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2019 NEXUS PHANTOM 31P STOCK # 18MH-1929

2019 NEXUS PHANTOM 25P STOCK # 18MH-1962

• Travel Trailer

2022 KEYSTONE PASSPORT 2401BHWE STOCK# 22TT-103 MSRP $58,549.00

2022 keystone passport 2951bhwe stock # 22tt-080 msrp $62,907.00.

2022 FOREST RIVER WILDWOOD FSX 167RB STOCK# 22TT-025 MSRP $ 35,567.00

2022 FOREST RIVER WILDWOOD FSX 251SSXL STOCK# 22TT-027 MSRP $56,963.00

2023 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT SLX 184BS STOCK # 22TT-166

2022 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT 224BHW SLX 8 STOCK #22TT-107 MSRP $46,427.00

2022 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT SLX 7 195RB STOCK # 22TT-127 MSRP $35,866.00

2022 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT 174BH SLX STOCK #22TT-110 MSRP $35,475.00

2022 COACHMAN FREEDOM EXPRESS ULTRA LITE 294BHDS STOCK #22TT-061 MSRP $64,772.00

2022 KEYSTONE PASSPORT SL 229RK STOCK # 22TT-064 MSRP $50,114.00

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8103 Old Seward Hwy Anchorage, AK 99518

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Camper Valley

Wasilla, AK

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(907) 376-8100

Camper Valley RV Has A New Parts Store & A FIVE BAY SERVICE CENTER

Welcome to camper valley rv.

Camper Valley RV has the best selection of new and used RVs in the state of Alaska. Our No-Pressure sales team has over 30 years of combined RV sales experience and are ready to help you select the perfect RV to fit your needs. Alaskan owned and operated, we are RV enthusiasts ready to make your dreams come true!

Need to sell an RV? Camper Valley RV Park & Sell takes all the work out of turning your RV into CA$H! Whether you are looking to buy or sell, visit Camper Valley RV today!

Our inventory is continuously moving so check back often. Browse our inventory online or visit us today!

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23 CIRRUS 620 TRUCK CAMPER

ON SALE! 23 THOR ACE 32B (BUNKHOUSE) CLASS A MOTORHOME MSRP $203,618 SALE PRICE $149,995

ON SALE! 23 THOR HURRICANE 34R CLASS A MOTORHOME MSRP $234,038 SALE PRICE $189,995

Outdoors RV Informational Videos

ON SALE! 23 SONIC X 211 VDBX TRAVEL TRAILER MSRP $82,156 SALE PRICE $59,995

ON SALE! 22 NORTH TRAIL 22RKSS TRAVEL TRAILER MSRP $65,700 SALE PRICE $39,995

ON SALE! 22 PROWLER 212 RD TRAVEL TRAILER SALE PRICE $34,995

The outdoors rv difference.

Are you in the market for a new travel trailer or 5th wheel? Camper Valley RV has Four Season units in stock today. If you are wondering what the benefits are, of owning a Four Seasons travel trailer or 5th wheel, here are some standard features that come with all Outdoors RV units.

All Outdoors RV units come standard with a True Four Seasons insulation that starts with 2" thick vacuumed bonded hard fiberglass exterior walls all around and fully enclosed, heated and triple insulated holding tanks. All the holding tanks are fully enclosed with weather shield material and above that a complete layer of R-15 insulation is run front to back inside the underbelly. Each tank is then wrapped again with a layer of R-15 insulation the sewer dump valves are re-routed inside the heated underbelly, so no fluids are exposed underneath. Next a 12-volt heat pad is placed on the freshwater tank and 2 layers of thick R-7 blanket fiberglass insulation is placed on top of the under belly and heat is ducted from the furnace to all the tanks and dump valves! Most manufacturers only enclose the underbelly with a black weather shield barrier and claim to be 4 seasons with no insulation or heat ducted to the underbelly and the dump valves and fluids are hanging underneath the trailer exposed to the elements!

All Outdoors RV units have standard Dual Pane Thermal Insulated Mountain Extreme windows vs a single pane glass on most trailers. The roof has a triple layer R-29 insulation barrier to keep the heat inside the trailer. The slide out floor is also fully enclosed with Hard fiberglass vs. black tarp used on most trailers with marine grade plywood sub floor and a layer of R-15 insulation under the carpet with 5 slide out seals vs. 2-3 on most trailers. The marine grade plywood sub floor is covered with TREXX vinyl flooring that has a cold crack warranty down to -50 below zero as most thin vinyl flooring used by most manufactures today will crack under extreme weather conditions.

All Outdoors RV trailers are sitting on a custom-built Off-Road Chassis that is custom built per floor plan for maximum ground clearance and a smoother ride on our rough Alaskan roads. First are the Good year 10 ply E rated and above tires that are made in the USA and a Mor-Ryde Cree Shackle kit that gives you 3" more travel on rough roads with grease points and 4 Monroe HD shock absorbers in addition to heavy duty spring stacks and a off road braking system. The interiors are also quality with real hard Alder wood cabinets, LED lights,12-volt LED TV's, upgraded quality interiors and more! This is a Brand you need to see in person so come see them today!

Purchase your RV today at Camper Valley!!

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Welcome to Dependable RV

We are more than just a dealership.

Welcome to Dependable RV, located in Anchorage, AK, where quality service and customer satisfaction come first. We are here to help you find your dream RV or camper that fits your lifestyle. We pride ourselves on a hassle-free RV and camper buying experience where your needs come first. Swing by to let us exceed your expectations while finding the perfect RV or camper for your needs!

Dependable RV sells campers and RVs at some of the lowest prices around as well focus on high quality and low overhead. We keep overhead low which passes the savings onto you, the buyer. Check out our current inventory online or call us to schedule a walk through today!

We work with customers from all over the area, including; Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, Willow, Talkeetna, Kenai, Seward, Homer, Whittier, Valdez, Cordova, McCarthy, Willow Creek, Copper Center, Glennallen, Gakona, Paxson, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, North Pole, Healy, McKinley Park, Cantwell, Beluga, Skwentna, Petersville, Crooked Creek, Tanana, Nome, Galena, Eagle River, Soldotna, Tok, Copper Center, Denali Park, Kodiak, Haines, Prudhoe Bay, Barrow and everywhere in between! Call us at (907) 344-4337 with any inquiries or to schedule a time to visit!

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Travel Trailers for sale in Anchorage, Alaska

2017 Keystone SPRINGDALE 303BHSS

Anchorage, Alaska

Make Keystone

Model SPRINGDALE 303BHSS

Category Travel Trailers

Posted Over 1 Month

Huge bunkroom. 2 big slides. Outdoor kitchen. ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES!  Plenty of room inside on a rainy day.

2017 Sunset SUNRAY 109

Make Sunset

Model SUNRAY 109

ONLY 900 LBS. DRY!!! Just the basics, Queen bed inside, heat and AC. Everything else is in the rear (flip up door) Microwave, 2 burner cook stove, stereo,sink. Outdoor speakers and storage.THIS IS THE LIGHTEST CAMPING TRAILER IN ALASKA, LIGHTER THAN MOST TENT TRAILERS.We have 6 left on the lot, prices vary slightly between the units.

2017 Keystone Passport 2810 BH

Model Passport 2810 BH

One of our most popular bunk models. With the large super slide, plenty of room inside on those bad weather days. Automatic awning, ac. The 2nd door to the bathroom serves as a mud room. Ask about our winter pricing, NO BETTER TIME TO BUY !!!

2017 Keystone Passport 3320 BH

Model Passport 3320 BH

Super large bunkroom, outdoor kitchen, You can sleep 10-12 comfortably in this unit. The slide in the bunkroom really opens it up. Ask for winter pricing!!!

2017 Jayco J flight Baja seris 154bh

Model J Flight Baja Seris 154bh

new 2017? Jayco 154bh one of the smallest units you can get and still sleep 3-4 in comfort, perfect for a smaller truck, loaded 3200 lbs wet! see it at ABC motorhomes 5550 Old Seward hwy. s:// /products/travel-trailers/2017-jay-flight-slx/154bh/

2017 Sunset Park & Rv Inc. sunray 109

Make Sunset Park & Rv Inc.

Model Sunray 109

New 2017! sunray tow behinds, a new concept for ABC Motorhomes located at 5550 Old Seward hwy, we have one in Camo, and 2 other color options, small but towable by nearly anything!

2017 Keystone Passport 2200 RB

Model Passport 2200 RB

This is one of the lightest trailers we have with a slide-out. Automatic awning and lots of creature comforts. Passport is one of our top sellers because of the quality, price and light enough to pull behind smaller trucks.

2017 Keystone SPRINGDALE189FL

Model SPRINGDALE189FL

Nice bunk unit small, light with all the amenities, porcelain toilet, power awning and a whopping 60 gallon fresh water tank. Extra large propane tanks too, largest in the industry. Now is the time to buy............make an offer.

2016 Keystone PASSPORT 195

Model PASSPORT 195

One of the few leftover 2016 models on the lot! ASK FOR BEST PRICE!!! It's a nice light trailer with every feature you'd want.

2017 Keystone PASSPORT 2670BH

Model PASSPORT 2670BH

OUR MOST POPULAR FLOOR PLAN!!! The quality in the passport is outstanding!!! Featuring a super slide, automatic awning, outdoor kitchen and much more. Come in and see it before it's gone.

2016 Keystone SPRINGDALE267

Model SPRINGDALE267

One of our most popular models. This unit has lots of extras. Auto stabilizers, auto awning, porcelain toilet, auto jack, outdoor speakers and outdoor shower and much more. This is our last one so come and see it! And of course you get the Springdale quality you expect in a Keystone product.

2017 Keystone PASSPORT 234QBWE

Model PASSPORT 234QBWE

180 DEGREE VISION WITH BIG WINDOWS! ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR FLOOR PLANS. ALL THE EXTRAS, AC, POWER AWNING, UPGRADED FURNACE, WELL INSULATED AND SUPER LIGHT WEIGHT. 4,000 LBS DRY SO CAN BE TOWED BY A LIGHT HALF TON TRUCK.

2017 Keystone PASSPORT 195

TRAILER HAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY WANT, AUTOMATIC AWNING, AC, UPGRADED FURNACE, WELL INSULATED, AND HAS A ROOMY INTERIOR.

2017 Jayco 267bhsw

Model 267bhsw

Sleeps up to 9

2017 Jayco 145rb

Model 145rb

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Motorhome Rentals

Great Alaskan Holidays is Alaska’s Premier Motorhome Rental Company for over 38 years! Located in Anchorage, we provide premium quality motorhome rentals at great low prices.  Our RV Rental comes standard with the basic outfitting you need for your trip.  We also rent a wide selection of extra rental items such as lawn chairs and propane BBQs to make your trip more comfortable and memorable. If you are looking to rent a motorhome in Alaska, we provide every service to help make your next adventure a Great Alaskan Holiday!  Please consider us for your next of first Alaska vacation.

Motorhome Sales & Service

We are Alaska’s Premier Winnebago RV dealership.  View our in-stock selection of new and certified pre-owned motorhomes for sale in Anchorage.  We are also an authorized Ford warranty service center specializing in RV repair and service.  Are certified technicians have the experience you need to repair or upgrade your RV.  Our RV parts department stocks many common items that help keep you on the road all summer long.  Come visit our showroom to see all Great Alaskan Holidays has to offer.

From 1 to 8 Passengers, we have you covered with a great selection of Class C floorplans to rent .  We own our entire fleet of modern motorhomes, no third-parties and no “Leaseback” motorhomes ever!  You can choose from our premium new motorhomes, purchased new every year in May, or our deluxe late models with low mileage, professionally maintained, professionally cleaned, and stocked just right for your Alaskan vacation.

Trip Planning

Alaska must be discovered slowly – one adventure at a time. Touring by motorhome gives you the freedom to explore a roadside glacier, linger a while longer to talk fishing with the locals, or take time for a little side road adventure.  Check out our sample itineraries, view our recommended campgrounds list, or explore the many adventures and excursions Alaska has to offer.  Make the most of your visit to Alaska and plan your trip today !

Our goal is to always provide a premium rental experience and the most value for your money.  We include standard outfitting such as linens, towels, dishes, and cookware for the first two passengers at no additional cost.  We also offer a full line of quality RV outfitting amenities and extras to make your motor home experience feel like being at home.  Click below to find out more about what is included in your Alaska RV Rental.

Our Customers Say It Best

Ever once in a while you come across a company that is very well run and knows how to cater to their customer base, this is one of those company’s. We were treated like royalty from the moment we started to communicate with them to the time we turned our RV in after a 3 week adventure. Congratulations to the Great Alaskan Holidays staff for being a joy to deal with.

John T. from Grand Haven, Michigan

Absolutely outstanding RV company in Alaska! From start to finish, their service was impeccable. They guided us seamlessly through the rental process and ensured we had the best RV experience possible. The RV itself was in pristine condition, equipped with everything we needed. 10/10, would choose them again for my next Alaskan adventure!

Sridhar B. from Aldie, Virginia

AWESOME… from the very start, everything about Great Alaskan Holiday was perfect. Reservation was simple and the staff was helpful and easy to work with. The cost was reasonable and competitive. The equipment was newer and we always felt safe and secure. There were no hidden fees or surprises when we returned the motorhome. Thank you GAH for the wonderful memories!

Jeff D. from The Dalles, Oregon

Browse our inventory of New and Pre-Owned Class A, Class B, and Class C motorhomes.  Our Certified Pre-Owned motorhomes for sale provide great value for a first time RV buyer.  We are Alaska’s exclusive full service Winnebago Dealership, and our friendly experienced sales team is here to ensure you find the perfect RV for your family!

We stock many common RV Parts and can order anything your need or want for your RV or Travel Trailer.  Upgrade your RV today by adding Solar Panels to go off-gird longer or a backup camera for easy parking.  Let are Parts experts help you find the RV accessories just right for your RV.  Ask us about direct shipping to you!

Our Service Department is staffed with certified technicians that can help you to maintain and if needed repair your motorhome to keep you on the road!  From Winterizations to full repair jobs, we can service your motorhome right in our Winnebago & Ford® Fleet Warranty Station.    Call us to schedule your service appointment Today.

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RV Trip To Alaska – The Ultimate Planning Guide (2022 Update)

February 9, 2022 January 31, 2022 | Christopher Harvey

Last Updated on February 9, 2022 by Chris and Lindsay

Note: As of this update, travel to Alaska has been restricted due to border control between Canada and the US. It is still possible to plan your RV trip to Alaska. But you should be sure that your plans coincide with what is legally permissible at this point. Be sure to check with each government to determine the exact policies. However, as of January 2022 it appears that you may cross to/from the US/Canadian border with proof of vaccination.

An RV trip to Alaska is one of the best travel adventures you can have in life! From its rugged and raw landscapes to the vast wildlife and the many opportunities to explore the great outdoors, Alaska has much to offer by way of adventure! 

For this, and many other reasons, Alaska’s nickname as the “Last Frontier” is quite suitable. But this feeling of wilderness and solitude will ultimately help you appreciate your time in Alaska all the more. 

Our Guide to RVing to Alaska is tailored to those of you who own your own RV and will be making the drive to Alaska from the Lower 48 US states. Whether you live in a van , trailer or motorhome, there is so much to see and do in driving the Alaska Highway both to and from Alaska. 

But if you plan to fly into Fairbanks or Anchorage and rent an RV there , you are not alone. This Guide will also help you plan your trip too. 

Regardless of your experience, planning an RV trip to Alaska can seem overwhelming. Most of the state is nearly two thousand miles from the closest border town in the Lower 48. You will cross an international border. And at times there will be vast stretches of highway where there are little to no signs of civilization. 

Embrace this! And use our Guide to RVing to Alaska to help you plan the safest, most comfortable journey as you embark on your drive to Alaska!

Ultimate Guide To Planning Your RV Trip To Alaska

Alaska has only been a US state since 1959. As such, the land is still raw and rugged and ripe for exploration! In fact, there is still a waning generation of original homesteaders who can share stories of their adventures to carve out a small piece of the state for themselves. 

People plan RV trips to Alaska for many reasons. So depending on your reasons, this Guide to RVing Alaska will help you determine the best time, driving itinerary and things to see and do. 

Best Time to Drive to Alaska

If you dream of making an RV trip to Alaska then there is no bad time to go! But as you can imagine, there are definitely better times of the year to visit Alaska. 

Because of its northern latitude, Alaska experiences longer periods of daylight and darkness at different times of the year. For this reason, most people take their RV trip to Alaska during the summer months. During this time the sunlight is ample (you can experience 24 hours of daylight north of the Arctic Circle when summer begins).

Wildlife is incredibly active during the summer months. And you can expect very mild temperatures for the duration of your journey. 

We recommend that you plan your RV trip to Alaska for the time between June and August . This will be the busiest time of year for all travelers.

But Alaska is so large that you will hardly worry about the crowds anywhere you visit during this time. And if you are worried about the crowds, you can hedge your trip on either side of the summer.

Temperatures are still low and warming during the spring. And you are very likely to see snow almost everywhere you travel. In September the daylight hours begin to drastically drop, as do temperatures. 

But if you enjoy winter sports and/or want to see the Northern Lights then September is the absolute earliest that you should plan to drive to Alaska. Just know that different highway rules and safety guidelines operate beginning in October.

You will want to be aware of the requirements for snow tires/chains as well as road closures and limited opportunities for fuel and food. 

Length of Trip

Alaska is beautiful at any time of year. But due to the distance and time required to drive your RV to Alaska, many people become daunted by the journey.

It’s true, if you only have a two-week vacation in which to complete your drive to Alaska you are not going to fully experience the beauty of the state. 

But if two weeks is ALL you have and you have always wanted to drive to Alaska, then use our Guide to RVing to Alaska to make the most of what you have! 

In all reality, we would suggest no fewer than 6 weeks for a return trip to/from Alaska. Much of the time will be spent driving. And that’s not a bad thing.

You’re going to see some amazing things and find yourself in moments of profound silence looking out over inspiring landscapes along the way!

But 6 weeks in the minimum we suggest you commit to RV to Alaska, from border to border. Of course, even your starting/final border crossing locations impact the length of your journey.

Long story short: Visit Alaska anyway you can! And stay for as long as you can! Regardless of your circumstances, Alaska has a lot to offer. And seeing the Last Frontier by RV is the best way to go. 

Driving Your RV To Alaska

Surprisingly, there are a handful of ways that you can reach Alaska to RV through the Last Frontier. We recommend that you drive your own RV.

And most of the information in our Guide to RVing Alaska is tailored to you driving your own RV from the Lower 48. 

However, you also have the option to put your RV on a ferry in several locations, thus bypassing many miles of wear and tear on your RV. Or, alternatively, you could plan to fly to Alaska and rent an RV . 

This Guide to RVing Alaska is based upon our experience driving our own truck camper to/from Alaska. But since your circumstances may vary, we did want to make sure that you were aware of other options. 

The Cassiar Highway Or Alaska Highway?

When it comes to driving to Alaska in your RV there is really only one way in and one way out. At some point, you will find yourself driving the famous Alaska Highway (also known as the “Alcan Highway”). 

The Alaska Highway begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and traverses 1,390 miles before terminating in Fairbanks, Alaska. There are a few ways to reach Dawson Creek, depending on your point of origin. We’ll get into these below. 

But once you hop on the Alaska Highway it is a straight shot to Alaska. 

So What Is The Difference Between The Alaska Highway and Cassiar Highway?

If you are like us, as you plan your RV trip to Alaska you have likely come across mention of the Cassiar Highway and the Alaska Highway. The Alaska Highway begins in the northern part of British Columbia and winds its way through the Yukon Territory and into Alaska.

This is the longest and most common route into Alaska from Canada. 

The Cassiar Highway is a shorter stretch of highway that branches off of the Alaska Highway near Watson Lake, Yukon Territory. This highway is more direct as it cuts along the western portion of British Columbia and is absorbed into the more numerous roadways that lead back into the United States in the Seattle area. 

If you are in a hurry, the Cassiar Highway is the quickest way to/from Alaska. It will cut a few hours from your drive. Plus we can’t say enough about how much you will appreciate a quick side trip to the “friendliest ghost town” of Hyder .

But in our suggested itinerary, we recommend that you take BOTH the Cassiar and Alaska Highways in your RV adventure to Alaska. This route will allow you to visit the incredible beauty of the Canadian Rockies. But it will also bring you along the more isolated Cassiar Highway. 

Where you plan to start your drive to Alaska depends on where you are currently located. But for our Alaska road trip itinerary recommendations , we suggest you enter Canada in Montana or Idaho and return through Washington. 

We will describe the circular route in more detail in the Itinerary section below. 

Additionally, if you do not desire to drive to Alaska there is an option to travel by ferry. Of course, this is a more expensive option. Most ferry options begin in Washington and will take you through the many fjords and canals of the Inside Passage and terminate in Haines, Alaska. 

So if you can afford the fares, only have pets that can endure long periods of time between restroom breaks and want to skip half of the driving, a ferry is a great option. We would recommend adding an Alaska cruise to your bucket list for some other time if you want to see the beauty of the Inside Passage. 

Truthfully, driving to Alaska is the best part of owning an RV.

Of course, a third option does exist if you want to RV in Alaska but either do not own an RV or do not want to transport your RV to Alaska.

You can opt to rent an RV in Alaska .

In this case, you are looking at higher prices as you must not only account for the RV rental itself, but also for the transportation to/from Alaska. If you do plan to rent an RV in Alaska, be sure to familiarize yourself with how to operate the RV.

Additionally, there are many places (like the Dalton Highway ) where RV rentals are typically not permitted. Be aware of the terms and conditions of your rental agreement. 

NOTE: Due to current travel restrictions to Alaska, renting an RV in Alaska is quite possibly the best opportunity for you to be able to fly directly into Alaska and then enjoy RVing around the Last Frontier. We recommend that you look into RV rentals available through Outdoorsy or campervan rentals through Escape Campervans .

Suggested Itinerary

We suggest that you give yourself no less than 6 weeks for your RV trip to Alaska. You could spend half of that time just driving up and back. Additionally, we have created several Alaska itineraries that take you to the same key locations.

The only exception is if you want to (and are prepared for) drive the Dalton Highway. This journey in and of itself requires a bit more planning and preparation. 

Plan to visit the following locations:

• Alaska Highway
• Denali National Park
• Palmer/Anchorage
• Kenai Peninsula (Turnagain Arm, Anchor Point, Homer & Seward )

Our driving itineraries also assume that you will begin your drive in the Lower 48 in the northwestern part of the country. Add additional time to your trip according to your starting location. 

We also base our itineraries on “border-to-border” starting/ending locations. So you will see that we guide you from a US/Canada crossing on your way to Alaska back to a Canada/US crossing on your return from Alaska. 

Basic Alaska Road Trip Itinerary 

Your Alaska road trip will vary depending on how much time you have, where you want to go and what you want to see and do.

But we suggest that you build your itinerary from the following basic recommendations:

Canadian National Parks (7-10 Days)

Alaska Highway (5-7 Days)

* Dalton Highway (4-5 Days)

Interior Alaska (5-7 Days)

Kenai Peninsula (7-10 Days)

Valdez (3-4 Days)

Haines (5-7 Days)

Hyder (4-5 Days)

To US Border (3-4 Days)

* The Dalton Highway is not for everyone. Check out the story of our drive to the end of the world before you plan to drive the Dalton Highway.

RV Camping In Alaska

The best campgrounds in Alaska are not necessarily campgrounds. Alaska is one of the few places in North America where it is acceptable (and legal) to camp virtually anywhere. 

This means that nearly anywhere can offer spectacular views and camping. 

If you are more inclined to reserve campsites in advance, there are plenty of options in each town or village. We’ll provide a few recommendations below. 

But do not worry if your itinerary or plans change. You should never worry about finding a safe place to camp in Alaska.

In fact, in 7 weeks in Alaska, we only paid for camping for 7 total days!

We recommend that you consider the following options as the best campgrounds in Alaska:

• Dalton Highway – Camp just before Deadhorse next to the river that leads to the Arctic Ocean (FREE)
• Homer Spit – Camp on the beachfront and stack rocks to make your own personal fire pit on the beach ($24/night)
• Seward – Join the masses and camp along Resurrection Bay in any of the public campgrounds along the beach ($20/night)
• Valdez – Camp at the foot of Valdez Glacier just outside of town (FREE)
• Haines – Follow the Lutak Inlet toward Chilkoot Lake and camp at one of the pull-offs along the glacial-blue water (FREE)
• Hyder – Drive through the ghost town toward Salmon Glacier and park along a pull-off next to the river (FREE)

READ MORE: Learn all about the best tips and tricks to save money camping in Alaska !

Budget For RV Trip To Alaska

Your budget for an RV trip to Alaska will vary as much as any budget. Depending on where you want to go, what you want to do and how comfortable you want to be, your budget could vary greatly.

Additionally, if you are traveling with children or other additional people then some of your expenses will also increase.

For instance, you could easily spend:

$50 – $75 per night for a full hookup campground 

$100 – $250 per person for daily tours of local areas

$300 – $500 per person on fishing trips in a half dozen places

$50+ per person for daily meals in restaurants 

For those of us who don’t have that kind of money sitting around, there are more affordable ways to thoroughly enjoy Alaska without breaking the bank. Here are some guidelines for how we spent less than $1,000 per week on our drive to Alaska.

We based our budget on 2 adults with our truck camper averaging around 10.5 mpg. 

• $25 / day daily meal budget ($175 / wk) 
• $12 / day miscellaneous ($100 / wk)
• $25 / day spending ($175 / wk) 
• $25 / day camping ($175 / wk)
• * $4.50 per gallon x 7,000 miles / ___ mpg = ($3,000 total, @10.5 mpg)

* Only twice did we pay $4.50 per gallon. Once in Coldfoot, Alaska on the Dalton Highway on our way to Deadhorse, where we also paid over $4.50 per gallon.

Everywhere else fuel was well below $4.50. But fuel charges are always subject to change at the time of your trip. We suggest you over budget on fuel.

In total, we spent approximately $2,700, which included stretches of road where we averaged less than 10 mpg.

So for 8 weeks, you could safely plan to spend approximately $8,000 in total:

• Meals: $175 x 8 = $1,400
• Spending: $175 x 8 = $1,400
• Camping: $175 x 8 = $1,400
• Miscellaneous: $100 x 8 = $800
• Fuel: Total $3,000

We did not take part in high-cost tours or fishing trips. In fact, the only tour we purchased was the mandatory tour to visit the Arctic Ocean in Prudhoe Bay. Any other entrance fees or activities were paid out of our daily/weekly spending allocation. 

Additionally, we only paid for a total of 14 nights of camping. Each night was under our $25 / night budget. So we saved over $1,000 in camping fees alone!

Top Destinations To RV In Alaska

You can only drive through a small percentage of Alaska. As the Last Frontier, Alaska is raw and rugged and mostly inaccessible by vehicle. So many great places are literally well off the beaten path. 

However, these are the Top Destinations to RV in Alaska: 

• Fairbanks – The terminus of the Alaska Highway and a great place to begin. Spend a few days on your own or condense your visit with a quick city tour so you can get on your way to the rest of Alaska!
• Deadhorse – If you are prepared to drive the Dalton Highway then Deadhorse will be a must on your list. At least let someone else drive you to visit the Arctic Circle !
• Talkeetna – Situated just outside Denali National Park, Talkeetna is a classic artsy Alaskan town with great views of Mt. Denali (if you are at the right place and time!). This is one of the best places to catch a plane ride to explore the nearby glaciers !
• Palmer – Take a tour at Williams Reindeer Farm and feed, pet and play with the Reindeer!

We call these next few the “Alaska finger towns” as each one is a down-and-back route stretching from the central “palm” of Alaska: 

• Homer – Drive out on the spit and enjoy the views of Kachemak Bay
• Seward – Spend time exploring Resurrection Bay and all of the wildlife in the area. Be sure to visit Kenai Fjords National Park !
• Valdez – Visit the old town destroyed by a tsunami in 1964 and then head out to Solomon Gulch to watch sea lions, otters, bald eagles and grizzly bears feast on salmon
• Haines – Head toward Chilkoot Lake to look for momma grizzly bears teaching her cubs to hunt for salmon. Then take the ferry to the historic mining town of Skagway to pan for gold !
• Hyder – Eat at “The Bus,” drive out to Salmon Glacier and stop to watch bears catch salmon in the river

Driving The Alaska Highway

The best part of driving your RV to Alaska is… well, driving your RV to Alaska! For most people, driving the Alaska Highway is near the top of their bucket lists. 

This is important because the 1,390 miles of the Alaska Highway is technically the only way to drive into Alaska.

NOTE: It is possible to cut a few of those miles off by taking the Cassiar Highway in the south. Or, the more adventurous can add a few miles more by taking the “Top Of The World Highway” out of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory and approaching Alaska from the north. 

If you follow one of our suggested Itineraries, your journey to Alaska will actually begin when you cross the Canadian border (if you are not already in Canada!).

At this point, we suggest you take a week to enjoy the Canadian National Parks of Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay. 

Not only are these spectacular views of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. But also driving through these parks will put you within a 6 hour drive (~300 miles) of reaching Dawson Creek, British Columbia. 

It is in Dawson Creek where the Alaska Highway begins. For the next 1,390 miles, you will pass through beautiful portions of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, often meandering back and forth between the two.

You could spend only a handful of days and make the drive quickly (not recommended, by the way!). Or take up to a week or more to enjoy the scenery, wildlife and various points of interest along the way. 

These are a few of our favorite places to stop along the Alaska Highway

• Mile 0 Visitor Center (Dawson Creek) – Snap a photo of your vehicle in front of the famous Alaska Highway sign. 
• Mile 477 Liard River Hot Springs – A nice hot spring modernized with a boardwalk and changing rooms. 
• Mile 603 Entering the Yukon Territory
• Mile 612 Watson Lake – Host of the famous “Sign Forest.” You could spend hours looking for the sign closest to your hometown. Or make a sign and leave it for someone else to find. 
• Mile 626 Cassiar Highway junction – Take this back from Alaska to enjoy a more rustic and less crowded drive back to the Lower 48
• Mile 888 Whitehorse – Lots to see and do in Whitehorse, including loading up on fuel and food and dumping tanks if necessary
• Mile 894 Junction for Dawson City – This will take you to the “Top of the World Highway” and bring you into Alaska from the north
• Mile 1024 Kluane Lake turnout – Spend a few hours stretching your legs, cooking a meal or swimming in the lake. Very few opportunities to enjoy scenery like this along the Yukon Territory’s largest lake
• Mile 1186 US Customs and Border Protection – You made it to Alaska! The station is open 24-hours a day so no rush to arrive. 
• Fairbanks is approximately 5 hours from the Alaska border. Follow the mountains on your left all the way into the city.

A great supplementary resource to our information is the Milepost . We used this in our planning for our trip!

About Author

Christopher Harvey

Christopher Harvey is the co-founder and main copywriter for Called To Wander. His passion is to create content that engages and informs readers and helps them to pursue the Abundant Life on the Road. Aside from writing, he also edits videos for the YouTube channel. He has freelanced for a variety of publications and consults with different brands on SEO and content strategy.

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RV to Alaska Travel Map, Planning Guide and FAQ

I’m sure you have lots of questions about this trip as we did. I’ll try and answer them all here. Midway through our Alaska adventure in the summer of 2022 I started documenting our route, stops, attractions and many lessons learned so we could pass that valuable information on to you. So here it is.

Our Alaska RV trip was an epic experience that really put our RVing skills to the test

We teamed up with two other couples and spent the summer months of May, June, July and August traveling through Western Canada and Alaska. It would be the first time any of us had driven to Alaska.

I hope this map and writeup becomes a useful resource while planning your own RV trip to Alaska. There is a ton of information here.

Here’s a list of topics covered

Alaska RV Trip Map

Our plan be flexible and don’t over-plan, what is the best route to alaska, which route did we take, crossing the border into canada, #1 make sure you can confidently handle your rv in various road conditions, #2 travel with friends or a group, #3 make sure your rv is in good working order, will driving to alaska damage your rv, where are the bad sections of highway, cell coverage in canada (british columbia, alberta and yukon territory), cell coverage in alaska, does starlink work in canada and alaska, do weboost cell phone boosters work in canada and alaska, route navigation (google maps or gps), is the milepost book worth getting, will you get rock chips in the windshield, will you get eaten by mosquitos, how to avoid mosquito bites, will you see wildlife, will you get attacked by a bear, does it ever get dark at night, helpful resources, start planning your trip.

Here’s an interactive map outlining our route and places we visited along the way. Want to see the beautiful landscape you’ll experience? Watch this 2022 recap video and follow us on Instagram @rvwithtito .

Best way to use the map: (a) Select the “show full screen” icon on the top right to open the map in full-screen mode (b) Select the layers icon on the top left to open the legend/layer panel (c) Check or uncheck the box next to each layer to show or hide it (d) Select the map icons for more detail

You could say our plan was not to over plan which would leave plenty of room to improvise . We’ve always enjoyed a spontaneous style of travel and approached this trip the same way.

May seemed like a good month for us begin this journey. So we headed north into Canada in mid May and anticipated a return before the end of September.

A lot of leg work was done ahead of time researching and identifying places to explore. It was all documented in a spreadsheet that our friends put together and maintained throughout the trip.

That flexibility really paid off on multiple occasions. In June we were able to book a last minute flight home for a quick family visit. We also booked impromptu excursions that would required us to extend our stay at times.

Flying out to see the bears at Katmai National Park was one of those excursions. We needed to act quickly at the last minute or risk missing out on that experience. We extended our stay in Homer, Alaska waiting for our chartered flight. It was worth it.

Flying out to Katmai National Park would end up being the highlight of the trip . I hope you can experience it someday. If not, here’s a video of the entire experience that I made for you.

It all started in Alberta, Canada . We met up with the rest of the group in Banff, Alberta in mid May during the Canadian holiday. Because of the holiday, we decided to make a campground reservation months prior just to be safe.

Banff, Jasper and Denali National Park were three popular destinations that we felt we should have reservations . Early in the year, we picked a few dates then got online to reserve campsites for those stops. Those ended up to be our only lodging reservations for the entire four months.

As seasoned off-grid RVers, we each felt comfortable dry camping, boondocking or finding free overnight camping along the way (when possible).

We dry-camped the entire trip . The campground in Banff would be the only time we would have RV hookups of any kind. We were always able to find water and dump stations along the way. This helped us be spontaneous and kept campground fees very low.

Large boondocking spots were hard to find . There were many small pull-outs along the route suitable for one or two rigs, but it was a challenge finding larger spots with enough room for three large motorhomes. We had to get creative, but vans, truck campers and smaller RVs should have no trouble getting into most pull-outs along the way .

For more photos and stories from our trip check out @rvwithtito on Instagram as well as our travel buddies @rebekahandjared and @tryingtounwind

I don’t think there is one. Everyone does Alaska differently and most folks we talked met had a different plan. If you’re driving to Alaska, you have a choice of either the ALCAN route or Cassiar Route (which includes part of the ALCAN).

Here are some routes that others were taking

• Start up the Cassiar Highway then back down the ALCAN into Alberta
• Drive up the Cassiar or ALCAN then take a ferry back from Whittier, Alaska to Bellingham, Washington
• Take a ferry from Bellingham, Washington to Whittier, Alaska and drive back down the ALCAN or Cassiar

We met RV travelers during the trip taking each of these routes. So it is really up to you.

TIP : Be flexible. Weather, flooding (snow melt), road closures or other circumstances may force you to change your plans. Be prepared to re-route on the fly.

The route we chose was to travel north on the ALCAN then into the Yukon Territory. After exploring Alaska, we returned via the Cassiar highway.

Coming from Washington we crossed into Canada in Eastport, Idaho (see map). Our friends were coming from other parts of the country. Both would cross the Canada border from Montana.

With snow still on the peaks and higher elevations, we experienced some popular areas like Lake Louise and the Columbia Ice Fields while still snowed over. The only downside was that some trails we’d hoped to hike were still closed for the season. No regrets though. It was beautiful.

For the first month, we traveled together from Banff, Alberta up to the ALCAN highway, then north on the Klondike Highway to Dawson City, Yukon Territory.

In Dawson City, we loaded the RVs onto a tiny ferry to cross the Yukon River. Across the river we connected with the Top Of The World Highway then the Taylor Highway into Alaska.

Yes! You have to cross the Yukon River on a ferry. There’s no other way across . Here’s a video I made about that interesting experience.

For the next few months we traveled around Alaska starting with Fairbanks. From there we headed southwest through Denali NP, Wasilla and Anchorage. Several weeks were spent exploring the Kenai Peninsula.

Our return trip started in Valdez, Alaska and took us back to the ALCAN highway then down the Cassiar Highway through British Columbia. We eventually crossed the border into Washington State where we live.

Our border experiences were very easy. We were asked just a few basic questions. I was prepared, friendly and clear with my answers and onward we went. One of our friends entering Canada with Texas plates got his RV searched for weapons. Another friend was “randomly” selected for COVID testing. So you never know.

In preparation for your border crossing go to the Visit Canada Website and acquaint yourself with any current advisories and guidelines .

Preparing to drive your RV to Alaska

Road conditions and availability of services will vary along the route. Here are a few things you can do to be as prepared as possible for the trip.

If you have an RV that’s new to you, I suggest spending time driving it before taking it to Alaska. This is especially true if you have a larger motorhome or towable.

Most of the highways are perfectly fine, but you’re likely to encounter several stretches where the highway is under repair. Conditions in these construction zones are unpredictable. The more familiar you are with your rig, the better you’ll do.

If you plan to visit Dawson City in the Yukon Territory you’re likely to encounter long 10 to 100 mile stretches of dirt or gravel roads. Rainy driving days under these conditions will be especially messy and potentially challenging.

Some narrow stretches of road or bridges have oncoming traffic leaving you with little to no shoulder. So take it slow and know your limitations. Change your route if necessary.

Finally, you’ve heard about pot holes, but there are also things called frost heaves. Frost heaves leave big dips in the road as the ground underneath freezes and thaws. They can be difficult to spot until you hit them. If you hit a deep one at high speed in a large motorhome, you could do serious damage to your suspension or tow setup. So keep your eyes peeled and keep your speed down.

If this is your first trip, you may feel more comfortable traveling with friends or with a group. Here are some reasons this may make sense:

• You can look out for each other so nobody gets left behind
• It helps to share the burden of planning and finding resources
• If you need help, someone in your group may have the skills or tools needed
• You’ll have friends to hike and do things with
• It becomes a shared experience

TIP : Use handheld radios to communicate on driving days when there’s no cell signal

Finally, if you plan on making this a solo trip, know that you’re not really alone. If you stick to the main routes there will always be someone coming by should you run into trouble.

You might find yourself saying “ Hello again! ” It’s very common to keep running into the same people along the way. There are only one or two roads in or out of Alaska.

Repair services and parts may be difficult to find along your route. This could cause major delays in your schedule should you experience mechanical or equipment problems. So take appropriate measures to prepare your RV for a 4,000 to 5,000 mile journey through varied conditions. Here are some questions to help you prepare?

• Have I performed all regular engine and system servicing?
• Are my tires and suspension in good shape? They may take a beating.
• Do I have a spare tire or at least a plan in case I get a flat?
• Are all of the components in my RV in good working order (heater, refrigerator, generator, plumbing, electrical)?

Do you have spare parts and tools on-hand?

This is a question I get often, and there is no standard answer. Of course, it is possible. Each year road conditions will vary especially in the northern routes. So expect to encounter rough and irregular stretches of highway that have hazards.

My best advice is to keep your speed down and watch vehicles in front of you. Just because the road appears to be fine, do not assume that it will remain that way. Frost heaves, cracks and pot holes can appear out of nowhere. Hitting them at high speed can do some real damage to a large heavy RV if you hit them at high speed. So take it slow .

The next section lists the worst stretches of Highway that I could recall from our trip.

As you reach the Northern British Columbia and Yukon Territory of Canada, highway conditions can vary from year to year. Rough surfaces, frost heaves and pot holes are common in that region.

You may also encounter large sections of highway under repair. Expect to stop and wait before driving slowly through narrow dirt lanes with little to no shoulder. There’s no guarantee of the condition of these temporary lanes. So be very careful even when following the lead truck.

On one occasion, the lead truck led us through some very soft dirt. Had I stopped moving we surely would have been stuck.

Conditions change regularly. So review your route on these websites before driving them. It helps to know what’s ahead.

• British Columbia Routes and Driving Conditions
• Yukon Territory Road Conditions

Regularly check in with the the RVingToAlaska Facebook Group . Members traveling ahead of you may share updates on road conditions or closures. This is VERY helpful information.

Unfortunately, some of the worst roads are in Alaska . On the Canadian side, there are more warning signs alerting you to road hazards. This is not the case in Alaska. Frost heaves (big dips in the road) and pot holes may pop up without warning. The only thing you can do is to keep your eyes peeled and keep your speed down.

Here are the worse sections of highway that we encountered:

• HWY 2 from Whitehorse, YT to Dawson City, YT : Several multi-mile road construction projects
• HWY 9 from Dawson City, YT to US Border : Dirt highway with some narrow sections (not too bad when dry)
• HWY 5 from US Border to Tok, AK : Partial dirt highway with lots of narrow spots, pot holes and frost heaves
• HWY 2 / HWY 1 from Tok, AK to Destruction Bay, YT : Lots of dangerous frost heaves and pot holes

How to handle rough roads? Reduce your speed and drive around the potholes when possible. Some potholes and frost heaves are simply unavoidable. You’ll need to slow way down and brace for impact. Don’t worry about slowing down traffic.

Also avoid soft sections in the middle or edges of dirt roads. Stay close to where others have driven.

Mobile Internet Coverage?

There are several dead zones in remote areas along the route, but most populated areas have mobile coverage of some sort.

Northern British Columbia and the Yukon Territory will have spotty coverage or no coverage at all. When you reach a populated area the cell-signal will come back. Cell coverage was generally better throughout Alaska.

We were able to get a signal in most areas west of Tok along regular travel routes. Of course, the signal quality and coverage varied from one provider to the next.

AT&T (or Cricket Wireless) and Verizon were the two carriers we relied on . The T-Mobile coverage map looked promising. In reality, T-Mobile proved to be very slow and unreliable.

AT&T Wireless devices clearly had the best coverage in Canada. Verizon was not very good in Canada. While we were able to get a roaming T-Mobile connection in Canada, the signal/data strength was generally poor.

Expect to have no cell signal while driving through remote areas in Northern British Columbia and Yukon Territory . Large sections of Highway 97 through Northern BC, Yukon Highway to Dawson Creek, Top Of The World Highway east of Dawson Creek, and most of the Cassiar Highway are some dead zones that come to mind. Most populated areas will have cell coverage though.

Small Towns Have Limited Bandwidth: Many smaller cities and towns had strong cell signals but limited bandwidth which limited data speeds. The further north we went, the bandwidth was limited and data speeds got worse.

Verizon and AT&T both had good coverage in most populated areas and near most common travel routes in Alaska. T-Mobile again had coverage but poor speeds.

Yes it does . Since November 2022 SpaceX coverage for STARLINK extended above the 52 deg latitude in Canada and Alaska. C heck The LIVE STARLINK Coverage Map to verify the coverage areas along your route .

Yes they do. If you have one, it will certainly help in some remote areas where there are dead zones. Having a cell phone booster is not required though. You’ll just have a better chance of picking up a signal when others can’t.

We have a Weboost Drive Reach RV installed and it came in very handy on long driving days. I wasn’t sure if it would work in Canada, but it did . There were several dead zones and having the booster kept us connected more often than if we did not have it. We were also able to get faster data speeds with the booster in some cases, but not always.

If you are considering buying a cell phone booster, read this article first. The Truth About Cell Phone Boosters – What you should know before buying It will help you figure out what you need.

We were able to use Google Maps for most of the trip, but we also use a Garmin GPS as a backup.

The reason I prefer navigating with Google Maps is because all of our pinned locations and points of interest are stored there. This makes it easier to get driving directions and share locations with our travel buddies.

Google Navigation needs a cell-signal to operate which becomes an issue when in remote areas . So here’s what you need to do in to make the navigation work off-line.

While you have a cell signal, download Google Map data for use off-line . There’s a built-in feature for this. You select a region on the map and the app downloads basic map data for that area. Keep downloading maps for all areas along your route. Once the maps are downloaded to your GPS enabled phone, the Google Navigation will continue working even when there’s no cell signal.

Of course, you can use your GPS instead if that’s your primary navigation tool.

TIP: When in Canada, set the units on your GPS to Kilometers Per Hour (kph) and use it as your speedometer. Google Maps should switch this automatically for you. No need to get a speeding ticket for going 100 in a 70.

Yes . The Milepost book (updated annually) is a great resource for the trip up to Alaska. We referenced it quite a bit especially in areas where there was no cell-signal.

To use it, you need to know the highway you’re on and the nearest mile marker. Yes there are mile markers in Canada along the ALCAN. Check the book for any nearby attractions, campgrounds, gas stations, or historical information.

Find the latest copy of the Milepost book on Amazon

The only complaints I’ve heard about MILEPOST is that it’s not very intuitive. However, it gets easier to use once you understand how it is structured. It came in handy driving while through BC and the Yukon Territory, but we rarely opened it once entering Alaska .

Probably . If you’re lucky you’ll avoid this, but Class A motorhomes like ours with a large windshields are big targets.

Several long dirt or gravel sections along the ALCAN and Klondike highways are covered with crushed rock about the size of your thumb.

Most regulars in the area know to leave lots of room when passing. Nevertheless, oncoming and passing vehicles are likely to kick up one of these rocks with sharp edges. This may happen even if you’re going slow and giving cars plenty of room.

So it’s best to be prepared with a couple rock repair kits like this one like this one and some clear packing tape .

We managed to make it all the way up to northern British Columbia without any chips in the windshield. I was even foolish enough to think “ we might make it through the trip without any rock chips “. Nope.

Soon after we had our first rock chip from a small car that zoomed pass me on a dirt section of gravel road. His maneuver kicked up rocks chipping our windshield and cracking a fog light. On our return trip south, I got another chip when an oncoming semi-truck blew by me. Lastly, I discovered a stress crack forming near the top of my windshield.

I went through four of the chip repair kits patching all of the chips and temporarily stopping the stress crack from growing. Clear packing tape came in handy for putting my fog light back together. Yes. I’ll be replacing my windshield.

PRO TIP : Rock chip repair kits come with very little resin. So purchase extra windshield repair resin on Amazon . You can then reuse the applicator from one of the windshield repair kits for multiple repairs . Be sure to clean the applicator out well after each use.

Finally, Don’t Forget About Your TOAD if you are driving a motorhome. An inexpensive windshield cover will protect the windshield on your tow car from rocks you kick up. If not, you’ll wish you did.

That really depends on where you go and in what month. The worst months are June and July. They start to die off in August. By August, the mosquitos start to thin out.

Expect to have a lot of mosquitos when camped in wooded or marsh areas . You might be in the clear when there’s a breeze. When the breeze dies down the mosquitos are likely to come back out.

This is a widely debated and controversial topic. So I’ll just share how I deal with mosquitos which seems to work pretty well.

The best thing you can do is cover up with long sleeves, hat and long pants. Be aware, they can bite through thin tight clothing. So think twice about wearing those yoga pants where mosquitos are going to be.

You can also take covering-up to the next level and get a mosquito net like this one for your head. Instead of a net over my head, I find that a hat with some mosquito repellent on it does the trick . I spray some 100% Deet repellent under the bill of my ball cap and on top. That tends to keep them off my face. I kept a special Deet ballcap for this and put it on when I’m heading out into the bush.

There are many types of mosquito repellent. I find the 100% Deet repellent to be the most effective. I don’t spray 100% Deet on my skin though. We stocked up on these small bottles of Ben’s Deet Repellent before the trip. They’re small enough to always keep in my backpack.

Other things that may work are mosquito coils or a good fan. I’ve had good luck with mosquito coils in the past as long it’s not windy. On this trip though we never used them. Using a fan to create a breeze works pretty well (like near the door). Mosquitos can’t fly in a breeze.

Bonus TIP: I’ve also found that spraying Deet repellent on the window or door screen will keep them from landing on it . It makes it easier to open and close the screen door without letting a bunch of bugs in. Combine that with a fan blowing on the screen. Give it a try.

Eventually you will get bitten though. So have some anti-itch stuff on-hand. We used this new Bug Bite Suction Thing as soon as we got a bite. It worked really well to minimize itching and swelling.

Yes . Give them space and enjoy them from a distance. Always be on the lookout while driving. Keep an eye on the shoulders of the highway and on the edge of the woods as wildlife may be wandering on to the road. We found this to be perfect co-pilot task since, as the driver, I had plenty of hazards to watch out for in the middle of the road.

Early in the trip we kept a tally of the wildlife we saw. Eventually the number got too big. So we stopped counting.

What type of wildlife could you see? You’re likely to see big horn sheep, elk, bison, fox, coyote, moose, black bear, grizzly bear. Near the coast you’ll see bald eagles and lots of seagulls.

What should you do when you encounter wildlife on or near the road? Stop the car and give the animals the right-of-way. Stay in your car and put on your hazards to warn oncoming cars. Take plenty of pictures while you wait for them to wander off.

We also saw small herds that blocked the entire road, sometimes in the middle of town.

If you see animals around your campsite, stay clear and give them plenty of room . Campsites will usually have posted warnings advising of wildlife in the area. Follow those guidelines.

I had an elk run towards me in a campground, because I was standing near some nice green grass that she wanted. Lesson learned.

Don’t let the fear of bears keep you from visiting popular places and experiencing everything Canada and Alaska has to offer. Early in the trip we were worried about bear encounters. The more we hiked and ventured out as a group, we got more comfortable with it.

Most wildlife you’ll encounter will be from your car or RV. When you venture off for a hike or excursion, there are some general guidelines to follow:

• First of all follow the recommendations of the rangers or guides you may be with
• Do not hike or venture off alone
• Stay on marked trails
• Maintain conversations while hiking
• Always carry bear spray where you can quickly reach it
• Keep food and snacks INSIDE your pack
• Don’t carry fish products

Trust me, you quickly learn to become “Bear Aware” and learn to get comfortable with it.

If you encounter a bear follow these guidelines from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game .

It’s not as bad as you think. Blackout curtains or Reflectix insulation work great to block out light. The longest days are in June and July with sunset as late as 1AM. There’s always a twilight glow though.

As you get into August, it starts getting darker at night.

There are plenty of great resources out there to help you plan. Here are some of the resources we relied on for Canada/Alaska travel tips, road conditions, free overnight camping, RV parks and campgrounds.

• RVingToAlaska Facebook Group – By Gary and Stacey Quimby
• Milepost Book
• iOverlander.com and iOverlander App

I highly recommend you join Gary and Stacey Quimby’s RVingToAlaska Facebook group when you travel. They live north of Anchorage and provide this great resource for people traveling that year. We were able to get a heads up on numerous occasions about road conditions and campsite availability beforehand. Plus you’re likely to run into folks from the group on the road.

While in Canada, we primarily used iOverlander to help find boondocking or free overnight spots. Campendium didn’t have much helpful information in Canada, but worked great in the Alaska.

You should have no problem finding RV parks and organized campgrounds along the route . We saw lots of them even though we didn’t use them.

You have made it all the way to the end. Here is a short video recap of our Alaska Adventure to get you excited. Enjoy!

I could go on and on about RVing to Alaska, but I’ll end it here and let it all sink in. I hope this information helps you out. If you have recommendations or anything to add shoot me an email at [email protected].

Safe travels!

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RVing Alaska: Our top tips & things to know!

Last updated on January 24th, 2024

RVing Alaska is one of the best ways to experience The Last Frontier. In this guide we’re sharing all of our tips to RV in Alaska! In the summer of 2022 we traveled to Alaska in our self converted 2019 Mercedes Sprinter van . And it was hands down the BEST adventure of our lives!  For over 2.5 months we road tripped all around the state, seeing glaciers from our van window, experiencing national parks, going for epic hikes, and so much more. In our opinion, RVing is the ultimate way to experience Alaska! 

However, as a huge and remote state, it can be a bit daunting to plan an Alaska RV trip. But we’re here to help! In this guide we’re sharing everything we learned while RVing Alaska. We’re covering why you should RV in Alaska, the optimal route, best time to go, all of the logistics, and more!  Whether you explore in your own RV or a rental, we hope this guide helps make RVing Alaska a bit easier, so you can worry less about logistics and spend more time enjoying this jaw dropping state. If you’re like us, you’ll be planning a second RV trip to Alaska before you even leave!

Looking for more things to do in Alaska?

• The ULTIMATE 10 day Alaska road trip (3 itinerary options!)
• How to spend 7 days in Alaska (4 Itinerary Options!)
• The ULTIMATE guide to driving the Alaska Highway
• The 24 BEST hikes in Alaska
• The ULTIMATE Summer Alaska Packing List
• Things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (The largest in the US!)
• 12+ FUN things to do in Valdez, Alaska
• 8+ EPIC things to do in Hatcher Pass in Alaska  
• The ULTIMATE guide to visiting Denali National Park (Mile 0-43)
• 8 things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park
• Watch all of our Alaska vlogs
• Read all of our Alaska guides

Why RV in Alaska?

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There are many ways to experience Alaska. You can fly from the lower 48 and rent a car, go on an Alaskan cruise, hire a tour company, or do what we did and drive yourself and explore by RV! Each option has its pros and cons, but in our opinion, RVing Alaska, whether it’s your own or a rental, is the BEST way to experience the state. And here are a handful of reasons why!

You’ll have the ultimate flexibility

RVing Alaska offers the most flexibility. If you were to fly into Alaska and stay at hotels or Airbnbs, you’d likely need to book them in advance. This means that if the weather isn’t ideal or you want to change plans, it would be harder to do so. But when RVing Alaska, you can have a lot more spontaneity. You can alter your schedule, adjust your route, or add on new destinations more easily. This flexibility was a huge help for us during our visit to Alaska because of one big factor: rain. During our summer in Alaska, it rained a lot. It was supposedly a much rainier summer than normal. But because we were traveling in our van and weren’t tied to any lodging bookings, we were able to adjust our route and plans to maximize our good weather days. You may be thinking, “but what about campground bookings?” We will share more about this in a bit, but Alaska is super boondocking friendly. As in, you can sleep out in nature or in roadside pull offs (without services) pretty easily. This means that you don’t need to book campgrounds and can truly just move around freely and on a whim.

It is a cheaper way to experience Alaska

Alaska is not a cheap place to visit. The groceries are slightly more expensive, tours can be pricey, and lodging can add up very quickly. By RVing Alaska, you’re able to combine two of the biggest vacation expenses into one: lodging and transportation. You won’t need to book a rental car and a hotel because you’ll be traveling in a home on wheels! For those who are bringing their own RV to Alaska, it doesn’t get much cheaper. You can boondock for free every night, making your lodging totally free. All you’ll really have to pay for, besides normal daily necessities, is fuel! If you do not own an RV and plan to rent one in Alaska, we will warn you that RV rentals can be expensive. But when you think about the money you’ll save on hotels and a rental car, it will likely be cheaper, or at least the same cost. And the additional benefits will make it worth it!

You can enjoy the comforts of home

Our favorite thing about van life is that we always have our home with us, no matter where we go. And this was a huge perk when RVing Alaska! During our 2.5 months in Alaska we were able to sleep in our own bed, use our own cooking supplies, and have a consistent bathroom to use. We could be out in the middle of the wilderness and take a shower in our van if we so desired. It gave us the perfect mix of adventure and the comforts of a home!

No constant packing and unpacking required

Another huge perk of RVing in general, but especially when in Alaska is that while you may physically move daily, your belongings don’t have to. To experience Alaska properly, you will have to road trip. Which means you’ll stay in different towns every couple nights. If you were staying in hotels the entire time, you’ll have to constantly unpack your suitcase and repack it. But with an RV, you can have all of your belongings organized and in one spot the entire time!

Your furry friend can join you

We love adventuring with our pup Kona! But due to her size, she cannot go on a plane with us, so our only option to explore with her is a road trip. In fact, we built our van solely so that we could travel as a family! By RVing Alaska, we were able to bring Kona with us. And she had one heck of a time! She got to go on some tough hikes, swim in alpine lakes, camp in the backcountry, and even explore a national park! We will say though, while Alaska is very dog friendly, a couple popular spots are not. Specifically, Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park. For these, she either napped in the van while we went on short hikes or we had to board her. So keep this in mind if you do bring your furry friend to Alaska!

You can visit remote areas and enjoy seclusion

There are some areas in Alaska that may be harder to visit, due to a lack of lodging or other infrastructure. But with an RV, they are still a possibility! For example, when we entered Alaska, one of the first things we did was drive the Denali Highway. This remote, unpaved road takes you through mountains and wilderness. It has boondocking along the way, but no other real amenities, making it a great spot for our van! There are various other areas like this, where there aren’t hotels or many options to stay, but plenty to see and do. And without an RV, they may not be possible to the average visitor!

An RV, which stands for “recreational vehicle,” encompasses many different types of rigs. From a self converted Sprinter van (like ours), to a huge Class A, truck camper, and more! And any type of rig would be great to RV in Alaska. In fact, we saw just about any type of RV imaginable, from small teardrop trailers to crazy Unimogs! However, while it is possible to have a great time in Alaska in just about any rig, different types will have their advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of each!

Motorhomes (Class A, B, or C)

Class A motorhomes are basically a mansion on wheels! These will provide you with a lot more space and are a great option for families. However, due to their size, you’ll have a more difficult time finding parking and boondocking spots. But it’s not impossible! We met some travelers with a Class A (towing a Jeep) and they managed to boondock almost their entire trip. So it is doable, you may just have less options. One big perk of the Class A though, besides the space inside, is that since you’ll likely have a tow vehicle, you can use the tow vehicle to get around, while leaving the large motorhome at a campground or boondocking spot.

Class B (+ converted vans)

A Class B or converted van is in our opinion, the ideal way to experience Alaska. Especially for couples or solo travelers!   You get to have the amenities of a home, but in a smaller, easy to maneuver package. A Class B RV will fit in most parking spaces, can drive windy mountain roads easily, and access boondocking spots. Our van is considered a Class B and we had zero issues with it in Alaska. The only downside we can think of is that if we found a sick boondocking spot, we had no way to “hold the spot” whenever we went for a hike or headed into town. So we would sometimes lose a good spot if someone else came along while we were gone.

Class C motorhomes are a bit bigger than a Class B, but have the similar benefits. You can drive and park in town, while also accessing boondocking spots. They tend to be a bit clunkier than a Class B though! We saw TONS of these in Alaska, especially with rental RVs. My parents rented a Class C on a trip we took with them in Wyoming and Idaho. And it was a great middle ground between a Class A and B. You get a more spacious bathroom, dining area, and space to walk around inside. Plus there is usually enough space to sleep 4-6 people!  

Travel trailers and fifth wheels

A travel trailer or fifth wheel is similar to a Class A in that it’s a bit more spacious and also gives you the option to explore by vehicle, leaving your trailer at a campsite. However, the downside of this setup is that you have a much longer rig to navigate around. And if you want to visit somewhere while towing your trailer and there isn’t large enough parking, things could get tricky. While you can boondock with a trailer, it really depends on the size of the spot and accessibility.

Truck Camper 

Similar to a Class B or van, a truck camper is one of the most versatile options to explore Alaska! Especially if it’s 4×4 (more on that in a bit)!

With a truck camper you can drive through towns, park easily, and depending on how capable the rig is, be able to access some of the best boondocking spots. 

The only downside to a truck camper is that it may be less spacious inside than a Class B or van. You also run into the same issue where you cannot hold a boondocking spot easily. 

Renting an RV for your Alaska RV trip?

Don’t have an RV of your own? You can rent one in Alaska! We saw tons of rental RVs while road tripping around the state. And there are many options as to where you can rent from!

• Outdoorsy , which is like Airbnb for RVs. You’ll have a variety of rig options to choose from!
• RV Share , which is similar to Outdoorsy.
• Cruise America
• Great Alaskan Holidays
• GoNorth Alaska has a variety of rig types as well

A rental will be at least $200 per day, but you’d be paying even more for a hotel. Keep in mind you’ll still need to pay for food, gas, and propane. Some rentals do have additional fees for bedding, towels, and kitchenware.  When my parents rented an RV in Idaho, they ended up buying some cheap bedding and towels at Walmart, which was more affordable. You can then donate it before flying home! Also, make sure to check with your insurance before renting an RV, to see if you’ll need additional coverage.

Do you need 4×4?

While 4×4 could help you access more remote, epic boondocking spots in Alaska, it’s not required. Our van is RWD and we had no issues visiting the most popular road trip spots in Alaska! Good tires and suspension will be to your benefit though!

While you can technically RV in Alaska anytime of year, the prime time to visit is the summer! We recommend arriving in Alaska in early to mid June and leaving by early to mid September. If you’re curious about our exact dates, we arrived in Alaska on June 10 and left on August 27. During this time, the days are long, trails are mostly snow free, and the weather is comfortable (highs in the 60s-80s). This sets the stage for loads of outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, kayaking, wildlife viewing, exploring national parks, and so much more. Just be prepared for some rain though! If you decide to visit in May, keep in mind that some services may not be open or available. There could also be a slight hangover from the previous season. We saw snow in early June and many areas might still be dead looking. The end of August marks the start of fall, which means that you can experience fall colors into early September, but your risk of an early snow storm is higher. Many services at the national parks, as well as seasonal businesses, may begin to close around this time as well.

One of the most difficult things about RVing are the logistics. The daily question of where to get water, where to sleep, how to find internet, etc, can be a bit draining. And the last thing you want while in Alaska is to be worried about these things. The whole point is to explore its beauty! While Alaska is a very RV friendly state, it is more remote and some of the logistics can be a bit trickier at times. Below are some of the major things you’ll have to think of on a daily or weekly basis, plus our tips for each one!

How to find camping

While in Alaska you have a couple camping options. You can either pay to camp at campgrounds, which will have amenities, or you can boondock (dry camp) for free.

campgrounds

If you choose to pay to camp at a campground, you will have a variety of options in all of the popular tourist areas. The prices will range depending on where you are and what type of site you want. A common question we were asked is if you need to book campsites in advance. From our experience, many of the campgrounds in Alaska had availability. If you want to camp inside Denali National Park, we’d suggest booking far in advance, but for other areas, you’ll likely find a spot available if you want to book more at the last minute.

Boondocking

Alaska is known for being one of the best states to boondock. It’s very realistic to spend an entire summer in Alaska and not pay for a campsite. There are many forested roads, public land areas, and pull outs to stay at. While in Alaska we boondocked for 90% of the time. And that is what we personally recommend! We use a handful of apps and websites to find free camping options, including Campendium , The Dyrt PRO , RV Parky (for parking lots), and Freecampsites.net . But we found that iOverlander was one of the best options in Canada and Alaska.

Want more insight into how we find free campsites? Check out our detailed guide to free camping to learn which tools we use, rules to follow, and other tips! 

Where we camped

Below is a map with every spot we stayed while in Alaska, which you can save to your Google Maps to access on the road. For many of these spots we stayed multiple nights, sometimes in a row and sometimes off and on. As you click on each spot, we’re sharing some of our thoughts, plus links to read reviews. Make sure to check recent reviews, as we cannot guarantee that all of these spots are still legal or in the same condition as they were in 2022. 

Since you’ll be traveling in a home on wheels, you’ll likely want to cook some meals while in Alaska. We highly recommend getting your groceries in Anchorage. You’ll be able to find multiple large grocery stores, plus Walmart and Target, which will offer the best selection and prices. Costco is another amazing place to grab some groceries in Alaska. We went a couple times to stock up on snack items and other products that we use often. The smaller towns in Alaska do have grocery stores, but they will have much higher prices and much less to choose from. We went to the grocery store near Denali National Park and it was a bit of a struggle to find what we needed. Instead of buying what we wanted for specific meals, we had to make meals based on what they had to offer.

Where to do laundry 

Depending on how long you’re RVing Alaska, there is a good chance you’ll need to do laundry. Oftentimes campgrounds will have a laundry facility and those are usually the cheapest option. But if you’re boondocking, you’ll have to use a laundromat. We visited Quantum Laundry Lounge in Anchorage several times and it was our favorite laundromat we have ever been to! It was always very clean, not busy, and you can pay by credit card or an app. But what made it extra awesome was the coffee bar inside! We don’t understand why more laundromats don’t do this…it’s genius!  They also have pretty good Wi-Fi. We even uploaded a YouTube video while doing our laundry! We will say though, it was probably a bit pricier compared to some laundromats, but we were fine paying since it was so nice.

Where to find internet

Since we are self employed and rely on the internet to make a living, having the internet was crucial for us in Alaska. And while the towns and cities had decent cell service that we could use for our hotspots, oftentimes once you head out of town, the cell signal dwindles. We made it work, but unfortunately our need to stay connected meant we couldn’t stay in as remote of areas or had to drive a lot some days to find internet. If you’re like us and also need the internet, below are all of the options for staying connected while RVing Alaska.

When we visited Alaska in 2022, Starlink did not have any coverage north of central British Columbia. But now, Starlink has expanded their coverage and includes Alaska! We purchased Starlink Roam in early 2023 and as everyone has said…it’s a game changer! We’ve been able to work in places with absolutely zero cell service, but with Starlink we have fast, reliable internet. We cannot wait to go back to Alaska with our Starlink someday. It is going to make exploring the state (plus the remote drive up) so much less stressful for us!

Ever since we hit the road we’ve had hotspot plans with both Verizon and AT&T. These both came in handy during our time in Alaska. Of course, you need a cell signal for these to work, but if you do have service, they work well! 

Libraries and coffee shops

One of our go to spots to work while on the road are libraries. They are free and usually have pretty good Wi-Fi. During our trip we worked at libraries in Anchorage , Wasilla , Homer , and Valdez . Coffee shops are another great option for Wi-Fi on the road. We worked at Kaladi Brothers in Anchorage many times!

Dump stations and water

Since Alaska is so popular with RV travel, you won’t have trouble finding dump stations or places to fill your fresh water. iOverlander is a great resource to find potable water and dump stations if you don’t plan to utilize campgrounds. Many gas stations in Alaska will have potable water and/or dump stations. And they are often free! We filled up water at the Speedway near Girdwood many, many times. 

Although we have a shower in our van, we try to limit using it, as it takes a lot of power to heat up the water and the showers have to be VERY short. While in Alaska, specifically Anchorage, we went to Planet Fitness often to not only work out, but get a shower in too!

One concern we had when driving to Alaska was being able to find fuel along the way. We brought extra fuel tanks , but thankfully it was never an issue!  Both on the Alaska Highway and while in Alaska, we found plenty of gas stations and never risked running out of fuel. For reference, our fuel tank is about 24 gallons and we get 19-21 mpg.  However, it is wise to never go lower than half a tank and fill up when you have the opportunity. Even if there are plenty of stations, the next one down the road might be unexpectedly closed, out of fuel, or have some other unknown issue. Tip: To get an idea what fuel prices are in an area and to find fuel stations, use the GasBuddy app. This app may not be accurate in remote areas, as it’s more user generated, but we have found that it helps with finding stations and saving money in most places around North America.

Now for the fun part of RVing Alaska: where to go! In this section we’re sharing what the standard RV route tends to be for Alaska, plus how we modified it for our own trip. We’re also giving some insight into how much time you need to RV in Alaska!

Standard RVing Alaska route

It’s no secret that Alaska is a MASSIVE state. But only small parts of it are accessible by vehicle, making planning a road trip slightly easier to manage! Above is what we like to call the “standard RVing Alaska route.” It visits the most popular areas accessed by roads and combines Southcentral and Interior Alaska into one big loop! And what is fun about this route is that since so many RVers do it in this order, you’ll likely see the same people multiple times. It was fun having this unintentional “RVing Alaska” community along the way!

Here are the major spots to visit:

• Arrive in Tok, the first town you’ll come across when entering Alaska on the Alaska Highway
• Denali National Park
• Hatcher Pass
• Kenai Peninsula, including Homer, Seward, and Kenai Fjords National Park
• Valdez (accessible by ferry from Whittier or driving from Anchorage)
• Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
• Drive back to Tok and leave Alaska

To get to the rest of Alaska, like the Southeast Portion and Inside Passage, you’ll need to utilize ferries.

Our RVing Alaska route

While we mostly followed the standard RVing Alaska route, we did make some modifications based on weather and our interests. Here is our rough itinerary!

• Arrived in Tok
• Drove the Denali Highway (instead of visiting Fairbanks)
• Homer and Kachemak Bay State Park
• Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park
• Hatcher Pass (we pushed this to later due to snow levels where we wanted to backpack)
• Valdez 
• Drive back to Tok and leave Alaska via the Top of the World Highway 

How long should you RV in Alaska?

In our opinion, 2-2.5 months is a great amount of time to RV in Alaska. It will give you the ability to see all of the spots above at a leisurely pace. And if you’re working full time like we are, you will have enough time to both work and play. However, we realize not everyone is able to work remotely or travels full time and will not have that much time to spend. So here are some tips on how to plan your RV route based on shorter time frames!

Only have one week?

If you only have one week in Alaska, we recommend sticking to the Anchorage area, plus the Kenai Peninsula. This will give you the chance to experience a lot of the state’s most EPIC scenery, but without days of driving. Here’s a quick sample itinerary:

• Day 1: Anchorage
• Day 2: Day trip to Hatcher Pass
• Day 3: Drive to Seward
• Days 4 & 5: Kenai Fjords National Park
• Day 6: Visit Hope and/or Whittier
• Day 7: Back to Anchorage

Check out our guide on how to spend 7 days in Alaska (with 4 itinerary options!)

Have two weeks?

If you have two weeks in Alaska, you will have the ability to see a lot more, but will still have to pick and choose a bit. Here are a couple quick sample itineraries:

• Day 2: Drive to Denali National Park
• Day 3: Denali National Park
• Day 4: Talkeetna
• Day 5: Hatcher Pass
• Day 6: Hike near Anchorage
• Day 7: Drive to Homer
• Day 8 & 9: Explore Homer
• Day 10: Drive to Seward
• Day 11 & 12: Kenai Fjords National Park
• Day 13: Visit Hope and/or Whittier
• Day 14: Back to Anchorage

Option 2: 

• Day 4 & 5: Kenai Fjords National Park
• Day 7: Drive to Valdez
• Day 8 & 9: Valdez
• Day 10, 11, & 12: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
• Day 13: Drive back to Anchorage
• Day 14: Explore more of Anchorage and return home

Don’t try to do too much

There is SO much to do in Alaska. And it can take a while to drive around. Make sure to plan a realistic timeline and not squeeze in too much. Otherwise, you’ll spend most of your time driving and have less time to actually get out into Alaska’s beauty.

COMING SOON: Check out our detailed itineraries for Alaska, including multiple options for 7 days and 10 days!

A big key to successful RVing in Alaska is to make sure you’re prepared beforehand. Driving your own RV to Alaska? Here are some things to think about before hitting the road!

Make sure your RV is ready for the journey

Your RV is going to be conquering thousands of miles of driving. So make sure to take the time to ensure it is ready for the long, and sometimes bumpy, journey! You’ll want to perform any maintenance services needed like oil change, change filters, and top off fluids before leaving the lower 48. It will be harder to find these services as you make your way up the Alaska Highway. And it may be more difficult to get services done while in Alaska. We also suggest checking the tread on your tires and making sure that your suspension can handle what’s to come. While the roads in Alaska are mostly paved, there are sections of the Alaska Highway that may not be. Lastly, check the AC, heater, refrigerator, awning, plumbing, electrical, and any other components in the living space.

Know the rules to cross the border

The two main routes to get through Canada to Alaska are the Alaska Highway and the Stewart-Cassiar Highway. Most people try to blaze through the Canada portion of this trip, but if you have the time, we highly recommend spending as much time as you can in Canada, there is so much to see and do!

Read our full guide to driving the Alaska Highway and our guide to driving the Stewart-Cassiar Highway !

Regardless of which way you go to Alaska, you will have to go through at least one border crossing (two for US citizens). Here are some of our tips to make sure you’re prepared!

Get familiar with what you can and cannot bring into Canada 

There are rules and restrictions for food, drugs, alcohol, and weapons. You can find the rules for the US here and the rules for Canada here .  We find the food rules to be a bit confusing, so we just try to always cross the border with no eggs, produce, or meat. As for weapons, bear spray IS allowed to be taken over the border, since it’s an animal deterrent. Pepper spray (to use on humans) is NOT allowed.

Passports 

Make sure to bring your passport! We also have NEXUS, which helps speed up the process. However, there was no NEXUS line at the Alaska border.

Know your travel plans

While we have had a few exceptions, most border agents are a bit intense. We always get a bit nervous crossing, but here are a few tips to help the process go smoothly!

• For US citizens, know how long you’ll be in Canada. If you’re a Canadian citizen, know how long you’ll be in Alaska. They don’t care about exact dates. General time frames work!
• Be concise with your answers.
• Have your documents ready when it’s your turn. 
• Declare what you’re supposed to. You’re legally required to and can get in trouble if you get pulled over and they find it later.

Crossing with pets

If you’re bringing a pet, you will need to declare them at the border. You’ll also need to make sure you have a copy of their rabies vaccination and that you only bring dog food in its original packaging, which has to be less than 20 kg (44 lbs). We have never been asked for the vaccination record, but it is required to have it on hand.

Change your speedometer 

Canada uses kilometers per hour, not miles per hour. Make sure to change your speedometer so you know what speed you’re going! That speed limit sign you see for 100 is NOT in mph. 😉 

Check road conditions

Here are some common road hazards you might encounter as you RV around Alaska.

Construction

A common joke is that in Alaska there are two seasons…winter and construction season. You’re likely to encounter at least one section of highway under construction in the summer. These sections can be as small as a few feet or as long as many miles. And oftentimes in these stretches that are under construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane. This can lead to long wait times, so make sure to plan for a bit of extra time than Google Maps may tell you.  We suggest keeping these sites bookmarked for updates on road conditions and construction projects: 511 Alaska , DriveBC and 511 Yukon .

Frost Heaves

In Canada and Alaska the extreme winter weather causes frost heaves in the road, which are like speed bumps in the middle of the highway. As you can imagine, hitting a speed bump at 60 mph will not be good for your vehicle. Frost heaves are a big reason for lots of construction. They are sometimes marked with an orange flag, but not always. So stay alert and watch for these! We personally did not find the frost heaves to be bad, but we had upgraded our suspension on our van and drove slowly. We know some RVs find them very unenjoyable though! Besides frost heaves, other common hazards on the road include potholes and soft shoulders.

Windshield damage

There is a high chance you’ll get some sort of windshield damage. If that is a concern, increase your glass policy with your auto insurance beforehand. 

You will likely see lots of wildlife along the highway, so make sure to stay alert and slow down if you notice any near the road.

Download offline navigation

You may not have cell service for multiple days on the drive up to Alaska, as well as during some stretches of driving in Alaska. We highly suggest downloading offline maps (both Google Maps and AllTrails maps) as well as any documents you may need. We kept our itinerary on a Google Sheet, so we made sure to have that downloaded, plus the routes for any hikes we wanted to do.

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership ? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)! We use AllTrails+ on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

Besides the essentials, like clothing, toiletries, and cooking supplies, there are a handful of items we highly suggest bringing to RV in Alaska. 

To see everything we recommend to take to Alaska, check out our Alaska Packing List (with printable checklist!)  

Emergency roadside kit

It’s always a good idea to carry a roadside emergency kit . This is an item you hope to never have to use, but it’s better to be safe than sorry! Besides a roadside kit, other items we suggest bringing are a fully inflated spare tire, spare parts, tools, and an adequate jack. 

Tire deflator

Before going to Alaska, we bought a Boulder Tools tire deflator so we could deflate our tires a bit before driving bumpy, gravel roads. After a few minutes of getting the hang of how it works, Adam really liked how easy it was to use. It definitely helps make the ride smoother to take some air out!

Portable air compressor

We also bought the Viair 88P portable air compressor to be able to air up the tires after deflating. It takes less than 10 minutes to air up all four tires. 

Tire patch kit

We planned to drive many gravel roads in and near Alaska, including the Denali Highway, Top of the World Highway, and Dempster Highway. So we bought a tire patch kit just in case the rough roads caused a tire issue. Thankfully we never had to use it!

Tire chains

If you’re planning RVing Alaska when snow may be present, you will want to carry tire chains. We carry these chains , but haven’t had to use them. Be sure to buy the appropriate size for your tire size!

Camping chairs

If you want to sit out and enjoy the beautiful Alaska scenery from your RV, pack some camping chairs !

Another item that can make camping in Alaska even more enjoyable is an awning! Don’t have an awning installed? Get a MoonShade ! We recently added this portable awning to our van and can’t wait to use it in Alaska in the future. If you want to get a MoonShade , use our code aplusk for $30 off! 

Satellite communication device 

We never go on an adventure without our Garmin inReach Mini . This is a satellite device that allows us to contact family, see GPS, and has an SOS button in case we get hurt. It has come in handy several times on our adventures, mostly to text family (not for SOS reasons thankfully)! This was especially handy in Alaska when going for hikes or spending multiple days in areas without cell service.

Mosquito Repellent

If you haven’t heard, the common joke is that the state bird of Alaska is the mosquito. We personally didn’t find the mosquitoes to be bad in Southcentral Alaska. Although, we did hear they are more common in Fairbanks and more inland, which we can confirm from our time in Tok and Denali. In order to not have a miserable time swatting mosquitoes all day make sure to bring bug spray with DEET ! We also bought a Thermacell for when we sat outside and we think it helped!

Electric fly swatter

Another key item to have with you for your RV trip in Alaska is an electric fly swatter . Not only is it a ton of fun to use, it’s also very effective. If a pesky mosquito or fly gets in your RV, this thing will do the trick!

Blackout shades

Since it hardly gets dark in the summer in Alaska, you will want to ensure you have a way to block out light in your RV to sleep. We have blackout covers on all of our windows, plus a curtain, and it keeps the van nice and dark at night! If you’re renting an RV and don’t know if you’ll have blackout curtains, an eye mask is a good idea!

The Milepost

The Milepost is known as “the bible of North Country travel” and is a large, annual travel guide to all of the routes to and in Alaska, with mile by mile descriptions and information about lodging, where to eat, things to see and do, and tons more.  Anytime you mention RVing Alaska, you will be told to buy The Milepost. In our opinion, while The Milepost is useful, it is also very overwhelming. It includes much more information than we felt we needed.  However, we’d still buy it again and suggest you do the same. It did give us a handful of ideas of things to do in Alaska. But there are many other helpful resources out there, like *cough* our website *cough*. We have a HUGE guide to driving the Alaska Highway , plus lots of Alaska guides that we hope help you plan your time in Alaska!

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4 thoughts on “ rving alaska: our top tips & things to know ”.

Just want to say thank you for all the helpful tips on your videos and website. We are making our 2nd rv trip to alaska next week and I have gotten so much great info from you guys!

Hi Lori! That is awesome! Thank you so much for reading our website and watching our videos! We’re so glad they are helpful and that you are having a wonderful trip!

On my bucket list to drive to Alaska in a class b rv. Thank you for all the information. I am terrified of driving through mountains with high drop offs & little shoulders. How bad are the roads to drive through the mountains? I was hoping they went mainly through the valleys. Thank you

Hi! We don’t recall there being many or any roads with large drop offs both on the drive to Alaska or within Alaska!

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Pulling a Travel Trailer to Alaska: What You Need to Know

While pulling a travel trailer to Alaska from the Lower 48 is certainly possible, it can definitely be tricky. There is some good news, though: the highway is much better maintained, more paved, and easier to travel than it was over 20 years when I was preparing for my first time moving up to The Last Frontier. Just the fact the majority of the Alcan Highway is paved now tells me how much things have changed the past few decades because not so long ago that wasn’t necessarily the case.

Pulling a travel trailer from the Continental United States to Alaska is 100% possible, however this is a very long and challenging journey that requires planning, emergency funds, and smart preparation to try to make the move as smooth as possible.

Even so, pulling a travel trailer to Alaska is no easy task. That’s thousands of miles/kilometers of travel across highway that hugs hills, mountains, and cuts through long swaths of wilderness where there aren’t towns close by if you break down. And if you think you can rely on Google Maps along the way you’re in for a serious surprise if a breakdown takes place.

How to Prepare for Pulling a Travel Trailer to Alaska

This is going to be an undertaking, and one that you shouldn’t take lightly, but the right preparation can go a long way to making this an adventure to remember instead of a mess of hiccups and disasters you’ll want to forget even months later.

We’re skipping extremely obvious items like “Vehicle” and “Trailer,” because if you’re doing this level of preparing I’m going to assume you’re not a total idiot and understand the absolute basics that you need to have.

• Additional spare tires
• The tools to change a tire or make very basic repairs, and a roll of duck tape
• A planned trip that includes multiple extra days for the inevitable “just in case” moments that WILL come up on this trip
• Extra days because sometimes you’ll just want to go slow

There’s good news here. If you’re talking to people who traveled this route prior to 2000, well it was just a much rougher route back then. Both the Alaska side of the highway and previously infamous sections of the Dawson or the Alcan are much better than they were back then. That’s not to day that there aren’t potentially long stretches where you drop to 30 because it feels like a constant washboard, but the road is solid and as long as you stop when gas is available, you’ll always have enough to get to the next stop.

Do all the basic maintenance. Test the lights, the blinkers, run it across a few speed bumps close to home then test again to make sure everything is properly secured. While this trip is a safe adventure for the well-prepared, that preparation is key.

Because in isolated northern Canadian cities things like repairs can get quite expensive!

Thousands RV or Pull Trailers to Alaska Every Year

The good news: thousands of people pull travel trailers to Alaska every single year, many of them driving RVs and pulling trailers behind them. In other words, this isn’t a situation where a lot of people try it but only a few here and there make it without incident. Literally thousands of travelers make this trip every year and come back just fine with vehicles and trailers in good shape, though trailers maybe noticeably a bit dinged up, but still fully functional.

The biggest complaints are two-fold and one is plenty easy to prepare and deal with:

• Most travelers run into at least one or two flat tires at some point that need repairing (trust me – patching is NOT a long-term solution on those roads)
• Most travelers spend weeks up in northern Canada and Alaska and almost all of them say it wasn’t nearly long enough

I feel that second one…I really do. But only so much can be done about that (check out the rest of the site for Alaska moving articles to do just that).

If you took the advice to get good tires changed on before the trip and to have spares on hand you will be good to go when dealing with the second one.

Since you know pulling a travel trailer to Alaska whether camping, traveling, or moving is fully viable, let’s get down to the last part that makes traveling a little bit smoother: the etiquette!

IMPORTANT: While it’s understandable that you will want a firearm if you’re doing a lot of camping in bear country, do NOT bring a handgun to Canada. Because of laws it’s nearly impossible to bring along. If you are bringing a long gun, this is doable but make sure to do all the paperwork ahead of time and follow Canada’s regulations perfectly. If you do this, you shouldn’t have too much trouble.

Some Etiquette While Driving to Alaska with a Travel Trailer

These are generally basic things and some go beyond driving but if I can save you a dirty look or two or a gruff response from a station attendant because you stepped on some local customs, I’m all here to help!

• Don’t call it the Alcan Highway (for some reason) while in Canada – call it the Alaska Highway
• Make sure pets have all shots and Vet records up to date
• Having an up to date passport is the easiest way through the border checks
• Remember the speed limit is kilometers per hour, not miles per hour
• Have a high limit credit card for emergencies
• Don’t insult Tim Horton’s – just don’t

Keep those in mind and you’ll be in for some smooth sailing on your journey!

Pulling a Travel Trailer to Alaska: In Conclusion

Traveling to Alaska can be a challenge, but going while pulling a travel trailer is absolutely possible. You need to make sure your vehicle, trailer, and planned trip all in tip-top shape before starting out, but this is a very viable trip and one that will be sure to produce wonderful memories of your adventurous travels.

Take the proper precautions outlined in this article and you will be all set to go, pulling your travel trailer to Alaska for the adventure of a lifetime!

Other Articles of Interest

• How to Move to Kodiak Alaska
• How to Move to Barrow Alaska
• How to Move to Juneau Alaska (Coming Soon)
• How to Move to Alaska from the UK (Coming Soon)
• Alaska Regions Understanding the Largest State

7 Best Cruises to Alaska, According to Travel Experts

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While some travelers dream of lounging on a beach in the Caribbean, others might be itching to put on hiking shoes and explore the great outdoors. If glaciers, wildlife and picturesque coastline have long been on your bucket list, consider booking a cruise to Alaska. The northernmost American state offers an activity for everyone's interest and level of adventure. You can take a thrilling helicopter flight to explore a glacier on foot or observe miles of Alaska’s lush scenery and spy whales from a comfortable seat on a boat.

Princess Cruises

A top choice for multi-generational families and larger groups seeking on-board experiences for a wide age range, Princess will sail seven ships to Alaska in 2024 — more than any other line. Princess also offers the most departure cities , potentially saving you money on airfare. Alaska sailings range from 4 to 22 days, though a week is the sweet spot. The line is also only one of seven permitted to enter the magnificent Glacier Bay National Park (shown); check out the tips at the end of the story for details.

Good Housekeeping Contributing Travel Editor Karen Cicero and her daughter recently sailed on Majestic Princess, a Family Travel Awards Winner , and raved about the ship's amenities, especially the Hollywood Pool Club. She described it as “an indoor space with a heated pool, plush loungers, and cabana-like spots that are free for all guests to use.” Cicero was also impressed with the entertainment and activities suitable for all ages, the excellent dining options and a supervised kids’ club for ages 3 to 12. "We saw grandparents and grandkids on the dance floor, at the shows, on the excursions — bonding moments were everywhere," Cicero said.

In 2024, Majestic Princess and Discovery Princess, the line's newest Alaska ship, will both sail roundtrip from Seattle. "You can't beat Princess if you're looking for an experience that will please all ages," said Cicero.

Departure Cities: Los Angeles; San Francisco; Seattle; Vancouver; Whittier, Alaska Cruise Ships: Crown Princess (2024 only); Grand Princess, Caribbean Princess (2025 only), Royal Princess, Sapphire Princess, Discovery Princess, Majestic Princess (2024 only), Crown Princess, Coral Princess (2025 only)

Norwegian Cruise Line

Passengers are loyal to Norwegian for its beautiful ships, top-notch service and innovative amenities. The cruise line pioneered the concept of “freestyle cruising," which includes a flexible dining time. Flexible cruising continues to be a major selling point , according to our testers who recently sailed roundtrip from Seattle to Alaska on the Norwegian Encore (pictured). "We enjoyed not having to rush back to the ship after an excursion because we had a dinner reservation," said our tester who sailed with her spouse.

They also frequented the Encore’s Observation Lounge, where they were able to cozy up and spend hours searching for marine life from floor-to-ceiling windows. Activities and entertainment, like go-karting, slides and laser tag, are abundant. For a premium experience, consider booking a stateroom in The Haven. The Encore's most luxurious accommodations feature spacious rooms — the bathrooms are nearly double the size of those in standard staterooms — a private sundeck and a concierge.

The variety of sailings to Alaska is also another reason to choose Norwegian. "If Hawaii is also on your bucket list, Norwegian is one of the only cruise lines to offer a 16-day cruise departing from Honolulu that sails through both Hawaii and Alaska so you explore two dreamy destinations on one vacation," said Cicero. She added that Norwegian sails to Alaska until late October — about a month longer than most cruise lines.

Departure Cities: Honolulu; Seattle; Seward, Alaska; Vancouver; Whittier, Alaska (2025) Cruise Ships: Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Jewel (only in 2024), Norwegian Spirit (only in May 2024), Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Jade (only in 2025), Norwegian Joy (only in 2025)

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Disney Cruise Line

Disney lovers will have the time of their lives sailing roundtrip from Vancouver to Alaska aboard the Disney Wonder. "It was the best experience ever," said a mom of two young adults who sailed on the ship in May 2023. "We felt like it was a great combination of Disney and Alaska."

On-board experiences brilliantly align with the destination. For instance, Disney characters are dressed in special outfits for Alaska and are on deck during the days at sea. "We were able to get incredible photos with the glaciers behind the characters," said the mom, who also noted that you can order Mickey Mouse ice cream bars from room service. Cicero added, "Disney has the best kids' and teen clubs of any cruise line. They're enormous, filled with epic activities like superhero training and are a great place for kids and teens to make friends."

If you want an equal dose of Disney and Alaska, this is the cruise for your crew. Sailings range from five to nine nights. All routes head to Stikine Icecap so guests can observe stunning glaciers, cliffs, waterfalls and wildlife.

Departure City: Vancouver Cruise Ship: Disney Wonder

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean doesn’t only sail to the Caribbean. This global cruise line whisks passengers to Alaska from popular ports such as Seattle and Vancouver. You can choose a classic seven-night itinerary or a 13-night land-and-sea getaway.

Cruise enthusiasts at the Good Housekeeping Institute are fans of Royal Caribbean for its state-of-the-art ships, exceptional service and high-quality entertainment. "Royal Caribbean had the first rock-climbing wall and ice-skating rink on a cruise ship," said Cicero. "Since then, they've brought so many other epic activities to sea." For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class, which includes Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, offers skydiving, a surf simulator and a robot bar. "This line is an especially good fit for families with tweens, teens and young adults ," said Cicero, who sailed on Royal Caribbean with her teen daughter.

Departure Cities: Seattle; Seward, Alaska; Vancouver Cruise Ships: Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas (only in 2024), Ovation of the Seas (only in 2024), Serenade of the Seas (only in 2025)

National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions

For an incredible small-ship experience, look no further than the Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic team-up. The largest of its ships that sail to Alaska can accommodate no more than 138 passengers — just a sliver of the 4,900 or so that Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas can hold. " Being on a smaller vessel means that you’ll be able to sail right up to less frequented glaciers, waterfalls and fjords, " said Cicero.

Of course, an intimate experience comes at a higher price tag — its eight-day Alaskan adventure starts at about $6,200 per person, though you won't need to pay extra for excursions. "Voyages tend to be themed and stress the educational component," said Cicero. For instance, one focuses on coastal wildlife while another explores native cultures. A Good Housekeeping staff member who sailed the line to the Galápagos Islands (a providence of Ecuador) raved, "The ship was beautiful! I was super impressed with the staff and the service felt above and beyond.”

Departure Cities: Juneau, Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska; Seattle; Sitka, Alaska Cruise Ships: National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion, National Geographic Resolution

Holland America Line

Holland America has a well-earned reputation for bringing guests to new destinations for more than 150 years. Its ships tend to be mid-sized — larger than Lindblad's offerings but smaller than the Quantum ships from Royal Caribbean. While Holland attracts an older demographic, its Alaskan cruises are often filled with multi-generational families.

One of the cruise line’s most popular itineraries is the Seven-Day Inside Passage, which takes you through Glacier Bay National Park, the Inside Passage, Tracy Arm Inlet and several must-visit port towns. But for adventure seekers curious to see as much of Alaska as possible, you’ll find tons of extended itineraries including a robust 28-day voyage that crosses the Arctic Circle.

Holland America is the only cruise line permitted to serve glacier ice, using it for cocktails like the Blue Iceberg and Juneau Gin & Tonic. The line also launched a new Alaskan-themed brunch menu offered once per cruise.

Departure Cities: Anchorage, Alaska (for land-sea tours only); Fairbanks, Alaska; Seattle; Vancouver, Whittier, Alaska Cruise Ships: Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Zuiderdam, Zaandam

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity is popular with adults and couples looking for a premium onboard experience, including delicious cuisine, luxurious staterooms and a high-end spa . We can’t imagine a better way to rest and relax after spending a day exploring the Alaskan wilderness. Our travel experts suggest choosing one of Celebrity's many Alaska itineraries that sail through the Inside Passage and up to Dawes Glacier or Hubbard Glacier, two of the state’s gems.

Of the three Celebrity ships that sail to Alaska, we recommend the Celebrity Edge for those new to cruising or seeking a more contemporary experience. Launched in 2018, the ship features standout innovations like Eden, a multi-level bar with panoramic views, and the Magic Carpet, a multi-purpose floating space suspended directly above the sea.

Departure Cities: Seattle; Seward, Alaska; Vancouver Cruise Ships: Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Edge

Tips for booking your cruise to Alaska

✔️ Check your itinerary. The itinerary you choose is key on an Alaskan cruise. If you have your heart set on visiting Glacier Bay National Park, make sure that your cruise line has it listed on the schedule. "Only seven lines were awarded the Glacier Bay contract by the National Park Service ," Cicero said. If you're not sure whether the cruise you have in mind will go through Glacier Bay, double-check with the cruise line or your travel agent.

✔️ Book shore excursions well in advance. Alaskan cruises generally sail from April to October. Because of the shorter season, your ship will likely be close to capacity and several ships may overlap in ports. Excursions will book up quickly. To secure your spot, book excursions well in advance or as soon as they're available.

✔️ Focus on family. Alaskan cruises are best for kids who are at least 5 years old. "Keep in mind that cruise lines don't allow kids who aren't potty-trained to be in pools, even if they're wearing a swim diaper," Cicero said. It's also worth noting that most cruise lines don't permit babies under 6 months or pregnant passengers who are 24 or more weeks along. Cicero advises families with school-age children to look for on-ship amenities, such as an indoor heated pool, a supervised kids' club and a variety of family-friendly nighttime entertainment. "Before you sail, you should also find out which non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary," Cicero said. "Many cruise lines charge extra for soft drinks, but milk and juice are usually included." Free room service is another big perk for families, she notes, so see if that's offered on the line you're considering.

✔️ Check your passport. Even if your cruise starts and stops in a U.S. port like Seattle, there's a high chance your ship will dock in Canada at some point throughout your trip. Also, " some of the excursions in Alaskan ports venture into Canada and will require a passport," explained Cicero. For instance, you may take the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway from Skagway into Yukon, a Canadian territory. Your passport will need to be valid for at least 6 months following the cruise.

✔️ Pack layers. This is especially crucial if you're traveling in Alaska's shoulder season — May and September. While May tends to be drier, temperatures remain relatively chilly. Likewise, September marks the end of the summer season and welcomes cooler temperatures and more rainfall. Because you'll be spending a lot of time outdoors, it's important to prepare for all weather scenarios, including windy conditions common to sailing cruise ships.

✔️ Book next summer's cruise soon. To get the best staterooms and excursions, start looking for a 2025 cruise in 2024, Cicero said, noting that many ships start to fill up at least 6 months in advance. And don't forget about major sale days. "Last year, cruise lines had fantastic Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals," she said.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Good Housekeeping Institute Writer and Product Analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from tech to travel, fitness, outdoor, home and more. Not only does she have years of product review experience under her belt, but she’s also a travel enthusiast who has been on more than 20 cruises (and counting)!

The former travel editor at Parents magazine, Karen Cicero specializes in travel, children's book, lifestyle and food coverage. She manages the experience portion of the Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards. She has sailed on four cruise lines with her family and toured several others. She recently was a featured speaker at several travel industry conferences, including PRSA, Mid-Atlantic Tourism Alliance and the Family Travel Association.

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