Moving to Eielson in October (Fairbanks, Ferry: for sale, to buy, camping)

[chriswynn]

Should I make the drive up thru Canada in October or take the Ferry from Washington. We have a front-wheel drive Altima so I'm thinking the Ferry would be the best choice.

[warptman]

Get some all season tires and drive up! The road is open year round.

[usafracer]

If you do ont have your spot on the ferry booked now you will not get one. If you do get one be prepaired to be camping on the deck in cold weather.

You are better off driving up.

[ak.nessa]

If you can afford to fly, that's what I would do. You will have to get your car winterized too, before the temps start dropping. The best time to drive is June-early August. If you are OK in sketchy road conditions, you'll be fine driving up - just be careful!

Flying: Kind of expensive, but much safer & faster
Ferry: I think it's way too expensive, but it allows you to bring your car
Driving: Longer trip, get to see some beautiful sights, can be dangerous (but you'll probably be fine), but much more inexpensive than any of the other options!

Just hurry up and get up here before mid-October!!! Hurry!

[ak.nessa]

Haha I forgot to ask, what are you going to do with your Front wheel drive Altima once you get up here??? If it were me, I would sell the Altima and buy a plane ticket. There are plenty of cars up here for sale, you could get a taxi easily and buy yourself a 4wd or 4x4 vehicle. In a couple weeks you wont be able to get around anywhere if you don't have 4wd and studded tires and/or chains. You will be safer and get up here much quicker by plane (after I read what kind of car you have, I'm a bit worried). It's not super expensive to fly from Seattle or Portland.

If you do plan on driving you have to have a Passport to get through Canada. If you fly you do not need your Passport.

I suppose if you can get on the ferry & if you can afford it, go for it. But I would sell your car down in the lower 48 before you bring up here because nobody will want to buy it from you up here.

[ak.nessa]

Are you moving up or just going on vacation? If you are moving, don't bring your Altima, you'll regret it.

[warptman]

There are many front wheel drive cars in Alaska, they do fine. Of all the cars you see in the ditches in Alaska are 4x4 pickups and SUV's. On occasion you will see a small car in the ditch.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by ak.nessa

buy yourself a 4wd or 4x4 vehicle. In a couple weeks you wont be able to get around anywhere if you don't have 4wd and studded tires and/or chains.

Nobody ever needs chains around Eielson, and 4wd is certainly nice, but isn't anything like necessary. Most people have front wheel drive sedans, and they do just fine.

Keep in mind that there is virtually never any wet snow in the Fairbanks area. They don't get that much snow to begin with, but except perhaps for the first snow of the year it is always very dry snow. It's a very rare snow that builds up enough to stop front wheel drive traffic before the snow plow gets there.

On the other hand, October is not a good time for drivers who have little experience with driving on slippery roads. And late December through early March it's not a good time to arrive in a car that has not been winterized properly (that means by a mechanic in Fairbanks, who knows what to do).

[RayinAK]

It's supposed to be 20 degrees tonight (Thursday), and snowing, but the temperature still reaches 40 degrees or so during the day. It may be a little colder in October

I have a Subaru Forester, but to work and back I drive a 1987 Honda Civic Si summer and winter. I don't even use studded tires some winters, but I have been driving on ice for quite a lot of years. For added traction, and set of studded tires are very nice around Eielson.