Can you drive to Alaska?
Yes– you can drive to Alaska! Most people prefer the comfort and speed of flying there, or taking an Alaskan cruise or ferry. However, if you are not most people, driving to Alaska is a fun, affordable, and flexible option that grants you a ton of freedom when planning your trip.
The best time to go is from May-September, when the weather is mild. Still, you’ll want to pack a variety of clothes since the temperature can peak at 70+ degrees Fahrenheit during the day and dip into the 30s at night. Driving to Alaska outside of this window may not be as fruitful since many businesses and services will close during the colder months.
You’ll have to drive through Canada no matter what. There are about 119 border crossings from the United States into Canada, although crossing into Canada north of Seattle, WA is a popular option.
Prepare for Your Road Trip
You’ll need your passport to drive through Canada. Make sure you bring all your required documentation for you and everyone aboard the vehicle. That’s right– even for your furry friends!
Decide on the length of your trip. Most travelers will devote 5-10 days to the 1000+ mile trek across the Alaskan wilderness. Planning out your itinerary in detail is key, as services along the road once you finally get on it may be sparse.
After you officially enter Mountie territory, you’ll have the option of two routes: the Alaskan Highway and the Cassiar Highway. Both of these roads are paved and well-maintained, getting you safely through the Yukon and North to the Future.
The Alaskan Highway is the most popular route. Also known as the Alcan Highway, this highway spans 1,387 miles from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Delta Junction, Alaska. This way is the more frequented one, as it offers more services and sight-seeing along the way. Attractions along the Alaskan Highway include: Liard River Hot Springs. Canada’s second largest hot spring, the Liard River Hot Springs offers visitors the opportunity to relax and unwind after long travel days. The pools are located in a beautiful, lust forest and are over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The park is open year round, from 7AM-11PM daily. Muncho Lake Park.This gorgeous park is home to mountains, wildlife, and blooming wildflowers. Moose and sheep are frequently sighted in the park, and there’s plenty of trout in the blue-green alpine waters of the lake if fishing is your thing. As an FYI for your future trip: Muncho Lake Park was open from May 1, 2024 to September 15, 2024. Plan accordingly!
Cassiar Highway is the road less traveled-- literally. Also known as Highway 37, this path stretches from the Kitwanga Junction along the Yellowhead Highway to Junction 37 for about 450 miles, until it meets the Alaskan Highway. This route will have less traffic, but there will also be less services available, so travelers should be prepared to stop whenever they can and/or opt to pack their own meals. Highlights of this route include: Bear Glacier Lagoon. An excellent spot for breathtaking beauty and water sports, Bear Glacier Lagoon is a highly recommended pitstop along the Cassiar Highway. A guided kayak trip might be a good idea, even for expert kayakers, as the lagoon presents a number of hazards, like icebergs and glacial lake bursts. Jade City. Despite its name, Jade City is not actually a city but a small artisan community that forges their crafts from jade. Their store offers all things jade, from carvings to jewelry and everything in between. Their motto is, “We mine it, we design it!” And for a price, you can take it home.
What To Expect from Your Alaskan Journey
Prepare for changes in temperature. No matter which month you go in, the temperatures will fluctuate. The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 67 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, in the evenings it can dip down considerably. To make sure you’re comfortable at all times, pack plenty of layers, so you’ll be able to add or remove as you see fit!
Businesses will be sparsely spread out. There will be services available to you on both the Alaskan Highway and the Cassiar Highway, but you’ll find them about every 25-50 miles. With such distance between pitstops, make sure you stop every chance you need to and plan to pack a few meals, just in case. Bringing an additional container of gasoline wouldn’t hurt either!
There will be tons of nature and wildlife to see. Driving to and through Alaska allows for some of the best animal and nature sightings on the continent. From moose to sheep to whales– oh my!– the options will vary depending on where you go. You could encounter a grizzly bear or a bison driving through the Yukon, while driving through Victoria could bring you up close-and-personal with a whale or a sea lion. No matter what, this road trip is sure to be one for the books!
Additional Tips
Carefully plan out your itinerary. An Alaskan road trip typically takes 5-10 days, which is a good chunk of time to take in the stunning raw nature, bustling wildlife, and charming local culture. There’s a few options as far as itineraries. For example, if you want to explore Alaska’s pristine coastal towns, you can begin your five-day trip in Anchorage, drive through Steward, and finally end up in Homer. Along the way, there will be tons of fishing, hiking, and sightseeing. If you’d rather experience the south central area of our nation’s largest state, then perhaps a 7-day itinerary would be best. You can begin in Anchorage, pass through Seward and Homer, and then book a bear viewing trip in Kenai or Soldotna. You can end back in Anchorage with a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for a meet-and-greet with grizzly bears, wood bison, and majestic bald eagles.
You can take one route there and one route back. Both highways offer a scenic and memorable drive, so, why choose just one? You can take the Alaskan Highway there, stopping for the hot springs and delicious roadside treats. And then, you can take the Cassiar Highway back, stopping to see glaciers and bears, which are more likely to frequent this area. When it comes to experiencing Alaska’s wild and untamed beauty, who says you can’t have it all?
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