Has anyone driven from Alaska to the states? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: how much, living)
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I live in Canada and have travelled quite extensively, back and forth on occasion from canada to the U.S. with no problems. Have your passport, which is required today, and enjoy the trip. You will love Canada, as other people say their are plenty animals to be seen, mountains galore, and many friendly people. Copping an attitude of the "ugly american" won't gain you any respect. But that goes for anyone going into a foreign country. Respect the land you are travelling within, and you will have a very nice experience. I would pay special attention to what "Warptman" advise is. He has travelled extensively from Alaska to the lower 48 going through Canada and back again. If I were visiting Alaska from Canada I would certainly trust his experience, and take it.
I have a friend who just moved up to Fairbanks she is thinking of driving down to Texas. We're talking about making it a road trip where I will fly up there and drive back with her.
The goal is to drive down into Washington and proceed through California, over to Vegas, Flagstaff, New Mexico and onward to Texas.
What is the easiest/safest route without having to go through Canada?
If you are driving you can't avoid Canada unless you take the ferry that other's have mentioned.
When we moved to Alaska, my brother graciously agreed to drive the u-haul from the Lower 48 to Alaska. We have a toddler and he didn't want her to have to ride all those miles in the car. He went through Montana. We had debated about the route through Washington vs. the route through Montana. It looks like the trip via Washington would be a quicker route through Canada. Can anyone comment on this?
Also, the inital person didn't indicate a travel window. Would any travel in January or February be recommended? My brother got caught in Whitehorse at the end of October due to a big blizzard that came through.
I am sure some day we will be traveling to the Lower 48, and with 2 small dogs and a toddler-well, we will take all the advice we can get.
When we moved to Alaska, my brother graciously agreed to drive the u-haul from the Lower 48 to Alaska. We have a toddler and he didn't want her to have to ride all those miles in the car. He went through Montana. We had debated about the route through Washington vs. the route through Montana. It looks like the trip via Washington would be a quicker route through Canada. Can anyone comment on this?
Also, the inital person didn't indicate a travel window. Would any travel in January or February be recommended? My brother got caught in Whitehorse at the end of October due to a big blizzard that came through.
I am sure some day we will be traveling to the Lower 48, and with 2 small dogs and a toddler-well, we will take all the advice we can get.
It's faster if you're coming up from the east coast to go through North Dakota or Montana rather than driving all the way to Washington state. If you do drive up via Washington, you will cross the Rockies three times. First time would be passing through Montana and into Idaho/Washington. The second time would be going north from Washington and crossing the same set of mountains over to Fort St John. The third time would be crossing from Fort Nelson into the Northern Rockies. If you go up in Saskatchewan or Alberta, you'll only need to cross the Rockies once.
The Canadians take good care of the Alcan after a storm goes through, they have equipment all over the place. I've done the Alcan in the winter four times, my fifth time is coming up in February, a two week vacation/drive to the states. I was at the leading edge of that blizzard that came through Whitehorse in October, too. There was plows out in force when it was snowing. I did see a van on the highway pulling a trailer up north of Haines Junction chaining up.
Best thing to do to prepare for a drive is to get the Bible of the Alcan...The Milepost!
Why do you have to take the ferry? By all means drive! I've done the Alcan 15 times, I'm heading down again in February for a few weeks. Four days tops you'll be in Washington state. In 06 I made it down in three days by myself.
Hell, in 1/74 I made it down in seven days by myself!
OK, I was accompanied by Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and others on the 8-track
When we moved to Alaska, my brother graciously agreed to drive the u-haul from the Lower 48 to Alaska. We have a toddler and he didn't want her to have to ride all those miles in the car. He went through Montana. We had debated about the route through Washington vs. the route through Montana. It looks like the trip via Washington would be a quicker route through Canada. Can anyone comment on this?
Also, the inital person didn't indicate a travel window. Would any travel in January or February be recommended? My brother got caught in Whitehorse at the end of October due to a big blizzard that came through.
I am sure some day we will be traveling to the Lower 48, and with 2 small dogs and a toddler-well, we will take all the advice we can get.
We have drove "the road" 9 times, in all seasons and through WA, MT and along the Cassiar Highway as well.
If you want an easier, faster trip go from MT through Alberta and up the AlCan.
If you are looking for some adventure, more mountains etc........I suggest WA through BC and on the AlCan.
If you are traveling in the Summer, and looking for some amazing scenic roads, try the Cassiar Highway.
Location: Big Island- Hawaii, AK, WA where the whales are!
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Have your passport, have your rabies tags/certificates if dogs, and have a health certificate dated just before you leave for dogs. Last summer it was good for 30 days from date of certificate. Canada doesn't need a dog health certificate - Alaska does... Canada wants the rabies certificates.
I vote for Cassier in the summer it was incredible. Milepost and listen to Warptman. It turned out much easier than I thought. If more direct quick route skip WA and Cassier.
Passports became mandatory June 1, 2009. I have made the drive several times. The last time was with 6 cats and my young daughter. We did all the vet certificats for the cats. Had my ID, daughters birth certificate, insurance proof etc However what I did not have was written noterized permission to take my daughter across the border from her biological father. No one asked for it until we went from Canada back to Ak at Haines to pick up a vehicle we put on the ferry. Worked out ok, but was a bit sketchy for a couple of hours.
I'm curious to know why you want to avoid Canada though. It's none of my business but Canada is a beautiful country with friendly people and well maintained roadways
The plan is to go mid-March. We want to avoid driving too much in the snow. The ferry sounds like a plan.
Does anyone know how long the ride is on the ferry? I didnt see any info on that on the site.
The plan is to go mid-March. We want to avoid driving too much in the snow. The ferry sounds like a plan.
Does anyone know how long the ride is on the ferry? I didnt see any info on that on the site.
I think it is 5 days but it depends on where you get on and where you get off. I'm not 100% that the Ferry even stops on the mainland and you might have to get off in Haines or Skagway and still have to drive through Canada.
All I know is that we have priced the ferry and with car/driver + family + a cabin (since it is cold still in march) we could never afford it. We always drove. The roads in Canada have never really proven to be much of an issue, even with snow.
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