The Alaska Highway, also known as the Alcan Highway, is a well-maintained paved road that runs 2,232 km (1,387 miles) from Dawson Creek in British Columbia to Delta Junction in Alaska. It connects with the Alaska-Canada Highway and is one of the most widely used roads to Alaska. The best driving conditions, most hours of daylight, and most visitor services can be found on the Alaska Highway from May through September. However, visitors can have a fun and safe drive along the Alaska Highway year-round with a little extra caution and advance planning.
The Alaska Highway is not completely dangerous due to its nature, weather, and lack of traffic. As long as you plan ahead and think through logistics, it’s not dangerous at all. If you approach the highway like any other casual road trip, watch out for frost heaves and slow down for warnings. Stay to the right when roads are under repair, as loose gravel on sections under repair can pose a threat.
During our time on the Alaska Highway, we saw 17 black bears, 1 grizzly bear, 3 moose, too many bison to count, 3 caribou, 4 porcupines, and 5 stone bears. The Alaska Highway has evolved from an emergency wartime road to a vital link between the giant industrial regions of the U.S. and Canada and the natural beauty of Alaska.
In summary, the Alaska Highway is a well-maintained, paved road that offers a safe and enjoyable journey to Alaska. However, visitors should be cautious and plan ahead to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
📹 WATCH THIS before you DRIVE TO ALASKA! 🇨🇦Driving though Canada on the Alaskan Highway / Alcan 🏔
Watch this before you Drive to Alaska! 10 things to know before you go, and 5 awesome pit stops that are right on the way! Driving …
Is cruising to Alaska rough?
The majority of Alaska cruises operate in the protected waters of the Inside Passage. However, ships destined for Seward, Whittier, or Anchorage must navigate the more challenging Gulf of Alaska.
Is it safe to travel to Alaska right now?
Alaska Tours is a travel company that offers travel arrangements and reservation services for travelers, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. Despite the absence of Covid-19 vaccination requirements in Alaska, fully vaccinated individuals provide security and peace of mind. Alaska Tours does not own or operate any services listed on their website and does not control the day-to-day operations or employees of tour or accommodation suppliers.
It is impossible for Alaska Tours to monitor every health and safety condition across different tours, who is or is not vaccinated, or whether individual travelers or supplier staff members will follow recommended protections.
If in doubt, travelers should review their travel plans with a health professional before booking. Travel advisories and instructions from service providers are advised, including encouraged physical distancing, enhanced sanitation, increased touchless solutions, health screening measures, and extra precautions when dining. Face masks should be worn in public and indoors, even if fully vaccinated.
How to be safe in Alaska?
It is advisable to avoid travelling alone in Alaska, given that at least one and up to multiple individuals perish each year in such circumstances. It is therefore recommended that travellers should travel in groups of one or more individuals, in order to provide mutual assistance in the event of an emergency.
Is the Alaska Highway worth it?
The Alaska Highway constituted the most memorable aspect of our journey to Alaska. It enabled us to traverse a diverse range of landscapes, including remote areas, smaller towns, distinctive attractions, and mountainous terrain, as well as to observe wildlife.
Where to sleep on the Alaska Highway?
Congdon Creek is a popular campsite on the Alaska Highway road trip, offering spacious sites, clean bathrooms, and waterfront grounds. It is known for its spacious sites and free foot massages on the gravely shores of Kluane Lake. Pine Lake, nestled near Haines Junction, offers a sandy beach and boat launch, as well as a cell service. Wolf Creek Campground, located near Haines Junction, has its own salmon enhancement project, allowing visitors to view the route of thousands of migrating Chinook salmon.
The site also features a wheelchair accessible trail through a lush boreal forest, providing a peaceful environment for nature enthusiasts. Bears are known to roam the area, so campers in tents stay within a secured area for safety.
What is the prettiest highway in Alaska?
The Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway, is a scenic drive from Anchorage that takes you southbound for the Kenai Peninsula, including the cruise ports of Seward and Whittier. The first 40 miles of the trip parallel Turnagain Arm, home to beluga whales and Dall sheep, and offers numerous trailheads. At the end of Turnagain Arm, countless alpine glaciers hang down from the peaks, making it an accessible destination.
To see Anchorage from the city, take the steeply uphill Toilsome Road, which offers a breathtaking panorama of Mount Susitna and Denali, North America’s tallest mountain. The drive ends at Glen Alps trailhead, a popular starting point for hikes in the Chugach.
The Parks Highway connects Anchorage to Denali National Park and beyond, with views of Denali often best along the first 100 miles. A detour to the mountain town of Talkeetna offers better mountain views, historic shops, and opportunities for jet boating, rafting, and flightseeing.
Is it safe to drive through Alaska?
The Alaska Highway offers the best driving conditions, most hours of daylight, and most visitor services from May through September. However, visitors can enjoy a safe and fun drive year-round with extra caution and advance planning. Winter conditions can be icy and snowy, especially in the Yukon and Interior Alaska. It is recommended to give extra time for weather and icy road conditions, and winter tires are required in British Columbia from October 1 – March 31.
Some visitor services like lodges, stores, and activities are not open in winter, so it is essential to check which services are open year-round and have a backup plan for accommodations. Emergency cold weather gear is recommended in case of car troubles and to fuel up frequently as some gas stations have limited hours in winter.
Driving in Alaska allows for endless opportunities for road trip adventures, with scenic views of towering mountains and glaciers, as well as up-close encounters with wildlife like sheep, eagles, and moose. Many popular destinations and visitor attractions in Alaska are primarily accessible by highway, making it easy to navigate by road. Driving yourself gives the freedom to explore more of Alaska’s remote towns, trails, and attractions.
Is it safe to drive around Alaska?
The Alaska Highway offers the best driving conditions, most hours of daylight, and most visitor services from May through September. However, visitors can enjoy a safe and fun drive year-round with extra caution and advance planning. Winter conditions can be icy and snowy, especially in the Yukon and Interior Alaska. It is recommended to give extra time for weather and icy road conditions, and winter tires are required in British Columbia from October 1 – March 31.
Some visitor services like lodges, stores, and activities are not open in winter, so it is essential to check which services are open year-round and have a backup plan for accommodations. Emergency cold weather gear is recommended in case of car troubles and to fuel up frequently as some gas stations have limited hours in winter.
Driving in Alaska allows for endless opportunities for road trip adventures, with scenic views of towering mountains and glaciers, as well as up-close encounters with wildlife like sheep, eagles, and moose. Many popular destinations and visitor attractions in Alaska are primarily accessible by highway, making it easy to navigate by road. Driving yourself gives the freedom to explore more of Alaska’s remote towns, trails, and attractions.
How many days does it take to drive the Alaska Highway?
The Alaska Highway takes an average driver 6-10 days to drive, depending on factors such as stopping frequency, driving speed, and desired travel time. For example, from Dawson Creek, BC to Whitehorse, Yukon, the journey took 4 days, including an extra day at Liard Hot springs. If continuing to Delta Junction, it would have taken 2 more days, totaling 7 days. The Alaska Highway offers a variety of attractions, including some of the most remote areas in North America, such as the Liard Hot springs, the Alaskan National Park, and the historic town of Dawson Creek. Some must-see stops along the highway include the Liard Hot springs, the Liard Hot springs, and the historic town of Dawson Creek.
How rough is the road to Alaska?
The Alaska Highway is paved, with surface markings like red markers or flags on the side of the road. However, rough patches, large bumps, and summer construction are still present. The highway runs from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Delta Junction, Alaska, covering 970 km/595 miles. It then enters the Yukon for 892 km/550 miles, passing through Whitehorse and crossing into Alaska at mile 1182/km 1903.
The Alcan Highway continues to Delta Junction, where it joins the Richardson Highway for the remaining 98 miles/158 km to Fairbanks AK. The Alcan Highway is a popular route for travelers, offering an incredible Alaska itinerary from 4 to 14 nights.
Is it safe to car camp in Alaska?
Sleeping in your car in Alaska is generally safe, provided you follow certain precautions. Park in designated areas, be aware of weather conditions, have proper sleeping gear, food, water supplies, and restroom facilities. Be cautious of wildlife like bears and store food and scented items securely. Hipcamp offers suitable locations for car camping in Alaska, such as Safety Cove, Sealion Cove, and Sunny Cove.
📹 Driving The Alaska (Alcan) Highway – What it’s really like!
In this video, I provide Tips for driving the Alaska Canada Highway, also known as the Alcan. The first few minutes cover important …
This article covers the drive from the north Washington Border, along the Alaska Highway through British Columbia (BC) and Yukon Territory in Canada to the town of Tok, Alaska – and also details the direction to get to the official end of the Alaska Highway in Delta Junction, which is a few hours from Tok. Thank you for keeping comments respectful. I put a lot of work into making this article from two previous trips through Canada.
very nice edition! txs good info thanks for the 10 tips we planned for two years and tag team drove the entire thing three people toke our time and did it in three to four hour stints! two spares on the roof gas on the roof flew back shiped the car sold it to a group that did the same thing. we built the car by professionals..;. we had a blast no rush drove with traffic all the way! 1992 that vehicle made two more trips …modified jeep cherokee extended top! it had a bear cage built in the back for three people ….
Hey, this is so great thank you so much because I plan to leave here. I’m in Georgia, I plan to leave here in the middle of July to head to Alaska. I’m single and I’m black and I’ve ha e my 3 dogs. I feel a little scared. I got to be honest with you, but I know that I’m not gonna let that stop me. I’ve always dreamed of going to the Yukon driving to Alaska, and I have the opportunity to do that now. Thank you so much for your article. This is gonna help me as a single woman driving this road to be safe. I really appreciate it.
Okay this a article ment for millennials. For starters i drove the Alcan back in the 90’s gps was not what we used we used a map. It was paper and it folded up, but some people never learned how to fold let alone read one. A compass helps for some. Canada still has mile post markers, and if anyone reslly learned about the Alcan is the milepost towns. They were built for rest for travellers besides a safe place. I always stopped at the mom and pop places the food was better and service to.😊
Drove all the way to Deadhorse from Montana in 2016. The roads (June) were excellent on the Alcan and Alaska routes. Only exception was road construction for several miles just south of Deadhorse; where many spring washouts were being repaired. Encountered many folks on motorcycles, bicycles, and one guy walking (not a great idea in polar bear country).
Thank you so much. I’ve been researching for a year gaining knowledge for my trip next April. I’ll be spending my 62nd birthday year in Alaska! The most wanted place to go in the US, all my life. So excited. I’ll be driving and leaving from South Dakota. Thanks for your article and going at a slower pace to take it all in!
Is this our planet ..? When seeing this vedio, I think like that .. what a beautiful environment .. i have no word to describe beauty of canada.. actually which is very beautiful .. without people empty landscapes.. mountains with snow.. wild animals .. forests.. blue colour water with rivers and lakes .. all of these things are marvellous .. i can’ t believe this is our planet.. love you (canada)…🇨🇦from🇱🇰
My brother and I drove the AlCan back around 1971; in those days the Canadian portion wasn’t paved, but it was the best dirt road I have ever seen, although REALLY DUSTY. We kept looking for the fabled bad part and never saw it. The effective speed limit was what your car’s engine could keep up all day long. The best kind of car for that was one with a big old V8 engine (not a flathead). By the time one gets a hard day’s drive out of Vancouver there isn’t much scenery; most of the way one is surrounded by skinny trees too small to get a board out of, but tall enough to block any view there might otherwise be. The highest point on the highway is near the tree line, so there is a bit of a view there. Lots of places to fish if that is your thing; I don’t know about fishing licenses. I was surprised to see the poor tires on many cars and pickups headed south as we neared Alaska. It was definitely something to do once.
I’m doing it later this May unless something special comes up that I can’t pass on. I can’t wait. I’m in Southwest, Utah now in a small old town and have been on the road for 3 months after selling my East, TX lawncare business after passing out due to the extreme heat index. I’ve met many people along this short 2 months and heard many stories. I’ve met amazing people on backpacking trails from Big Bend to Arches to the Grand Canyon. I’ve shared some beers with homeless people and spent a night around a campfire with astronomers. Life is short, you have to take risks and go outside your comfort zone, I’m only 32 but in these last 3 months I’ve learned I’ve only just started to live. Life is short, experience, empathy and knowledge in my short time experience this thing we call life are what truly matter. Edit: I’m a 2nd Amendment type and don’t carry anymore. I wouldn’t recommend picking up hitchhikers unless you can defend yourself. I’ve carried 4 hitchhikers in my life but that’s because I was armed and has my pistol next to me seatbelt, I no longer do that. It’s a risk you should be aware of. Chances are you’ll be fine 99/100 times and all those people were interesting but one was definitely concerning. You should consider this before stopping for a hitchhiker, if you’re alone it’s your risk but if you have friends or family with you then you should consider how your decisions might effect them.
Great informative article. I drove the Alcan in late June & early Sept. 2022 & gas was over $9/gal. in June. The best tip I would add to your list just below bring cash (both US & Canada) is the first stop to make when entering town is the Information Center. The people are most helpful & it is a one stop to find all the most useful info for traveling from the cheapest gas to help with making reservation for the Alaska State Ferry. Or & by the way, the Ferry was the cheapest, & most enjoyable, option for me when I left Alaska, but then my truck only gets 9mpg,.
Great article both scenic and very good information. I traveled The Alcan solo (just my 🐕 as companion) and spent 2 summers working for the Burrough schools. Most memorable vacations of my life. One mistake I made is stocking up on food before leaving WA.. Can’t take fruits / veggies or anything Canada grows into to the country. Waste of $$$ as it all was left at the border.🙄 I didn’t read beyond the NO guns laws.. never thought of fresh fruits ect.. Makes sense. They also searched every inch of my RV.. guess they couldn’t believe a woman would travel Alone without a weapon. I told RCMP I had left my hand guns in lock-up @ RV Park in WA as I knew the laws in CA was NO guns.
Don’t be shy about saying “British Columbia” instead of Canada, LOL. And of course the Alaska (or Alaskan or Alcan) highway doesn’t begin until Dawson Creek, so no need to call Highway 1 in BC’s Fraser Valley “the Alaska Highway.” There, I feel better now. I’m happy to live in that big speed bump between “WA” and “AK” 🙂 Comment given in good silly BC fun, eh.
I all ways wanted to do a trip to Alaska to go fishing with a friend this article sure has me convinced now about doing it we live in Washington sate thanks a lot I’m for sure going to talk about with him. The only thing I have to ask how do we our hand gun to protect us from the bears while we fish through Canada
Hi, I am planning to go to Alsaka by ferry and take my Toyota Corolla. we are a couple and Mulsim, don’t know, could find Halal Food in Alaska or on the way back to Vancouver. I intend to drive through Danile National Park and then FairBank before we could start our return drive through, yokan and BC. Any suggestion about if I carry or buy from Anchorage our food, keep it in Ice Box, and get warm at various stops along the way.