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Walter W · 03-23-2023, 05:55 PM

We are leaving for a trip to Homer Alaska starting April 25. We want to see Mt Rushmore. We are wanting suggestions as to what other travelers wanted to see on the way. We are going to take a month for this trip. Suggestions as to roads etc. any and all suggestions are appreciated. We are in a 2007 38s Fleetwood Bounder with a 300 HP cat with toad!

Arch Hoagland · 03-23-2023, 06:39 PM

That's about an 8,000 mile trip. Not much time to see anything other than pavement.

At 50 miles per hour on average that's 160 hours of driving time.

You are going to see a lot of road construction along the way I'm sure.

drdit92 · 03-23-2023, 06:56 PM

A month???? All you'll be able to do is drive. I went and had the luxury of an entire month in Alaska. Getting there and back takes days and days. You can't drive 55 on Alaskan roads. You'll tear yourself apart.

rk911 · 03-23-2023, 07:03 PM

Arch is right. at a minimum add at least two-additional weeks for this trip. your *average* speed on the interstates will be 50-55mph at best (traffic, stops to eat, fuel). 4K miles one way at 50-mph is ~80-hrs of driving.

and unless all you want to see at Rushmore is Rushmore you're going to want to spend at least a week in the Hills. Mt. Rushmore, Needles Highway, Custer State Park, Mammoth Dig and much, much, much more.

jacwjames · 03-23-2023, 07:32 PM

We drove from E TN to the Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, up the Canadian Rockies, drove the Al Can Hwy into AK, this took us over a month.

Spent a month in AK. Homer, Anchorage, Talkitna, Denali, Fairbanks, then back down to get back to Canada. Stopped at places along way.

Then down the Cassiar Hwy, going out of the way to Hyder for bear viewing, then down to Vancouver and crossed into the USA. Spent another month in Washington, Oregon, and into California wine country. Then home but drove up into Colorado and across (just because).
In all we were on the road 3.5 months. At the time we did not pull a toad, if we did we would have spent more time on side excursions.

So IMHO, a month will be pushing you to nothing but drive. No smelling of the roses, wondering which fork in the road you should take, or just relaxing.

One of the most memorable things we did was sit on the beach at a campground on the Cook Inlet and viewing the boats, birds (eagles galore) and the mountains on the other side. Lost track of time and it was 3AM since the sun didn't set. Never would have done that if we didn't stop and smell the roses.

twogypsies · 03-23-2023, 10:57 PM

April 25 is too early to head north! Things will still be closed and ice will be on the lakes; possibly snow. It's generally accepted that one should plan on crossing into Canada around the 3rd week of May. Also, plan to to spend 3 months doing your trip. How often will you do this? There is a lot to see and do in Canada and the Yukon even before getting to Alaska. Hopefully, this post will be moved to the Alaska section. Also, there are many, many past posts in the Alaska section on the subject that will give you excellent information.

Buy the Milepost for maps and history along the road. We took turns driving and the other would read from it as we traveled.

Buy the TourSaver 2/1 Coupon Book. One activity will pay for the book and you'll want to do at least one glacier tour. We did them out of Valdez and also Seward.

If you can find a reasonably-priced edition of Mike and Terry Church's Alaskan Camping book it is awesome. It not only includes Alaska but also Yukon, Canada and the borders in the U.S. It includes RV parks, public campgrounds and boondocking spots. I believe it isn't going to be updated anymore but it would still be worthwhile as most of the things won't change.

Jayco1 · 03-25-2023, 12:56 PM

All you'll be able to do is drive

twogypsies · 03-25-2023, 06:12 PM

I wish the OP would return and let us know his definite plans and why only going to Homer and that early in the season. If that's his only destination then yes, it's doable..... but won't be as pleasant as taking his time and enjoying the trip.

Walter W · 03-26-2023, 06:03 PM

Been with sick wife and could not respond until now. We are going to grandson’s wedding May 24 in Homer AK. Hoping weather will be decent. We know that we will be mostly driving but need to go.

drdit92 · 03-26-2023, 08:54 PM

Why not fly to Anchorage? You could rent an RV or a car. There are some nice Air BnBs in Homer. Way easier than driving for several weeks with few breaks.

Triangle Drifter · 03-28-2023, 02:26 PM

WOW! That is nothing but driving.

Also headed to Alaska this year. Also Homer as furthest point. Starting point is MD. Also departing at the end of April.

Here is where the difference is. Returning to eastern MD around mid October. No plans to depart AK until towards the end of August. Estimating 6-8 weeks actually IN AK leaving plenty of time for western Canada, a very big place.