Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

[KRS]

My brother lives in Anchorage now, and I live in Arizona.

I'm contemplating a road trip to go and see him.

I have a '06 Dodge 2500 cummins 4x4.

Has anyone lever made that drive? And, would you ever do it again

What was your experience(s)?

Talk some sanity into me quick, thanks!

KRS

 

[Brijoe00]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

with the price of diesel and going that for, probably be cheaper to fly.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

KRS, dude thats a loooooooong f'n drive. The wife made the trek from Cleveland to Anchorage and back years ago, before "our time". The Alcan was yet to be completely paved. I reckon it is now. The best money spent was on a Mile Post mag. Gives you all the skinny on stops along the Alcan. Gas food, lodging and all the points of interest.

 

[woodrat]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

I ran into a guy back in september who had just arrived in WA state from the Alcan highway. He had ridden his BMW cylcle down and he averaged 650 miles per day. he said it was all paved and not too bad of a drive.

 

[AK_Chappy]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

I just moved back up here in May. The road is paved all the way, really nice drive. Just be prepared for a big fuel bill. Remember CAN prices theirs in liters not gallons.
We drove about 8-10 hours a day, 70-75 mph most of the way. We did one really short day, and one VERY LONG day. Over all, it took me 5 days from Mid CA to Anchorage.
You would be better off financially spending the money on a plane ticket and car rental. However, you would miss out on a beautiful drive.

AK Chappy

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

That's a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong drive from where I live in SO CAL. 3600 miles and 59 hours and $700 @ $2.93 per gallon in gas one way. New York's only 2700 miles and 40 hours. I would like to make the drive someday but the wife says she would fly.

 

[KRS]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

Mile Post mag.

Good tip, will check it out, thanks!

 

[KRS]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

Good info all, I never thought of comparing it to driving from CA to NY, WOW!!!!

I would like to do it..... once

 

[KRS]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

CAN prices theirs in liters not gallons.

I'm used to figuring miles-per-gallon... I'm pretty sure miles-per-liter will make me nauseous.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

It sounds like fun to me!.......

 

[PW2]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

That's a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong drive from where I live in SO CAL. 3600 miles and 59 hours and $700 @ $2.93 per gallon in gas one way. New York's only 2700 miles and 40 hours. I would like to make the drive someday but the wife says she would fly.

I would increase your fuel price factor in your calculation.

Fuel prices at 100 mile house or some other end of the earth location are not likely to reflect urban competitive prices

 

[tommays]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

Having taken two 3 week USA Motorcycle trips with the long one covering 8700 miles and the short about 7500

It was all about the journey and the interesting people i met everyday

Like the older fellow at a remote gas station near Moab (before mountain bikes ) that took me out to see fossils exposed buy the weather



Tommays

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

Well as a BC'er....its quite a drive. From Arizona its a long haul. If you are just trying to arrive in Anchorage and you only have so much holiday/vacation time and not interested too much in 'travelling'....fly. You'll save money and have to spend on the other end. If you like to fish, tour (somewhat), enjoy scenery....then drive. Remember it's not only fuel that you will spending your money on but accomodation/meals etc.
Remember a lot of BC is a rain forest and we are heading into that season...so get ready for some wet, cool weather if you do drive.
(Personally....I'd fly)

 

[rentalguy1]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

Is the AlCan usable in the winter? Seems like I remember talking to some snowbird RV'ers a while back that said the road gets closed in the winter.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

Bigprairie were do you live in BC and most of BC is not a rain forest. The coast
is a rain forest but the interior is very dry in the summer and can get lots of snow in the winter with some very cold weather.

PW2 i use to live an hour north of 100 mile house. The end of the earth my foot. If your into the cowboy/fishing/hunting/snowmobile scene you can not find much better.

KRS if you were going to do the trip do it in the summer. The winter would not be a good time due to the road conditions can change very rapidly and being stuck on the road when it is between -20 to -40 is no fun. When i was a kid i worked at the Chevron in Williams Lake and met lots of people that made the trip and loved it.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

Bigprairie were do you live in BC and most of BC is not a rain forest. The coast
is a rain forest but the interior is very dry in the summer and can get lots of snow in the winter with some very cold weather.

PW2 i use to live an hour north of 100 mile house. The end of the earth my foot. If your into the cowboy/fishing/hunting/snowmobile scene you can not find much better.

KRS if you were going to do the trip do it in the summer. The winter would not be a good time due to the road conditions can change very rapidly and being stuck on the road when it is between -20 to -40 is no fun. When i was a kid i worked at the Chevron in Williams Lake and met lots of people that made the trip and loved it.

Ok PJ, admittedly not all of BC is rain forest. The interior is substantially different. The province is so big it encompasses everything from Desert, to Rocky Mtn's to Rainforest to Northern Tundra.
That said....for KRS to get some more perspective...simple. Using Google Earth type in directions from Phoenix (or whatever Arizona city you are departing from) to Anchorage, Alaska. That will immediately shed light on the travel situation. Don't be surprised by the distance and time you are going to see tho'....it makes a New York to Seattle or L.A run appealing.
Keep us posted.
(PW2...end of the earth?...good one....not at all accurate, but certainly amusing)

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

I don't care how you look at it- Thats a long azz time to be in a truck!

 

[PW2]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

Bigprairie were do you live in BC and most of BC is not a rain forest. The coast
is a rain forest but the interior is very dry in the summer and can get lots of snow in the winter with some very cold weather.

PW2 i use to live an hour north of 100 mile house. The end of the earth my foot. If your into the cowboy/fishing/hunting/snowmobile scene you can not find much better.

KRS if you were going to do the trip do it in the summer. The winter would not be a good time due to the road conditions can change very rapidly and being stuck on the road when it is between -20 to -40 is no fun. When i was a kid i worked at the Chevron in Williams Lake and met lots of people that made the trip and loved it.

I did not mean to suggest that it was not beautiful up there, or appealing to lots of folks, but only that fuel prices are not likely to reflect competitive urban prices.

 

[2broke4this]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

My brother made the trip from Michigan in '92 in a 1986 Nissan pickup (2WD) to pick up a friend who was stationed up on one of the islands (I don't know of that little base still exists). He had a cap on the bed of his truck and I'm pretty sure he just slept in it to save money. He made it there and back, but he took his time and wanted to see as much scenery as possible. That, and gas was much cheaper... AND he was 18. I'd love to make that trip, but there is no way I'll be able to afford it any time soon!

-Carl

 

[Chief101]

Re: Driving to Alaska from the Lower 48

It's a great trip and now is the time to go before the prices of fuel rises. Chief Chief