To help you make the most of your trip to North America’s last frontier, here are some helpful Alaska travel tips for RV travelers.
Whether you’re looking to watch wildlife or explore small towns, Alaska has it all to satisfy your sense of adventure. With so many amazing places to visit in beautiful landscapes, this could be the road trip of a lifetime where you can soak up the towns and natural beauty.
Few places are as beautiful as Alaska, but traveling there brings its own set of challenges, including the brutal cold, of course, which we’ll cover here. And then there’s the rest.
Alaska Travel Tips for RV Travelers
If you love long road trips, Alaska is for you. Drive an RV along the Alaska Highway, which connects Alaska to the lower 48 states via the Canadian border. If a road trip to Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime dream, there’s no better way to do it than on this incredibly scenic drive.
Below are some Alaska travel tips for RVers.
1. Best time to visit Alaska
Alaska in summer.
Alaska is a breathtakingly beautiful state in any season, so there’s no bad time to go, depending on your preferences — but certain times of the year offer longer hours of daylight and much better road and camping conditions.
Alaska’s northern location means that it experiences long hours of daylight and nighttime throughout the year. During the summer months, the daylight hours are long, lasting almost 24 hours at its peak, while during the winter months it is very dark with very little sunlight.
Some wildlife may be difficult to see as they hibernate or become inactive. If you visit in the summer, you’ll enjoy more active animals and more vibrant vegetation. If you want to see animals like brown bears and Asiatic black bears, summer is the best time to visit.
For these reasons, the best time to visit Alaska is between June and August.
Summer is the busiest time of year, but you don’t need to worry about crowds. The state (and its tourist sites) are large and spread out over a wide area, so if you’re worried about crowds, it’s probably best to visit a little earlier or later in the summer.
Additionally, summer temperatures are much milder than the harsh, cold winter climate.
Be aware that around September the daylight hours and temperatures start to drop dramatically so plan accordingly.
How about visiting in winter?
If you are visiting after September, you need to be prepared.
Some visitors choose to visit Alaska in the winter months to see the Northern Lights. If you plan to do this, make sure to plan your trip after September. Keep in mind that some roads and highways will be closed during this time as they switch to winter time.
You should also ensure that you have the correct tyres and chains, if required.
Don’t forget to plan for food and fuel, as these supplies may be difficult to obtain if roads or stores are closed.
We all know that road conditions are very important when traveling in an RV, and traveling in the summer is arguably safer since you won’t have to deal with snow and ice, plus there aren’t as many road closures to worry about.
2. Length of Alaska Trip
A trip to Alaska is best when you have time for a long journey, but don’t despair if you’re limited in time – there are still great trips to take!
Generally, if you have the time, 6 weeks is the ideal amount of time to drive to and around Alaska. That way you have time to drive to where you need to be while experiencing the true beauty of Alaska. 6 weeks is just the right amount of time to really see Alaska from border to border.
Even if you only have a couple of weeks or so to spend in Alaska, there are some beautiful routes you can take to make the most of your time.
3. Set travel goals
Once you’ve decided on the duration, the next step is to determine the objectives of your trip. What do you want to see in Alaska? What are your “must-do” activities? Once you know these, you can start planning your itinerary.
Here are some popular options:
Denali National Park
Many people visit Alaska to see the breathtaking national parks. Not only can you see abundant wildlife, but you can also hike some of the most beautiful countryside in North America. Talk to a park ranger at the visitor’s center for advice on what to see.
Top of the World Highway
Top of the World Highway
Driving the Top of the World Highway is quite an adventure. The Alaskan backcountry has a lot to offer, so have your camera ready as you’ll want to take lots of photos of the wildlife and beautiful scenery.
Many people prefer something called the Klondike Loop.
This road trip requires you to leave the Alaska Highway in the town of Whitehorse, then travel along the Klondike Highway to Dawson City, where you’ll board a ferry across the Yukon River and rejoin the Alaska Highway at Tetlin Junction.
This road is partially paved, but is best taken completely only if your vehicle is equipped for it. Some campers and travel trailers are too large for this road. Another option is to ship your RV to Alaska and drive over this road.
4. Understand Canadian law
Another thing to be aware of when driving to Alaska is Canadian laws. You will be driving through Canada to get to Alaska. This means you will need to follow Canadian driving laws to avoid tickets and accidents. Also, if you are traveling with pets, you may want to check out our recent podcast on some of the rules if you are driving through Canada to get to Alaska.
Here are more Alaska travel tips for RV travelers…
5. Outfit your RV
Be prepared for the weather.
Driving to Alaska is a long drive, so you need to make sure your RV is properly equipped. Make sure you go through our maintenance checklist. You should have a spare tire on hand in case you get a flat tire.
You should also make sure you have enough food, first aid supplies, water, and other essentials. Even in the summer, Alaska can get cold, so prepare for the cold weather and bring enough blankets and jackets to stay warm in case your heater runs out.
6. Think about connectivity
If you’re traveling in bear territory, you might find that the internet connection isn’t always great, which can be a bit of a bummer, but it also means that you’re completely cut off from the internet out in the wild.
One important thing is to be mindful of when you might be off-grid. Let those around you know when and where you will be traveling. If you don’t check in at the scheduled time, help may be sent.
If you are out of range, this is also a good reason to print out hard copies of maps and atlases so you know where you are traveling. When traveling without connectivity, it’s best to be as safe as possible.
This is how we plan our RV trips, and of course that includes paper maps.
7. Take your time (and be safe)!
Alaska is a place to get away from it all and reconnect with nature. Take the time to sit back and just take in the beauty. Close your eyes and listen to the silence of the birds, the wind and the amazing noise of nature.
Feel small in this gigantic state and be humbled by the grandeur of Mother Nature.
And be humble and respectful of local hazards, including wildlife and weather. The wildlife there is wild and the weather can make roads and camping incredibly dangerous. There’s no need to be scared…just be prepared!
So take your time, be safe, and enjoy the amazing trip of a lifetime.
What are your Alaska travel tips for RV travelers?
Whether you live in Alaska or have taken an RV trip yourself, be sure to share your Alaska travel tips for RVers in the comments section.
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Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy Award winning journalist, podcaster, YouTuber, and blogger. He and his wife Jennifer have been traveling in an RV across North America for the past 12 years, sharing their adventures and reviewing RV, camping, outdoor, travel, and tech gear. The two are leading experts on RV living and have written 18 travel books.
