Dallas to Alaska - 4000 Miles One Way!!

[Lifemagician]

....One nice detour is to go from Vancouver towards Whistler then onto Pemberton, Lillooet and back out back onto the Fraser Canyon. Anne

Anne, I could not agree more. And even though it is not a great distance, it is worth allowing a few days. There are so many places to go for short hikes, and so much to do on the Sea to Sky Highway.

A bit off the subject, but when I arrived at Squamish - in August 2004 - my mouth was watering from having seen all the ripe blackberries along the way. I ended up staying an extra day at the blackberry surrounded hostel, and made a kilo of blackberry jam.

It came in handy later as gifts and to barter with.

Memories!!

[LinuxRacr]

I've been dreaming of making this road trip since I was a teen, and saw an article in a local Dallas newspaper. I wonder if my Mazda MP3 would make it?

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

The Alaska Highway is mostly paved roads that are suitable for pretty much any car. As was mentioned earlier in this thread, even a VW new Beetle can make the trip, so I think your Mazda would do just fine. The biggest danger would likely be cosmetic issues like rock chips and gravel damage.

[LinuxRacr]

Thanks for the welcome! I would definitely need some rock blocker!

Here is my ride:

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1233968372
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...r/DSCF3124.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/DSCF3219.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1233968279

[SanDiegoShana]

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

I think you are greatly overstating the challenges of an Alaska Roadtrip. Hundreds of people make this trip everyday, and there are no 800 mile stretches without gas. The longest stretch of the Alaska Highway without services is only about 100 miles, with gas typically being available every 20-50 miles.

This trip is so popular, in fact, that there is an entire annual guide dedicated to this trip called the Milepost which I encourage you to read to learn a little more about this not-so-lonely road.

Great link. Thanks!

[shamrock]

(edit)

I would like to drive from Dallas to Anchorage Alaska. 4085 miles. 8200 round trip. $1000 in gas.

(edit)
The thing is, no-one does this. No-one anywhere I have ever met sits down and says, “I want to drive to Alaska”. You just don’t. I know, because I have done up to 1100 mile trips like this on my own many times before (something else you didn’t know about me) that the TRIP ITSELF is the adventure. The destination is just the reward.

Really? I thought folks did this every summer. I myself am contemplating the same journey, with the starting point being Austin. Just me and my dog, taking about a month to drive all the way up and back. We went from Austin to Glacier National Park (n. Montana) last year, and that was awesome. Did it too late in the year to go any further north, though.

Looking forward to reading the comments on this thread, it might motivate me to get started. :D

-val

[Lifemagician]

Val, the day after tomorrow I will be heading out of Boston to Alaska, via family and friends in NJ, IA and ID, then onto Glacier NP, Canadian Rockies, Prince George, Cassair Hwy, Alaska Hwy and Dawson City.

Go for it, it is a trip well worth doing. I did it solo in 2004, but this time I am allowing twice as much time... there is just sooooooooo much you want to see after having gone all that way.

It is by no means a lonely track, in fact the highways in northern Canada and Alaska are suprisingly busy. You will meet lots of folk along the way - campgrounds, wayside stops, touristy attractions - who are doing the same thing.

One young lass I met in Wassila was from Germany. She was cycling from Montana, had been to Homer, was on her way to Denali, and then back along the Alaska Hwy and the Canadian Rockies, back to Montana. I was in awe!

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA Forum, Val.

If you went through the rest of the thread, you'll see that the original poster seemed to have a dream of doing something wild and crazy, and thought a trip to Alaska would be it. However, as you'd see, this is not at all a road that no one travels, and is actually a quite popular route.

[Snugy]

Believe it or not, I do and have know someone who said "I want to drive all the way to Alaska." In fact he made the trip 48 times up and back, while hauling Max ATV's and Ford Trucks from Detroit. He made all these trips BEFORE the ALCAN Hwy. was paved, so this part will make your life much easier. This person was my Father. It is a wonderful trip with lots to see. You should take all the extra's you've listed and keep in mind that you might also need a new windshield too. Rocks are very common on these northern roads and many a windshield has lost that fight. I'd also keep a big bag of Jerkey, just in case. It won't spoil and doesn't need ice to keep either. Sorry to say it but I'd also take a gun. Double check what the laws are in the states you're traveling in, but there will be areas where you'll be the ONLY sole on the road and in addition to shady people, you also need to consider the bigger animals you'll be riding into as well. If you can, even installing a CB radio would be a great plus. You'd be able to keep up with road conditions and have a back up to your cell phone...just in case there is no signal.

Hope this helps...safe travels.
Snugy

[Midwest Michael]

Welcome to the RTA forum!

I loved the story about your father as well as your other advice about making the trip. The only thing I'd disagree with is about the gun. Carrying a gun on a roadtrip is not a great idea in my opinion in the first place, but specifically to the Alcan, Canadian gun laws are much more strict than the US and it would be very difficult to legally bring a gun on a trip like this.