Best navigation to use driving from lower 48 to Fairbanks, AK (Anchorage: hotel, costs)

[YemeniAlaskan]

I am using my phone gps to get there from Connecticut, currently I ended up in Texas but waiting for my passport to renew then I'll continue my way.. so what navigation can I use that would take me through canada and alaska to fairbanks?

[AKStafford]

This: The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Guide and Trip Planner . You'll find it in bookstores once you get near the border. There's just one highway to get here, so getting lost would be hard.

[YemeniAlaskan]

Originally Posted by AKStafford

This: The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Guide and Trip Planner . You'll find it in bookstores once you get near the border. There's just one highway to get here, so getting lost would be hard.

I will get that definitely, but I need a navigation system so I can keep track where I am and when I get there I will be using it to drive from place to place filling out job applications thru north pole too.

[warptman]

I have a Garmin Nuvi. Make sure you get one with Canada and Alaska loaded in them.

[YemeniAlaskan]

Originally Posted by warptman

I have a Garmin Nuvi. Make sure you get one with Canada and Alaska loaded in them.

Which model?

[Dakster]

FWIW - I drove from South Florida to Anchorage three times this year, last time was 2 weeks ago. From Dawson Creek (mile 0 of the Alaska HIghway) to Tok, AK you will go the same route I did... And I have driven to Fairbanks from the L-48 to.

Your phone almost becomes worthless when you cross over into Canada. Even if you have a CANADIAN Data plan (make sure you know what your Canada roaming costs are, mine are like $2/MB and .89 per voice minute), anyway the towers you hit provide 1G (EVDO, RTT, EDGE) service when you can sorta get it. Once you leave Edmonton you'll have spotty voice service in the "Cities" but nothing in between. Hotel WiFi will be your friend. I had an ATT and Verizon phone for what that's worth.

Milepost does have an APP and maps you can store/download that if you have GPS built into your phone you can use. First couple of trips the milepost is a must have - after that it becomes a nice to have. Now, I pretty know when the next place with gas is and where the next potential place to stop for a Hotel is...

Anyways, I can guarantee you, that you will like a portable car GPS more than your phone for the trip. I used my phone GPS to drive from South Florida to Canada and then I switched to the portable GPS this last time. Previous trips I had NAV built in to the car I was driving.

They are relatively cheap or maybe you could borrow one for the trip and send it back to them via USPS Priority?

I have an OLD circa 2005 Garmin 2600 that worked fine... And I borrowed a newer one the last time, I sent it back and I don't remember the model.

[riceme]

I don't know what your destination is but in my experience GPS is not reliable outside of town. Sometimes not in town either. An actual paper map might serve you a whole lot better depending on where you're trying to end up.

I would listen to these guys and get a Milepost. I didn't when I drove up, but I had a truckers atlas and my cousin told me how to get up here.

[akpls]

Originally Posted by YemeniAlaskan

Which model?

Try the 2597. It has lifetime map updates.

[Basse Bud]

You may find a CB radio to be of greater value than a GPS, in that the truckers are a far more reliable source of
road conditions than spotty/occasional/non-existant signals...and there are a lot more truckers than usable cell areas!

Once you are on the highway, the ONLY highway, you have but two directions, North or South! The mile markers are
well located.

Good luck.

[riceme]

^agreed. As far as maps go I am a firm believer in the current trucker's atlas aka Motor Carriers' Road Atlas, I believe is the actual title.