Alaska Bound !!

[alcanbound]

Hello all,

I need some help. My family and I are moving to TOK, Alaska this summer. We currently reside in El Paso, TX. We plan on heading straight up north and entering Canada at Sweetgrass, MT. The trip from here to MT is about 1500 miles. From Sweetgrass it's about 1900 miles to TOK. Has anyone driven this part of Canada and will it involve crossing any bodies of water? We plan on taking atleast 8 to 10 days to get there. We have a 4x4 SUV and have it ready for just about anything. Any advise would be helpful. Thanks to all.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I need some help. My family and I are moving to TOK, Alaska this summer.

Wow, that is quite a change in culture and environment -- Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum!

Has anyone driven this part of Canada and will it involve crossing any bodies of water?

I have driven part of the route -- but I will need to return to the office to look at my trip notes. I will be back in the office at the end of the week. Sounds like a great adventure!

Mark

[PNW Judy]

Wow...I hope you've bought a whole new wardrobe for that temperature change!

MS Streets & Trips says it's 1615 miles from El Paso to Sweetgrass; and another 1992 miles to Tok.

It's confusing to tell you the route MS S&T suggests aren't always towns near the interchanges. But here goes, from Sweetgrass:
4 and 520 to Calgary, 2 to Innisfail, 54 and 78a to Sylvan Lake, then 20, 39, 759, 624, 22 to Mayerthorpe, 43 to Valleyview, 34 to a bit north of Grand Prairie, 2, 672, then 2 again to Dawson Creek, 97 through British Columbia (it appears to be called 1 in the Yukon Territory) to Alaska border, then 2 to Tok.

Whew! Anyway, S&T says that this is the quickest route, if that's any help.

I didn't see anything that raises a red flag that driving will be a problem. I have a friend that has driven her New Beetle (not 4WD and very low clearance) from Chugiak, AK (nearer Anchorage) to the continental US, and back again, several times and she hasn't had any problems.

As for advice, I would get a copy of the Alaska Milepost Magazine as it gives excellent, detailed instructions on driving to Alaska.

Wow...what a great adventure! I hope you'll come back and share a bit with us.

[alcanbound]

Thanks for the great detailed information...it will come in handy. I've driven all over the US and have never had a problem. This will be a great adventure for my family and myself. I spent most of my young years in places like Telluride, Durango, Silverton and Leadville, CO. The weather is a bit colder I know, but God how I hate the hot weather. I did purchase the Milepost...today as a matter of fact and I'm sure it will be a great help as well. Thanks again for using your time to help me, I'm sure it wasn't timely. I'll be sure to post some of my trip adventures when I get to my new home.

Tony.