Dallas to Alaska - 4000 Miles One Way!!

[Snugy]

I understand about the gun laws. Like I said, Dad made this trip 48 times up and 48 times back...each time with his 357. It's totally a personal choice but I've spent 19 years of my life in Alaska and have gone on many roads, which can be long and very alone. Many veterans of the state will tell you...they go no where without one. Again, it's not so much for the strange people but also the unexpected animals...some quite bigger then a deer...LOL

Either way....enjoy your trip. There is so much to see, I do hope you have enough time to really tour the place. Take your fishing pole too...it's great fishing, if you like that kind of stuff.

Snugy

[shirohniichan]

When we went through BC to Alaska back in '02, the border guards made it clear that handguns were not allowed into Canada. They said they would confiscate any they found. Rifles are another matter, but check with current regulations to see what the restrictions are.

[PNW Judy]

Here's the scoop from the Canadian consulate. You can take handguns in with proper permits from the Canadian government. However, it sounds like a hassle to me and I'm not a fan of carrying a gun. My girlfriend has driven several times from Chugiak, near Anchorage, down the Al-Can to the Lower 48 and back again, and she has never taken a gun with her.

I would also check with US customs to see what it takes to get a gun back across the border into the US. I had friends who went through all the proper paperwork to take hunting rifles into Canada for a hunting trip, transported the guns in proper containers, etc., and still had major problems and delays getting back into the US.

[Mark Sedenquist]

We commissioned an article about vehicle preparation for traveling the AlCan Highway -- it's focus was on RVing, but the information applies to all sorts of conveyances. Check this out!

Mark

[UKCraig]

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!

How did you go on renting a car? It is almost twelve months since I visited Alaska and have a real desire to go back. Soon. I quite fancy driving up as part of the experience... but getting a car looks impossible??

[glc]

Craig, I believe Lifey is driving a van loaned to her by family in the US.

[UKCraig]

Ah, okay. I will keep on trying to work it out then ;)

[Lifemagician]

Craig, the first time I went to Alaska, in 2004, I went in a rent-a-car, and here is what I did.....

Months before I got on the internet to find a rental car. I found that Budget are the only ones with unlimited mileage. I also learned from reading the fine print, that if you rent from Budget in Alaska there are all sorts of restrictions. Budget in Seattle did not have any of those restrictions... and besides, I wanted to drive the Alaska Highway.

I got an internet quote. I emailed them with a lot of questions. Then I called them, and asked about renting for longer than 4 weeks, but I could not pursuade them to let me have it longer. I quizzed them again, extensively about the unlimited mileage. I also asked if I could take it into Canada. I was assured that I could take it anywhere in the USA and Canada but not over the Mexican border. (I even had a US attorney friend check out the terms and conditions for me - he knew what I was planning.)


I booked the car, and when I picked it up, I asked all the above questions again. I was assured of the asnwers once again.

At no time did I mention the word Alaska! At no time did I mention where I was going. I am convinced that in their wildest dreams they would not have thought that a lone senior female would make that trip.

I did 6400 miles and it cost me AU$1000 for the four weeks. I was an hour late getting it back, and had to pay for that.

I booked the second smallest car, knowing full well, with the cost of fuel at the time, everyone wanted small cars, so I was - as expected - upgraded at no extra cost.

Moreover, 45 mins into my rental I had a minor mishap, which was not my fault, and they replaced the car promptly. I was never charged for the repairs.

Craig, go for it... word all your requests the right way. Read and reread all the messages you send and receive. Analyze what the words mean. Print out the terms... get someone to check them. I put months into that rental agreement, and am not sorry that I did.

Any further questions, just ask.

Lifey who is back in the "lower 48"