By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers
Ah, Alaska is in the air … or at least in the thoughts of many RVers.
Last week I received the following email from a couple in Florida: “We are new owners of a 40 ft allegro bus, never had an RV before. My husband wants to take a trip from Florida to Alaska but not through Canada. We have been there. Please give me your experiences and what time of the year is best. I will follow this blog [more on this below*]. It is very educational and fun. We have no friends that have RVs.”
An interesting email, to which I replied: Monique and I went up through Washington State to Oliver, B.C., over to Banff and up to Whitehorse. There were many notable sights and experiences, but following the Canadian Rockies was the highlight. If you haven’t purchased “Milepost, Alaska Travel Planner,” that’s where you should start your planning.
Unbelievable Beauty for Hundreds of Miles Along the Canadian Rockies
[I am assuming that by not going through Canada, she means that they don’t want to cross the border from Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, or from Minnesota. “Milepost” gives several alternate routes with crossings in Montana and Washington.]
I have often written about journey-versus-destination travel. Depending on your time and financial resources, my suggestion is to start as the weather warms up and work your way across America visiting places you haven’t been. There are very few days that aren’t interesting if not memorable.
Even Alaska is a journey more than a destination. There is so much to see, but you don’t have to dwell in one place for more than one to four days, unless you have a specific interest like cultural history or fishing.
We entered Canada last year on June 10th. The 2010 weather was spectacular for almost the entire two-and-a-half months we traveled up there, and hopefully 2012 will offer the same. It’s just luck.
For us the trip held many unique experiences. We caravanned for the first time — I recommend it. Just as valuable, you will have an opportunity to make friends for life, as we have.
Second, we saw all those incredible sights and learned a lot. Third, I had just begun my rv.net blogs and, boy, what a challenge, because of the amount of precious time it took (but I would do it again). Now, when we read through the blogs, it’s a great memory of those fast-moving days.
Beginning in the January issue of “Trailer Life Magazine,” [www.trailerlife.com] I will have a regular monthly column. The one for February is about Caravanning to Alaska, explaining the benefits. That’s the only caravan we’ve taken so far, but for your first trip to Alaska I suggest you give it serious thought.
*and, to explain about the blogs the commenter I quoted above mentioned, I posted about 40 blogs during and after the journey, which can be accessed at http://blog.rv.net/author/barry-zander. That’s not a very efficient way of following them, but it’s the best I can suggest at the moment; however, there is a remedy in the making:
We all have our priorities in life, and one of mine for the past three or four years has been setting up a website that will provide easy access to my articles and photography. A priority, but unfortunately other priorities cropped up constantly in our years on the road. Last week I paid for a URL address and other necessities to set up my website. Monique, the more money-conscious of the two of us, will not let that investment hang on the “to-do list” without getting it done, so the priority is now iron-clad against other less important priorities.
After returning early next week from the 49ers Encampment in Death Valley, California, I will board Amtrak’s Sunset Limited to visit family in Louisiana. With a total of 72 hours on the train, I should be able to make significant progress. (Plus, I do want to let you know about a cross-country train trip)
Now, back to Alaska. I strongly advise careful planning of your trip considering the great distances and numerous must-see places. There’s lots to see, lots of opportunities to waste time and money without seeing some of the spectacular areas of the Northwest.
Good luck in your quest. Thanks for writing,
BONUS PHOTOS: Saturday we were in Huntington Beach, California, with family. I took a few photos while walking on the pier which extends into the Pacific Ocean**. Then, Sunday we returned to our cabin in the mountains 100 miles away, where we discovered that an unexpected snowstorm had left us unprepared. And Tuesday we’ll be leaving for Death Valley — infinite variety in Southern California.
**If you want to know what an editor does, read the second sentence of the previous paragraph without the words “which extends.” Monique, my editor, pointed out the need for a correction.
Ridin' the Waves Saturday
Monday Morning in the Mountains
From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road. © All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved
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Used Rvs for sale
As per my knowledge , Alaska is a beautiful place for enjoying holiday.Surely it was very adventurous journey you ever had in life. I think you have missed beauty of Canada while you had been to trip to Alaska.Actually one question i have to raise to you which is running throughout my mind is that Instead following border route from Canada to reach Canada why did you follow the long and alternative routes to Alaska . If you has followed border route from Florida to Alaska. You have saved lot of time instead of wasting it, I think you should take more time and enjoy your fruitful trip and Have a great Trip. Used Motorhomes for Sale
Jim H
Thanks for all the good advice! WE are planning an Alaskan trip in 2012, leaving
Texas in last week of May. We have own our new 5th wheel for two years, lost of upgrades are repairs in preparation for the trip. Hope to see some of you on the road North to Alaska.
Used Rvs for sale
Alaska is a good place for enjoying holiday . Surely this trip was very educational and fun for you, actually I am wondering about instead of following border route from Canada because it will take short distance to reach to Alaska and you can have a great fun while going for the trip to Alaska by taking route from Canada. By taking alternative route it will take long distance to reach to your destination at Alaska. Take your time and enjoy fruitful trip to Alaska. Have a great Trip.
Used Rvs for sale
Jim
Note to B&D:
“What will the trip cost?” There are too many variables to give a accurate answer, but we spent two months last summer (9000 miles) and spent just over $8K. That’s about $150 per day. Deduct the money you’d be spending if you stayed home and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. We stayed in commercial campgrounds about 50% of the time and split the rest between boondocking and government campgrounds — state and provincial parks, etc. When we added them all up, the average campground cost was around $20/night. If you’re 62 or older, get the Lifetime Federal Interagency pass — the best $10 you’ll ever spend. It gets you into most federal parks (US) free and camping is usually half price. Get the “Milepost,” Mike & Teri’s book, and maybe Bell’s Travel Guides now and start planning — that’s half the fun. Oh yeah, if you don’t have one, get your passport now, as you’ll be passing the US/Canadian border several times.
Jim
francis young
On second thought, I would highly suggest that you may want to just spend your first year getting used to your new motorhome with travels in the United States. Since this is your first experience with a motorhome this will give you a chance to familiarize yourself with all of its systems, and maybe more important, you will find out what works in the motorhome and what will break down. I think that very few, if any, new motorhomes will work perfectly for the first year without some minor or maybe even major breakdowns. After this first year you will have a lot more confidence in your own ability and your motorhome.
The most important thing is to JUST GO and have the trip of a lifetime.
francis young
Wow, I think I would definitely like to be a little mouse in the corner of that motorhome over the next few years. Just to see what all happens. Can you imagine?
We have been to Alaska twice with our campers and would definitely recommend GOING THRU CANADA even if you have been in Canada already. The trip thru Canada is easily as good as Alaska itself.
Just go and take your time and have a wonderful trip. Probably July and August is best weather.
Caravan
You are so lucky to have such beauty accessible by road. Not sure I fancy the bears mind you. The Canadian Rockies and Alaska have to go on my bucket list, just not sure how to get across the Atlantic in a stress free mode.
marianj
W e live in Anchorage, Alaska and have traveled the highway on every route thru B. C.It is the most spectacular trip you can take. Just go SLOW. People who have the most trouble go too fast. Come and have a fun trip.
Barbara Palmer
I highly recommend the “newbies” go to Alaska via British Columbia, and stop in Kelowna, BC from June 22-25 to go to the RV Owner’s Lifestyle Seminar at Okanagan College – it is like a 3-day Life on Wheels and will go a long way to preparing them to use their RV safely and comfortably. (Disclaimer – my husband and I do a two-session introduction to living in your RV course at the Seminar – but there are sessions on just about every aspect of using an RV safely)
John Holod
You’ll have a great time in Alaska. I’ve been traveling there since 1973. I’ve also produced three videos about how to travel by RV to Alaska. On my website I have a free 30-minute seminar about Alaska travel that will answer many of your questions. http://www.rvadventurevideos.com
Unless you take the ferry from Seattle (very expensive) you will have to drive through Canada at some point. If you have the time, follow the Rocky Mountains up to the start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek. If you really wanted an amazing trip, drive from FL to Las Vegas New Mexio and follow the Rockies all the way “north to Alaska.” Please feel free to call me with any questions you might have. I can be reached at 313-510-2350. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime!
John Holod
Ron
If you go to rv.net and click on the “alaska” forum, you’ll get all your answers real quick. If you’re not a member, do yourself a favor and sign up immediately. Rv.net is the largest and most informative rv forum on the web. Most of your questions are much too non-specific to answer with any truthful conviction.
The cost of everything in Canada and Alaska is more that what you’ll pay in the lower 48, but not too much more. The Canadian $ is about the same as the US $, but they do charge about 10% more for just about everything. Fuel will definitely be more and campgrounds will be about the same.
By the way, with that 250 Diesel, you won’t have to worry about gas at all!
Check out rv.net.
Ron
B & D
We are planning a trip to Alaska in 2012. Starting out from SoCal. We will be towing a 28 foot fith wheel with a F250 Diesel. We plan to be gone 2 months. We have no were to start? What is the cost of gas, food, campground fees. What will the trip cost?
We need some advice.
Tom And Cheryl Peters
We made the trip from Florida to Alaska in 2004 in our 36ft class A Winnebago Itasca. Take my advice and use the camper as many times as you can for the next year than take your Alaska trip. Get as familiar with your equipment as you can and have all the problems fixed before you leave. We had other class A’s but thought the quality had improved, bad mistake! We took a weekend trip than headed for Alaska. The refrigerator stopped working in Kamloops BC. We found ONE Styrofoam ice chest at a Home Depot; unfortunately it had a hole in the bottom. We rapped it up in a trash bag to catch the melted water. Good luck finding ice, yea I know, but glaciers aren’t that easy to get to, and there is no snow lying around in the summer. On the way to the RV Dealer in Anchorage (extremely nice people) to get the refrigerator fixed, oil started poring out of the rear-end differential. After a very intense phone call to the Anchorage Freightliner Chassis dealer and the RV Dealer insisting that it wasn’t excess over flow, we were able to get an appointment for the following week to have the pinion seal replaced. On the way home all the dashboard instruments went out (there was no easy fix) we followed slow trucks to make sure we stayed in the speed limits, and refueled every 5 hours. It may sound like a big complaint, but it’s not. Things break especially new things. Would we do it again? Yes, in a heartbeat!!! We are going back next year!
Here are some things I keep in my camper. Finding the correct part is sometimes half the battle. Fuel filters, water separators (diesel), oil filters, fan belts (rocks can get into the engine and break even new fan belts), extra engine oil, (don’t forget the generator), spray lubricant (WD-40 or silicon), windshield crack repair kit, and of course some simple tools (I carry a full set).
I would also suggest a cover for your dinghy. The Class A’s have a nasty habit of throwing rocks . We had rock damage even though I installed extra rock guards and mud flaps on the camper. Costline covers http://www.coastlinecover.com/tow.htm make covers especially for dinghy.
Take your time and enjoy the scenery. Most roads are 45 mph. The Alaskan Highway isn’t part of the “I” system. We found plenty of places to pull off and rest when tired or to eat. The long daylight hours can be deceiving. Dosing and veering off the side of the road can take on a new meaning, and usually only happens once.
Do some planning, but make the trip.
Don and Jan Stenberg
We left Florida in May 2011 and traveled to Alaska, coming out in late July. We drove a 35′ Class A. The scenery and wildlife in British Columbia and Alaska were spectacular. The roads were rough in places and threw our front end out of alignment, eating up two tires. On our return to the Lower 48, we spent a couple of weeks getting our rig back to its clean and healthy self. This is our 2nd year of full-timing. We waited until we felt we had some RVing experience and we’re glad we did. The trip was well worth it–definitely the trip of a lifetime. We entered Canada in Montana and drove to the Alaska Highway from Dawson City to Dawson Creek, up the Top of the World to Chicken and all around Alaska. We came back the Cassiar to Yellowhead Highway. The trip was memorable. So much to see. We also recommend a stop at Custer, South Dakota and Custer State Park. The wildlife there is abundant! Have a safe trip and just take your time and enjoy.
Gerald Strickland
We have been to Alaska 4 times. 3 times for the entire summer and the weather gets iffy in mid-September so we drove in freezing rain, sleet and snow which continued into Wyoming in 2006. The other trips were spectacular. To me, missing CA is unthinkable – we always spend a week in Whitehorse coming and going. If you cross from North Dakota or Montana, you will have some unimpressive landscape for awhile so if you don’t want to deal with that, cross from Bellingham, WA.
As for being a newbie, you have plenty of time to learn your RVing skills before next April. And I recommend that you not leave the U.S. before then.
Have a great Trip!!
obx beach lover
My husband and I bought a 36 ft. RV last October and left our home in NC April 10th to visit family in Colorado. Left there May 16th headed for Alaska. We had never had any experience with camping or RVing previously. We considered going with a caravan but decided against it since we wanted to go at our own pace. As it turned out we were very glad we went on our own. We went from Colorado up through Yellowstone, into Banff and Jasper and then on the Alaska Highway into Whitehorse. We too loved the Canadian Rockies and the spectacular scenery. We left home armed with the Milepost, The Next Exit, Woodalls and Good Sam Campground Guide. It was a truly wonderful summer. We met many really nice couples and made some very good friendships. When we left, we like you, did not know anyone interested in RVing. However that didn’t last long as everyone is extremely friendly in the RV parks. We were in Alaska from June 3rd until August 16th and enjoyed every minute. If you are interested in photography you couldn’t find a more picturesque place to go. I can’t say enough good about Alaska – it is very clean – the people are very helpful and friendly and beauty of the wilderness and abundance of wildlife just spectacular. Hope you have a safe and wonderful trip.
chuck
for what it’s worth, I agree with Jim G. My wife & I bought a used 27 foot Class C and left the next week from MO to AZ to visit friends. Talk about a steep learning curve!
My wife would’nt talk to me for most of one day because when it was time to cook some lunch I couldn’t get the propane stove to work (turns out one of our grandkids had turned off the LP monitor so no lp things would work).
I practically wiped out a gas pump in upper AZ because I didn’t allow for the swing of the rear of the rv as I turned out (had plenty of room when I pulled in for gas but a car parked close in front of me so I had to turn sharper than planed).
the only thing that saved a real disaster was that the steel pole next to the pump was a lot stronger than my rear bumper one half of which ended up on the parking lot.
Please consider taking a few short trips nearer to home to learn how things work and how the “monster” drives.
Either way though I know it will be a fun trip.
Jerry X Shea
Yes, take the Calgary/Banff route. We drove the Alaska Hwy into Alaska and then put our 40′ on the inland ferry (with the option of getting off 3 times) and saw Juneau, Petersburg and Ketchikan. Then to Prince Rupert and drove down to Washington. Note: Go to Haines, take the day ferry over to see Skagway (no RV) and then put your RV on at Haines and go see Juneau, spend a week, (Skip Petersburg – nothing there) then Ketchikan for another week. Good luck – go and enjoy. We are also going back again.
Jim G
As the comment caption states: Speak your mind, so I will.
In my opinion, new owners with no RV experience about to trek several thousand miles to Alaska, WOW! Never mind the issue of avoiding Canada, this has the potential to be a reality TV program. I mean that with all good intentions and most certainly my hope and wishes for a safe, uneventful and enjoyable trip. That said, if it were me driving a 40 ft. Class A with practically no experience, etc.. I would want to get some spend time getting some experience before undertaking what most RVers would consider to be a trip of a lifetime. This trip has lots of opportunity for enjoyment but equally a potential for headaches. Good Luck!
Rowdy
Hello
I’d like to say I am a life time Alaskan and live in Fairbanks First I would say Mile Post is the best way to start planning. I use the Mile Post myself. Second June through end of July best time to be here, Aug is our rainy season. If you or anyone have any questions on Alaska I would be glad to answer them if i can. Thanks RVnet. You can E-Mail me at [email protected]
butterbean carpenter
Howdy Barry Z,
Without taking the ferry; how do you get there from here without crossing inti RCMP territory??? Dennis Hill led a group this year to the 50th state and it sounded like they had really good time… He has made several trips up there, so, you could check with the Escapees Forum and see if an ‘experienced’ guide is available…
Boy, do I remember you trip up there!!! You better get off the mountain before you have to ‘ski’ that trailer down thru the trees…
If you change trains in Presidio and come East on the TexMex Orient we can pick you up 7 miles South of the ranch in Coleman county, Texas at Valera!!! Then you catch another TMO and go to SanAntonio and get back on the taxpayer special!!!
Whatever you do have FUN & BE SAFE!!!
Ron
It’s going to be a good trick getting that Tiffen from the lower 48 to Alaska without going through Canada. As previously mentioned, I guess you could take the ferry out of Bellingham Washington area and not get off until Haines…but other than that I suppose a C-17 could do the trick.
Seriously, our trip to Alaska through Canada in 08 provided us with some of the most spectacular scenery through Canada that we have ever seen. Those Canadian Rockies are beyond description. We’ve been there twice with the rv and twice without it. Can’t get enough of it.
We debated joining a caravan, but opted to go it alone and we’re glad we did. This enabled us to stop and stay at places that the caravan would have only passed through or stayed the night. There were many times where we only wanted to go to the next town, or didn’t want to get up at the crack of dawn to make the next destination. In addition, we found that we were meeting up with others going solo at the different rv parks along the way and became lasting friends with them.
We did the Marine Highway coming south and caught it at Haines and stopped for several days at Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchekan before unloading for the last time in Prince Rupert BC.
We found the Milepost helpful, but by far we used Mike & Teri Church’s book more than anything else.
Good luck in whatever you decide. Don’t skip Alberta and BC even if you have seen it before.
Ron
Carolyn & Bill Dempsey
In regards to the couple wanting (well, one does) to go from FL to AK, DO IT!!! Call the Alaska State Ferry and make reservations to leave from Bellingham, WA and get off in Haines, AK. Carolyn & I did it this year, and took our rig on and off the ferries 18 times from Bellingham to Haines and we are 48′ long. (5th wheel & truck). Than we drove 1000 miles over to Homer, AK and got on another state ferry and went out to the Aleutian Islands to Dutch Harbor!! (We didn’t take the rig or truck). No need for a state room either. You can bed down top side!!
Take the trip so that one day you don’t look back and say “we wish we had done that”
We are in our 10th year as full timer’s!!
Make It A Great Day
Steve Lowell
One would ask ‘How do you get to Alaska without going through Canada?’
Jim
I wholeheartedly agree that missing the Canadian Rockies would be a mistake. We made the trip up for the first time last summer (2011), and are already thinking about doing it again in a couple of years. Our route was through Calgary and Edmonton to Dawson Creek, then up the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse. From there to Dawson City and the Top of the World Highway into Alaska, the Alaskan “loop,” including Denali and the Kenai Peninsula, then back home via the Cassiar Highway and Icefields Parkway in Jasper and Banff National Parks. It was the trip of a lifetime. Besides the “Milepost,” I highly recommend Mike and Teri Church’s “Traveler’s Guide to Alaskan Camping,” an excellent guide to campgrounds along the Alaska Highway and all the major connecting routes.