Alaska Info Needed

[puddintang]

We also are planning a trip for June-July 2012 from Georgia. I have heard some comments about pull offs on the side of highways for boondocking in Alaska, anyone have any details about this? Also can anyone speak for the need of reservations at campgrounds? We kinda did not want to have a set schedule to anywhere at any certain time.
Thanks,
Puddintang

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddintang We also are planning a trip for June-July 2012 from Georgia. I have heard some comments about pull offs on the side of highways for boondocking in Alaska, anyone have any details about this? Also can anyone speak for the need of reservations at campgrounds? We kinda did not want to have a set schedule to anywhere at any certain time. Thanks, Puddintang

Buy the book called " mile post". It was invaluable to our trip in 2004. We never made reservations and although there are plenty of places to pull over and camp, we always used cg's. You will not regret the trip.

[greenskeeper]

we were there last year, we only used campgrounds when we needed to empty or needed water.............. there are tons of roadside parking areas, we used them all the time, until new water or emptying tanks......... never used reservations one time on the entire trip. just dont need them, lots of room anywhere we went... enjoy, we spent 2 full months and drove 7500 miles,,,,,,,,, not enough time to see all, thinking about going back next year.............

[RJay]

The Alcan Highway which officially starts in Dawson Creek, BC is rich with pullouts with some having portapotty facilities. Route 97 into Dawson Creek also has many convenient pullouts. cliff's suggestion of the Book/magazine "Milepost" is a good one and details by mile marker anything you may want to know is on a particular highway. You should have no worry about stopping at any of these pullouts.

[Ray,IN]

There are several ongoing threads about an Alaska trip:
North to Alaska
Alaska Trip
Alaska-there and back
There is a wealth of information here about visiting Alaska. Use the search feature at page top to find even more threads.
We have been reading every thread in anticipation of our first trip to Alaska. We have decided we will sign up with Alaskan Discovery RV tours for our first trip, even though we do not like to caravan. There is so much to see and do it has overwhelmed us, thus the tour booking.

[new rver]

we were there this summer so much loved every bit of trip. lots of info hear on this site.mile post for sure and learn how to read it. we went a diferent route but used it as a guide. we had no reservation no prob.only spot that was prop kenai pennisula during a salmon run.but drove threw it found place for night.have good time drive slow injoy
safe travles bob linda & missy

[Tom-NC]

Hi, I'll agree with everything said so far and there is no need for reservations. We went in 2010 and drove from NC and it was 11,361 miles round trip.
THe only thing I will say is if the weather is rainy when you are in Dawson City DON"T take the top of the world highway to TOK,AK. Go back the way you came and take the Alcan to TOK. Someone almost lost a 40' off the mountain and the mud is very hard to get off RV. It is full of potholes too.
Enjoy Alaska and Milepost is a must. There is a lot to see so take your time. We took 3 months.

Enjoy!

[sdennislee]

Boondocling in AK is easy, any wide spot in the road works. The real advantage to boondocking is you can pick some spectacular views to wake up to each morning. State parks have a fee, put your money in the envelope and stick it in the box. One word of caution on boondocking don't pick spots surrounded by muskeg. The no-see-ums will eat you alive. This makes the Richardson Hwy north of the Glenn Hwy a hard spot to find bug free camping. Once past Delta Junction on the RIchardson you will find semi bug free camping.

Mile Post is an absolute must. I live here and use Mile Post all the time. It doesn't need to be the latest version. 2009 is still a great version.

Reservations would only be needed in areas with limited CGs like Valdez only 2 right in town. Both offer great views of eagles. Seward has one right in town on Resurrection Bay. The are a couple between Seward and Exit Glacier. Plenty most every where else. If you are comfortable with boondocking all will be fine.

If you need any specific information let me know.

[new rver]

love talking about alaska. top of the world hwy we were there when that dp went off the road .if you want to drive fast like over 35 mph don't take it. but you will miss so much when we started over the youkon river it felt like you were in the clouds. it took us 6 hours to go 100 miles no prob stop at chicken rainy, my advise watch the weather than go. drive slow. in tok at tok rv seen bent axles laying on ground bill the owner good guy got oil changed there. injoy
safe travles bob.linda & missy

[LindaH]

We've been to Alaska twice and did not make advanced reservations either time...that applies to both RV parks and tours. As long as you stop early enough in the day (we're usually off the road by 2 or 3 and always by 4), you'll be able to find a place to stay. Reservations are a good idea (probably a necessity) if you are planning on staying at one of the campground INSIDE Denali NP; otherwise, just wing it.

As for the tours we took, in all cases, we were able to go down to the booking office the day we arrived and book a tour for the next day. This might not be a good idea if you're on a time schedule, but we had the entire summer for the trip.

Our favorite pull off in Alaska was a huge one just north of the entrance to Denali NP which sits up off the river.

[Ray,IN]

Here is the online Travel Alaska guide if it helps with your planning.

[lakewoodpaul]

Quote:

Originally Posted by new rver love talking about alaska. top of the world hwy we were there when that dp went off the road .if you want to drive fast like over 35 mph don't take it. but you will miss so much when we started over the youkon river it felt like you were in the clouds. it took us 6 hours to go 100 miles no prob stop at chicken rainy, my advise watch the weather than go. drive slow. in tok at tok rv seen bent axles laying on ground bill the owner good guy got oil changed there. injoy safe travles bob.linda & missy

HAVE TO AGREE, We did the Top of world twice, It is an experience not to miss You will love the ferry over the Yukon river! And you will get to see Chicken and if you are adventurous Eagle Ak. Like he says just go slow. There is a campground in Tok where you can wash your rig [if it needs it] we plan on doing it again this year again.

[Downsizer]

Great experience driving/visiting Alaska. Top of the World Highway is like driving over a serious washboard for miles... as a driver, hard to enjoy views... too busy trying to navigate horrible roads. If you go there, just be mentally prepared for a really tough ride on you and your RV!! Beautiful country + Canada so worth the trip as well!

[LKicklight]

We are planning our trip right now for April 2013, so we too are gathering all the information we can. Our thoughts run along the way of caravan, just because it is better for a first timer I'm told. If we like the trip, we can always go back solo next time. Drop us a line, maybe we can confer on our notes with yours and both reach a decision that will be of use to us.
LKicklight@aol.com
Randy and Cheryl
2011 Crusader 5'er

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddintang We also are planning a trip for June-July 2012 from Georgia. I have heard some comments about pull offs on the side of highways for boondocking in Alaska, anyone have any details about this? Also can anyone speak for the need of reservations at campgrounds? We kinda did not want to have a set schedule to anywhere at any certain time. Thanks, Puddintang