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01-25-2023, 12:33 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 3
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Rv to Alaska
I am planning a trip to Alaska pulling a 26’ camper. Leaving from Maryland. I’ve planned a route to Montana, Glacier and north to Banff, Jasper then to the Alaska highway. My issue is trying to reserve some camping places in the more popular areas and not wanting to always keep to a schedule. The question I have is do I need to book ahead in places like Banff, Jasper area and Denali NP area or can I wing it and will I be able to find openings. When my wife and I stay in an area 3-4 days we like to have full hookups so that is the issue and my question. How loose can we be with a schedule driving up to Alaska ? Thank you
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01-25-2023, 12:41 PM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182
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We are going to Glacier National Park in September, and I can tell you this is a very popular area with not many campgrounds. You should at least reserve in this area as soon as you can.
I can’t give advice on further North than Glacier, others will hopefully chime in …..
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01-25-2023, 02:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bermuda Islands
Posts: 1,459
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Book Banff & Jasper ASAP. Hugely popular. Spectacular scenery. Better than Colorado Rockies. May 24th is a big Canadian holiday. The whole country shuts down & goes camping. You might think about entering Canada after that date.
__________________
Home: Bermuda
US RV base, MD
2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
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01-25-2023, 02:24 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 13
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You usually do not need reservations North of Edmonton, Alberta. Take your time and call for a reservation based on your travel schedule for the day. There are many places to boondock. If you want power, water, or a dump you can call that day and usually get a reservation. Even if they do not have a hook up site available you will be welcome to camp in their parking lot. Plan a stop at Liard Hot Springs. They have a truck parking area/overflow that you may boondock over night. (Note: Their official camping sites are primitive so you don't gain anything more than being closer to the spring.)
I don't know how crowded the campgrounds are at Denali National Park but there are commercial campgrounds close by that have had availability in the past. Call for reservations when you have a good idea of your arrival. Happy travels!
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01-25-2023, 02:47 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,637
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We did Jasper/Banff/Glacier on our way home in Sept. without reservations and also the trails were free of snow at that time. Also, Glacier's Going to the Sun Hwy (a must) doesn't get cleared of snow fast in the spring/early summer. We took Cassier Hwy to return; Alaska Hwy going up.
The only reservations we made for the whole trip were for Denali Nat'l Park in August and for the July 4 weekend. (Alaskans like to camp, also!) July 4 was made a few weeks prior.
I would now recommend reservations for Seward - the city park is very nice. Also, if you want to avoid crowds there, don't be there on the July 4 weekend. We stayed in the Anchorage area and did Seward & Homer after the holiday.
We stayed in Denali itself (highly recommended). We spent 5 nights at Teklanika campground and 5 nights at Riley Creek campground and we were busy each hour.... so much to see & do. We also saw THE mountain 7 of 10 days. Some never see it if only counting on a day or two.
For Denali we made the reservation for Teklanika in August about 3 weeks prior when we could better judge when we'd be in the area. As it turned out, we were early so on a whim we boondocked at a beautiful spot near the park & just drove in early morning. We easily secured a site for the 5 nights at Riley Creek. If staying at Teklanika be sure to purchase a TEK bus pass which will allow you to use it all day long for the time you're there. Sometimes we just took it for an hour or so; got off and just walked the road..... so very quiet in this huge expanse. Then we caught the next bus passing by. You don't need reservations to do this. Also, the bus stops right at the campground. Once at that campground you can't drive your own vehicle anymore. You need to take the bus. This campground is the farthest in the park that you can drive. Highly recommended! We saw every one of the big 5 animals in the park... more than once.
Other than those we easily got sites as we traveled. We loved the awesome boondocking spots and public campgrounds. If you do RV parks without reservations I'd advise pulling in around 1-2pm before the caravans & groups arrive.
Another hint.... do your siteseeing along the drive. Don't try to park and then backtrack to areas. Distances are too far. This way you can stop at a few places to explore and then get your site when you're ready to call it a day.
Don't count on long driving days. Take your time and really enjoy the areas. Stop at the small town visitor's centers for 'what to do/see'.
The Milepost is great for history and maps. We took turns driving and read to each other out of it as we came to things of interest.
If you can swing it I'd recommend you plan to cross into Canada the end of May and leave Alaska for your return the end of August.
If taking the Cassier for your return be sure to stop at Hyder to watch the bears fish. Mid to late August is a good time for this.
There have been many good posts on this site over the last few years. Explore them for lots of good hints.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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01-25-2023, 02:56 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 672
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clevinmd
I am planning a trip to Alaska pulling a 26’ camper. Leaving from Maryland. I’ve planned a route to Montana, Glacier and north to Banff, Jasper then to the Alaska highway. My issue is trying to reserve some camping places in the more popular areas and not wanting to always keep to a schedule. The question I have is do I need to book ahead in places like Banff, Jasper area and Denali NP area or can I wing it and will I be able to find openings. When my wife and I stay in an area 3-4 days we like to have full hookups so that is the issue and my question. How loose can we be with a schedule driving up to Alaska ? Thank you
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Depending on when you go? I went last year towing a 26ft around the last week of May and found hookups in both Banff and Jasper NP's with only a day notice. But weren't many left. On way back in Aug. it was tougher. If you need full hookups I would reserve something at Banff and Jasper, and I hate to say that because I love to wing it. If you wing it, just be prepared to stay a night or two at Icefields visitor center without hookups. Plenty of room to drycamp there.
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01-29-2023, 07:20 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bermuda Islands
Posts: 1,459
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Planning our fifth trip to Alaska this year. Think this one really will be the last one.
Also departing from MD. Don't know departure date but could be late April to early May. Have a pretty good idea of route but no reservations & none, if any, will be made more than a few days away. As suggested, none will be made at all past Edmonton.
Since you can never be sure of CG, with full hook ups availability we always travel with prepared for at least two nights of dry camping freshwater in the tank. Always have one full bottle of propane. Always have plenty of drinking water.
You are not going to the dark side of the moon but once past Dawson Creek things get less developed. The next Walmart is Whitehorse.
BTW, if you look at MD to Homer AK, Edmonton is only halfway. Canada is a very big place.
__________________
Home: Bermuda
US RV base, MD
2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
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01-29-2023, 07:36 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Posts: 967
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pasdad1
We are going to Glacier National Park in September, and I can tell you this is a very popular area with not many campgrounds. You should at least reserve in this area as soon as you can.…..
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X2. I booked a private popular park just outside of Glacier in early December 2022 for early August 2023.
I usually book in December for the next season but I booked Rafter J Bar Ranch Hill City SD the day they opened for reservations in November 2022 for the 2023 season (they open for Sturgis reservations earlier)
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02-11-2023, 10:59 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 3
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Alaska her we come
Thank you for the replies regarding Alaska.
We are leaving MD mid June heading to Yellowstone, Glacier onto Banff, Jasper by mid July. From there leaving the schedule open so we don’t feel rushed in any way.
There is so much, at times it seems overwhelming. I would love to hear snippets of places, sites, views, sleeping areas etc. along the Alaskan highway, and onward.
Thanks in advance for sharing
Claudio
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02-11-2023, 10:03 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,637
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clevinmd
There is so much, at times it seems overwhelming. I would love to hear snippets of places, sites, views, sleeping areas etc. along the Alaskan highway, and onward.
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Probably the very best thing to do is to order the Milepost right now and start reading. It is the very best resource for what to see and do along the way along with maps. Also, read some of the previous posts to get more information.
The Alaskan Hwy changes every year.... some things will be closed down, including service stations so always drive on the top half of your tank and don't try to search for the cheapest fuel. Some years there are floods, fires and always road repairs. Best not to plan a tight schedule because it may be difficult to keep.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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02-19-2023, 04:26 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 3
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Having trouble booking Banff and Jasper Website states new version coming and cannot make reservations till March 13. All the nearby campgrounds take you to the same site and can’t even set up log in till March 3!
Is there another way to get reservations at these sites?
Thanks
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02-19-2023, 09:51 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,637
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clevinmd
Having trouble booking Banff and Jasper Website states new version coming and cannot make reservations till March 13. All the nearby campgrounds take you to the same site and can’t even set up log in till March 3!
Is there another way to get reservations at these sites?
Thanks
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There doesn't seem like another way, unfortunately.
There's ph# given on this page you could try but if the new system won't be up and running until March then reservation by phone probably won't work either.
If reservations for going up seem impossible then try for when you return from Alaska.
https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/reserve
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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