The days get very short in the winter the further north you go and while you won't technically cross into the Arctic Circle, you can find yourself experiencing 24 hours of darkness in Yukon if you're driving around Christmas time.
A snowstorm in these parts can make the roads virtually impossible to drive through and you're best off stopping the night in a bed and breakfast. It's also a great idea to not only have full winter tires, but to have big profile snow chains, spades to dig yourself out, wooden planks to get wheels unstuck and everything you might need to spend a night or two in your car including lots of warm layers, blankets and cans of spare gas. The big piece of advice is that while you technically CAN drive to Alaska in the winter, you really shouldn't unless you have a really good reason to or your sense of adventure requires a very particular type of Adrenalin rush.
If you're not driving in the winter, the journey to Alaska can really be undertaken by anybody. Those should be easy enough to find on the internet. City roads will be slicker at intersections, so allow extra space to stop, and keep an eye on the road for shiny spots where there may be patches of ice or slick with the easier to drive packed snow that gives you a food grip. Also learn how to accelerate a car on ice, since once you stop you have to start again.
Listening to the tires spin is a good way to keep track of how your driving is translating to the rubber and the road. Take note of the great number of regular cars you will see on the roads.
While 4 wheel drive caan be an asset, a thoughtful driver can get by easily in a regular 2 wheel drive car. I drive the first 90 miles of the Parks Hwy the easiest part from Anchorage to our cabin almost every weekend. Last weekend there was a lot of snow and I found the most difficult time being when wheelers driving towards me passed.
They stir up big, dusty clouds of snow and dramatically reduce visibility. As always keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Please keep an eye on the many crazy and some not crazy drivers behind you. Don't let their "pressure" make you drive beyond your ability. But do be aware of opportunities for you to safely pullover and let any "gathered" traffic go by you. It's far nicer to have a bunch of cars in front of you "clearing the trail" then to feel pressured with them all behind you.
This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. It is less remote and has more amenities along the way, and allows you to experience the entire Alaska Highway from Mile 0.
If you have a little more time and are looking for a more remote experience, the Cassiar Highway offers less traffic and better wildlife viewing opportunities. In many sections, the Cassiar Highway is a two lane road and speed limits are slower. Both options will take you through beautiful scenery in British Columbia before joining up near Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory. While you can make the drive in as little as 3 days, we recommend planning for a week of driving so you can take your time and fully experience the stunning scenery, campgrounds, lodges, and wildlife along the way.
Ferry travelers can also connect to over 30 port communities along the Alaska Marine Highway route in Alaska's Inside Passage , Southcentral , and Southwest regions. Visit cbp. Traveling with your pet? You cannot cross the border if you have a criminal record, including a DUI.
Remember that speed limits and distances are posted in kilometers per hour. The best driving conditions, most hours of daylight, and most visitor services can be found on the Alaska Highway from May through September. However, visitors can have a fun and safe drive along the Alaska Highway year-round with a little extra caution and advance planning.
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