Leaving in 2 days, whats the best route to AK?

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Permalink Reply by Larry Parsons on April 5, 2008 at 1:14am

yeah the best place to enter is in whitehorse montana , and head to calgary then take the scenic route thru jasper n banff Canadian rocky national parks, it depends where your going in alaska though too , try mapping it out on map quest or google maps , i use microsoft streets n trips it great shows you gas stations rest areas calculates your gas cost driving times etc etc

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Green on April 5, 2008 at 1:40am

Thanks a bunch!!

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Permalink Reply by Kari Quaas on April 5, 2008 at 9:05am

Hey Tim,

This is the guide to get for driving in Alaska.

The Milepost

It tells you everything you need to know - where the next gas stop is, places to eat, and where to sleep. Be sure to stop at Liard Hot Springs near the top of British Columbia. : )

Have a fun and safe drive!
Kari

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Permalink Reply by dick Pollitt on April 7, 2008 at 6:30pm

I have driven to and from six times and will do it again in two days. I depart from Waverly, Iowa, a80 miles south of Minn-St. Paul. Route: Minneapolis-Fargo-Bismarck-Minot to Noonan or Crosby, ND. Remember that Sas prov. IS NOT ON DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. THE BORDER OPENS AT THOSE SMALLER PLACES AT 8:00 CANADIAN TIME. Don't cross at Portal; a 24 hour crossing but very strict (they train inspectors there) Noonan to Estevan, Sas. Turn left on Hyway 39, stay on it to Moose Jaw, then turn north On ? and take it to Hyway 11 (4 lane) to Saskatoon. In Saskatoon pick up hyway 16 to and to the west of Edmonton. West of Edmonton turn right onto 43 to Whitecourt. (43 is 4 lane also, as is 16) Continue thru Whitecourt to Grande Prairie (booming town!) DO NOT turn left into Grande Prairie but rather right to Sexsmith. Go one mile north of Sexsmith and turn left. This highway will take you to just south of Dawson Creek. Eventually at a "T" intersection turn right to continue to Dawson Creek. It's all Alaskan highway from there. Now the "MILEPOST BOOK" becomes very useful as there are stretches of highway with no fuel or food for sometimes long distances. You'll pay much more at times for gas than $4.50! It will be closer to $6.00 in Destruction Bay, for example. Check this route out on a map. It is the shortest that I can find. You save 75 miles by not going thru Winnipeg and about the same or more by not going thru Calgary; another 40 by missing Regina. We have made this in 4.5 days; a one ton pickup pulling a 38 ft. 5th wheel. I have done ALL the driving. Be aware that, north of Dawson Creek, you could run into snow at any time. Have a contingency plan for everything. The road will be pretty bad 50 miles north of Haynes Junction and from there to the Ak border.
Dick Pollitt

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Permalink Reply by Mark Prince on April 7, 2008 at 7:45pm

Probably on the road by now. I took a little bit of an adventure driving up there and went through Banff and then on to the Casiar which is really remote. When they say you need to take gas do so. Especially this early a loggers road but GREAT>
From the end of the casiar to Whitehorse and then onto Skagway. Which ever way you go its nice. Have a great trip and enjoy the summer.

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