Drive from Fairbanks to South Florida (Beaver: station, radio, highway)

[Bob Blockus]

Originally Posted by ShipOfFools42

Only 72 hours total driving time from Florida to Fairbanks?! Damn Bob, you were moving! I know that's just the on-road time, but I would have thought it would be more than that, especially if you were taking the ferry up from Skagway.

Ford Taurus had built in trip computer and gave the time of operating the auto in hours and said about 72 hours. 12 day's it took with two nights rest in a row at Great Falls M. Florida to Alaska 2009 year.

[tigre79]

You don't really need a GPS unless you're planning on getting off the highway quite a bit or you just want to spend more money. It's pretty straightforward driving. A Milepost will be helpful through Canada, and a map book of the US will get you through the rest of the trip just fine. An iPod with an FM transmitter, or a whole bunch of CDs, would be a good idea. Not many radio stations in the first half of your drive.

[warptman]

A GPS is handy down states while you look for local eats, gas stations, hotels, and such. They have listings of everything ahead of you.

[tigre79]

I guess, but mostly if you really want or need something specific. There's plenty of gas/food/lodging right on the freeways. I can see its utility, but the OP shouldn't think it's necessary for the trip. It's pretty easy most places to get on and off the freeways for whatever you need and get back on with no trouble.

[warptman]

It came in handy in the larger cities for me last summer, especially when you had to change highways inside larger towns in both southern Canada and in the states.

[Dakster]

GPS depends on your tastes. I love them and wouldn't buy a new vehicle without it built in. Second best is a portable one. The newer ones get gas/diesel prices and saving .20 / gal by driving to the next stations helps it pay for itself in the long run. Being tired and knowing where the enxt hotel is, calling ahead of time to make sure there is a vacancy is nice too. Do you NEED it, no. Is it nice, yes.

So based on previous posters plan 12 days, especially since I missed the part about towing a cargo trailer. Bob really did it in 10 days as the 2 night stopover doesn't count in the drive time. Driving without stopping, but needing at least two drivers would take 3+ days. Planning my trip, I figured 7 to get to the Alaska border through Canada and 3 extra. As they say, your mileage will vary.

As far as Bob's speed, how many miles did you drive Bob? Then divide it by 72... As the googlemaps go, Orlando to Fairbanks is 4,600 miles. (4,600 miles / 72 = avg. 63.8 mph) Seems reasonable for driving speed.

[acg515]

I would take the Alcan to Dawson Creek, then south through Edmonton and Calgary and through a border station near Lethbridge. You can do Alberta in about a day and a half. From there, I would head south until Butte MT and then head east, take I-90 until you hit Crow Agency and then get on Highway 212 east. I would camp at Custer National Forest at Red Shale Campground since it is free. Alternatively, you could take I-90 through Wyoming and into SD. 212 I think is shorter though although not quite as fast, the road was good last August. I would take I-90 through SD, maybe a detour to see Mt. Rushmore by Rapid City, head east through SD into Sioux Falls and then get on I-35. From I-35 I am not sure what I would do since I've never gone to Florida, although I have gone to Kansas City en route to San Antonio and the road was good. Anyways, that's just my opinion but it's a nice drive. If you wanted to you could cut south and see Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks but that's all optional. Montana is a beautiful state, SD isn't as beautiful but you have the Black Hills.

[FloridaKash]

One thing you need to know. In the Yukon you will see little orange flags on dips. You may see one, two, three or flags with an X on them.

One Flag = No real need to slow down unless you are hauling butt.

Two Flags = Slow down, it could be a nice size dip.

Three Flags = Slow down or it's going to hurt.

Flag with an X = Slow down or you might bounce off the road.

I didn't see this listed in the milepost... it's good to know. We quickly figured it out after coming out of our seats with our seat belts on.

[warptman]

The sign with the ^^^ on it doesn't mean mountains like a friend thought, slow down!

From Destruction Bay to Alaska is where you need to watch out for frost heaves. In either direction you're in the other lane for many kilometers.

[tigre79]

Originally Posted by warptman

From Destruction Bay to Alaska is where you need to watch out for frost heaves. In either direction you're in the other lane for many kilometers.

If you get someone in front of you through there, don't pass them. It was nice having someone else tell us where the really bad ones were by how badly their trailer bounced around.