Heading to Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wrangell: credit, insurance, travel)

[wapati]

I am heading for Denali and will be on the Alaska Highway in mid-April. i have driven the road as far as Haines Junction and wondered what the route was like from there to Fairbanks? Also, how is route #1 to Anchorage from Glenellen and route #3 from Fairbanks to Denali??

[rotorhead]

Its been a couple of years since I've been in AK, but as I recall...

If you've been to Haines Junction, you've been almost all the way to AK from the lower 48. The stretch from there to Tok was fairly routine (for AK) as I recall but I was traveling in mid-summer. From Tok to Glennallen, heres the little hills you'll be looking at along the way Actually, this view is from the W. looking along the Tazlina river towards the Wrangell/St. Elias area.


The stretch from Glennallen to Anchorage can be windy and the drifts can get pretty tall if theres been recent snow, but they'll eventually get it plowed. Check out this photo, the tall bent poles along this stretch are there so the snowplow drivers can tell where the road is supposed to be.


I've never driven to Denali, but heres what it looks like from the other side, the one thats really hard to get to by car.


Good luck on your trip. Make sure that your tires are in good shape (including the spare) and keep that gas tank full when you can, the gas stations can get few and far between up there on the AlCan. If I'm not mistaken, the official state website lists phone numbers for road conditions, and the Milepost annual guide is an extremely valuable resource.

[Urth]

***Very IMPORTANT*** Make sure you inform your credit card provider of the time frame you will be traveling in Canada. You also need to obtain proper Canadian auto insurance papers. This is usually just a phone call to your insurance provider and they will send you the proper papers for traveling in Canada. Use your credit card as much as possible while traveling in Canada. All credit card transactions use automatic currency conversion. If you use cash you can be easily taken advantage of because you are not familiar with the Canadian – American currency conversion. Canadian businesses will gladly accept your American cash and will gladly provide you with Canadian change. You will end up with a pocket full of Canadian change! On 01 January 2008 all American citizens will be required to have a passport for road travel through all Canadian ports of entry. Don’t be in any hurry driving the ALCAN. Have fun!

[Rance]

I went from North Dakota to Alaska (one way) on just under 1000 Canadian dollars. That was a room every night, 3 meals a day, fuel, t-shirts, beer and copenhagen! I exchanged some US money to Canadian before the trip. If you do the credit card thing, do contact your company...so they don't think your card got stolen or something. I was never asked to show any insurance paperwork, although I did have it. But I never thought to contact my provider to check on Canadian requirements. Good point.