Starting our move tomorrow! (Wasilla, Tok: lease, motel, month to)

[quakinator]

Ok, so we're finally headed up to Alaska tomorrow morning. We made the 1800 mile trip from Columbus, OH to Utah to be with family for a week and now we're ready to move up to Alaska. We stayed at a KOA in Kansas City and the Hampton Inn in Cheyenne WY and I'd rather do the KOA thing as much as my wife will let simply due to finance reasons (and we just bought a nice new tent and sleeping bags).

When you guys (the ones that travel the road system to the -48 frequently) travel do you stay in motels or do a lot of camping? Where would you suggest staying? I think we're going to try this route but I'm wondering if there's a way to shorten the leg from edmonton to ft. nelson and ft. nelson to whitehorse (are there other places I could stay that would make the driving time more like 9-10 hours a day instead of 11-12 on those two legs? It would mean I wouldn't stay in Tok the last night, but I'm just not too familiar with where the facilities are. Would you just suggest following the milepost and finding a campground whenever we feel like pulling over?

I'll try to post updates as possible but I don't have any mobile internet connection so we'll be limited to the internet that we can mooch along the way.

Any advice on campgrounds is appreciated (or cheap motels - like anything is going to be cheap this time of year).

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by quakinator

Ok, so we're finally headed up to Alaska tomorrow morning. We made the 1800 mile trip from Columbus, OH to Utah to be with family for a week and now we're ready to move up to Alaska. We stayed at a KOA in Kansas City and the Hampton Inn in Cheyenne WY and I'd rather do the KOA thing as much as my wife will let simply due to finance reasons (and we just bought a nice new tent and sleeping bags).

When you guys (the ones that travel the road system to the -48 frequently) travel do you stay in motels or do a lot of camping? Where would you suggest staying? I think we're going to try this route but I'm wondering if there's a way to shorten the leg from edmonton to ft. nelson and ft. nelson to whitehorse (are there other places I could stay that would make the driving time more like 9-10 hours a day instead of 11-12 on those two legs? It would mean I wouldn't stay in Tok the last night, but I'm just not too familiar with where the facilities are. Would you just suggest following the milepost and finding a campground whenever we feel like pulling over?

I'll try to post updates as possible but I don't have any mobile internet connection so we'll be limited to the internet that we can mooch along the way.

Any advice on campgrounds is appreciated (or cheap motels - like anything is going to be cheap this time of year).

We have almost always used Super8's, however, when we came through Canada late May the prices were ridiculously high! Sorry don't have any info on campgrounds but I'm sure others on here do. Best of luck in your trip up and welcome from a former Ohioan.

[lyoness]

Travel safe & god speed

[akvarmit]

No advice, as we took a different route............except - enjoy the he*l out of it! Its the experience of a lifetime!
Dawn

[warptman]

from:Orem, Ut to:Great Falls, MT to:HWY 60 to:55.40251,-119.100037 to:Fort Nelson, BC, Canada to:Whitehorse, YT, Canada to:Tok, AK to:Wasilla, AK - Google Maps

I modified your route through Edmonton, you don't really want to go through downtown. When you pass Edmonton International Airport, hang a left on Highway 19 to Devon which is on highway 60. Take this north until you get to Highway 16 and hang a left and drive down 16 until you get to Highway 43 to Onoway. This will take you to Grande Prairie, but don't go into the town, this place is a mess! Hang a right on Highway 2 north from Grande Prairie and head up towards Sexsmith and you'll see highway 59, take this and you will avoid Prairie. This takes you back to 43 and on to the border of BC. Pay attention when you get to Pouce Coupe, lotta traffic here and narrow roads. Next town is Dawson Creek, the start of the Alcan! In southern Dawson Creek there is a super Walmart, you can get all your shopping done here for making sandwiches for the trip north if you are worried about finding restaurants along the way. I've only camped on one of my trips, I just motel it all the way.

Here's a little preview of your trip, scroll down to Sikani Chief, you won't be seeing Prince George and such.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...orthbound.html

Here's my Southbound shots up through Montana from Alaska.
https://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...outhbound.html

[RAMFEB31]

Well Quake',
You and your wife have a nice safe trip. I am about a week behind you so you can blaze the trail for me. Where are you headed?

[Nephler]

Have a safe trip, and enjoy!

[quakinator]

We're headed to Wasilla. We're staying in a small furnished place out by meadow lakes on a month to month basis while we look for a longer term lease to get into a bigger place.

Thanks warpt, I remember you saying that before and yes we plan on going around in those spots.

When you motel it, what's the average price you pay in the summer time? Any motels to stay away from?

[warptman]

Don't stay in Sasquatch Crossing, the place smells.

Don't drive between Fort Nelson and Watson Lake at night, lots of critters on the road at night. Yes, they're on the road all the time, just more in numbers at night. Normally the price is around $80 Canadian and up. All motels are nice, and most have internet.

[Nephler]

If ya need some help once you're here, let me know, we're in the Wasilla area also.