Drive from Anchorage to Washington in our RV BOTH ways this summer or ferry one way?? (Juneau and: motorhomes, movies)

[503mpco]

We are trying to plan a trip from Anchorage down to Washington and then back to Anchorage. We will be traveling from mid May until mid June. We would love to take the ferry back up from Bellingham to Haines but it seems very expensive considering we would still then have 830 miles more to drive to get home to Anchorage. We will be traveling in our RV with our kids 6 and 10 years old and we are worried that going down, and then coming up again, on the Alaska Highway is going to be a bit boring. Especially considering we live here so although the scenery is amazing I think the kids will get sick of "look at the spectacular mountains" down and back up.

My husband and I have been to Juneau and Sitka but our kids have not been anywhere along the water. Also are you likely to see whales, etc. on the ferry or is it really mostly just boring sailing and killing time?

It will cost us almost $4,000 to ferry from Bellingham to Haines with our RV. About $4500 to ferry from Bellingham all the way to Whittier.

Do you think it is worth it or would you just drive both ways? Thanks!!

[stiffnecked]

It doesn't all have to be boring. Take the Cassiar Highway down and then the Alaska Highway on the way back up. Plenty of motorhomes on the Cassiar and a somewhat more scenic drive. It will even save you a few miles if your headed to the I-5 side of the state of Washington.

[warptman]

Drive!

[ASpilot2be]

Definently take the ferry one way!!

[stiffnecked]

The ferry is a neat trip but in the summer who can afford it? Especially if you have to drive a motorhome onto it. I imagine that would cost thousands.

[thebushman]

i say drive.

[Wrennie]

My two cents:
If the kids haven't seen SE before, you should definitely take the ferry one way. It would be good for them to know about the rest of their state. It will be an adventure for them. My kids always loved the excitement of going on the ferry--the ship seemed so huge to them, and they always had a good time playing with the other kids onboard. Nowadays they show kids' movies up in the bow.
Be sure to take a cooler, tho, so you can give them drinks and maybe some sandwiches or lunchables part of the time. The food onboard can be spendy. At the very least, you'll want to bring drinks.
You'll want to make your reservations soon because cardeck space as well as berth space sells out pretty quickly.
And, yes, in May and June you could keep an eye out for both humpies and killer whales.
It will give you some nice down time---bring a book and relax.

[Nephler]

I say drive one way and ferry the other. That way you get to see both. I have only taken the ferry up here, but man is it a wonderful trip. One day I'll drive.

Here are photos of our trip in September '08 on the ferry from Bellingham to Whittier. There are just about 200 photos of the trip. Alaska Marine Highway

http://droppings.dog-berry.com

[Captain Crunch]

Alaska Ferry to and from Prince Rupert BC rather than Bellingham......it a ton cheaper and there isn't anything to see on the water between Bellingham and Prince Ruperts anyway

[Nephler]

Speaking of seeing things on the ferry, that is one of the down falls of it. The ferry doesn't stop traveling at night, not that they should, so you miss everything during that time.