Alaska 2016

[MikeR]

Joe, we did not make our return trip to Alaska this summer. We spent the summer in Montana, and then a nice slow trip back to MI, where we spent a couple of weeks in the UP of MI. Nice summer, but not in AK.

[bobbidonb]

Has anyone considered any of those Rv caravans?

in 2007 we were going to take a Sunnytravelers caravan but they cancelled it due to low participation. So, we took their itinerary and went on our own. Worked well for us, we were free to extend stops in places that interested us and were able to get tickets for all the shows and tours they were going to do.

As for cost I don't remember it costing much more than touring the lower 48 in your rv. Our 7500 mile trip this year from Florida to the west coast and return was probably more costly, California ain't cheap. Everything costs a little more in Canada and Alaska but certainly not enough more to not make the trip. We entered Canada north of Fargo, ND and took the northern route (I think it was 16) entering the Yukon at Dawson Creek. The canola and flax fields along the way were beautiful, plus we stopped at museums and farmers mkts. That was an enjoyable week.

[wingnut60]

MikeR,
Did you make the trip this year as you mentioned?
Joe

[ColoradoNative]

Those they went to Alaska who drove from Fairbanks to Deadhorse?

We were going to drive the Dalton "Highway" as far as we could in 1991 - At that time, I believe they had travel restricted somewhere north of Coldfoot. However, we hit something in the road and cut the sidewall in a tire on our Ford E350 Van 7 miles south of the Arctic Circle. So - without a spare tire, we stayed the night at the construction camp area at the AC and retreated back to Fairbanks the next day.

[dzwiss]

We went with Alaskan Discovery RV Tours in 2003 and enjoyed it very much. Saw and did much more than I would have on my own. We stayed in Alaska a few weeks after the caravan ended and toured on our own. If you are inclined to take a caravan, Spike was great.

Alaskan Discovery RV Tours: RV caravan tours to Alaska and the Yukon. Pets are welcome!

[Joe&Linda]

Dalton Highway

Those they went to Alaska who drove from Fairbanks to Deadhorse?

[wingnut60]

Agree with the above.
Joe

[fivercamper]

Has anyone considered any of those Rv caravans?

We looked at them but didn't like the idea of being told when to start, when to stop, where to stay, and how long.

Alaska and the Yukon aren't the wildernesses they may have been thirty years ago. The fuel stops may be further apart and some of the roads can be rough but anyone who has driven in many of the lower 48 should be able to handle this trip.

[fivercamper]

We took the trip in o9 spent 13 thousand miles from Florida and we spent nowhere near even $10,000 I don't remember what we spent but it wasn't anywhere near what people are talking about it

Have to agree. We did it from Florida in 2006. Fuel amounted to <$4,000 (would probably be >$5,000 now). But even with fuel factored in, $10,000-12,000 would surely cover the average trip today. We paid for a campsite nearly every night and didn't break $10K.

Glad we did it then. We might try it again but aging and everything that comes with it waits for no man (or woman).

[EDT]

We took the trip in o9 spent 13 thousand miles from Florida and we spent nowhere near even $10,000 I don't remember what we spent but it wasn't anywhere near what people are talking about it

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[EDT]

They add about $3000 to your trip

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[garyk]

Has anyone considered any of those Rv caravans?

[MikeR]

it would cost us a bit more to get from the east coast to your starting area and then back home .... I don't know what all they did while up there but they did say they realized it would most likely be their only trip so they tried to make the most of it .... while Maureen handles the truck in our hooking up and unhooking she doesn't want to drive while towing the camper .... I've tried tell her that if I should not be able to do so, she needs to be able drive, she told me that her sons would come and get her .... the fact is, they would .... for the last few years I've had a strong mental block against driving back into Canada and that complicates things .... we've talked of towing our rig to Seattle and putting it in storage .... we would then fly or take the boat to Alaska where we would rent a small class-C .... after traveling around we would then fly or take a boat back (the opposite of what we did to get up there)

Jim

Having done our Alaska trip in 2003, I find it very hard to believe, even with inflation, that an Alaskan trip would cost 40k. Our trip costs were nowhere near that amount or their budgeted amount. We did stay mainly in state, provincial & national parks, but we did want to see Canada & Alaska, not the inside of an RV resort. We brought a canoe, so we fished on our own a lot. We did take boat trips out of Valdez & Seward also. Our trip was 11,000 miles. When we pulled in to our driveway, my wife asked if we could just turn around and go back.

Once you're in Alaska and touring, you'd be surprised how many times you go through customs for Canada and back to the U.S. Renting a class c won't keep you out of Canada.

Hopefully we will make our second trip to Alaska in 2015.

[wingnut60]

"At $0.50/mile fuel cost, you could drive the circumfrence of the earth (25,000 miles) for $12,500."

Darn it, just couldn't get my wife to let me do it...got far enough north and I had forgotten the studded snow tires.

Joe

[drfife]

At $0.50/mile fuel cost, you could drive the circumfrence of the earth (25,000 miles) for $12,500.

For the past 2 years, my fuel cost per mile was $0.35.

A $20K total budget for an Alaska trip is good, if not a bit generous.