This is the first post in a 3 part series about driving to Alaska. Part two and three will be posted on the dates listed (keep an eye out for them!)

So you decided to drive to Alaska, or at least thinking about it. ADVENTURE, EXCITEMENT, UNKNOWN. I can assure you, it is all of those and more. There has been nothing quite like it, and I look forward to driving it again. This post is all about the steps you can take to prepare for driving the Alaskan Highway.

We will outline the difference between driving in late fall verse summer, things you should pack, and how to prepare for your drive. There are also other considerations that we didn’t think about prior to our trip, but would have been nice to know.

Lets start with the basics

Buy The Milepost! There is a reason their website calls it the Bible of North Country Travel. It is full of information about the drive, what to see, where to stop and so much more. We consulted it before our drive and during. I would add however, that driving in late fall, most shops/stops were not open and we used the Milepost much more during our summer trip.

Decide on time of year you will be traveling. This is big, if not the most important factor when considering to do the drive. There are big differences when planning to drive in late fall verse summer.

Driving in Late Fall

We left for Alaska on 10/21/2017 and planned to hit some winter weather. Coming from California, we had driven on snow maybe once a year, so we did quite a bit of research before embarking. Having now lived through an Alaskan winter, Massachusetts winter, and Maine winter, I can say if you live on the east coast, road conditions can be similar. The biggest factor however, is not the snowy roads.

The biggest factor in late fall will be limited daylight. Driving to Alaska, we were heading up in late October. Days were shortening quick with sunrise-sunset around 9am-6pm. Daylight quickly decreases the deeper into winter you go. Plan your drive around this.

Examples of the road conditions in October

Somewhere near Banff National Park

The roads can be, and were, very icy in some locations. Snow covered the ground occasionally and there were very few stops/gas stations available (approx every 200-300 miles). Don’t forget about below freezing temperatures at night, and the further north you go those freezing temps last throughout much of the day. And we hit those temperatures in October!

We were happy to not be driving in January or February as multiple Alaskans told us that the temps can dip well into the negatives. We didn’t have an engine block heater installed at the time and didn’t require it in October. If you are planning a mid winter drive, this should be on the top of your list. More on this in how to winterize your car for Alaska.

Plan to check the weather forecast locally and all through Canada. This includes checking snow report, as well as timezone changes, and sunrise/sunset times.

Some of the challenges for late fall are highlighted below

There are fewer gas stations/hotels open (most are seasonal). Enough are open to make the drive safe, but top off with gas whenever possible. We carried spare gas cans, but found they weren’t required as long as we stopped at each gas station we came across to top off, no matter how low we were.
There is significantly less travel on the road. Some days we would see a car or two every hour, other days we might see one or two cars the entire day.
There will likely be ice and/or snow on sections of the highway, though they were well plowed. (if you come from back east, or some of the north western states, you may feel more comfortable driving on these road conditions).
Sunrise/sunset times drastically differ as your drive further north, limiting your safe driving time. We were typically up at sunrise, and tried to pick stops that would allow us to be in at dusk.

Wildlife on the road. We noticed more in Summer, but we spotted rams, buffalo, and moose while driving in both seasons. Be cautious not to hit anything. A bull moose or buffalo weights in the thousands of pounds and will wreck havoc on your car.

Lastly, watch for frost heaves. There are a lot of them. They can cause a flat tire. They get bumpy. We were blessed not having to deal with a flat, but had our own mishaps during the drive with overbooked hotels (Summer problems).

summer drive

Leaving Alaska we were able to experience driving The Highway in June. In regards to weather, a summer drive is much easier. You will likely not encounter snow, though I’ve heard it can happen nearly anytime up north, and you will see a wide array of wildlife. This can include herds of buffalo, rams, and black and brown bears.

Compared to driving in the winter, you have more stops/shops open, more options for gas fill ups, and there are significantly more cars on the road in case you need assistance. That’s not to say you don’t run into other issues on the drive.

driving 8.jpg — Examples of Wildlife in Summer

The biggest concern we had driving in the summer was the amount of tourists, us included. We knew in winter we would be limited with hotels and tried to book everything ahead of time. I guess in summer we felt like we had the driving part down. We knew our stops, we had plenty of daylight, and we would make time to see plenty of whatever we could along the way.

Well poor planning lead to only booking a few hotels ahead of time. I still remember one specifically that we waited until the day before to book and literally nothing had vacancy in the tourist town of Jasper. We arrived around 10:30pm, just as the sun had set, to the only hotel we could find.

Instead of a budget motel to save costs, we had to splurge on a suite with three beds at Chateau Jasper. Don’t get me wrong, it was beautiful and we slept great, but for the price of $400 dollars with no continental breakfast (they wouldn’t even give us coffee!), don’t let this happen to you!

Great night after a long drive (Pictured from left to right: Roger (Kari’s dad), Kari, Tyler, and taking the picture, Roy (Tyler’s dad)

Some things to consider for the summer drive

Lots of wildlife (don’t get too close!). Take time for pictures.
Consult with the Milepost regarding shops/fun attractions to see along the drive
Consider stopping through Banff, Jasper, or Lake Louise. We enjoyed both fall and summer at these locations.
Book hotels ahead of time.
You will likely be able to drive greater hours compared to fall due to increased daylight, but remember you will be stopping more for attractions, so don’t plan too many miles in a day.

what kind of car can make this trip?

Well if it’s mid summer, any car will do! We saw mini vans, motorcycles, motor homes, trucks with trailers, you name it. Even large tourist buses! It is warm weather (relatively warm), and the road is paved the entire way (we did run into some road construction).

On the other hand, if you are driving in fall/winter, be prepared with a car than can handle snow/icy conditions and preferably have 4WD.

Our cars…

We had the benefit of two cars. One was a chevy equinox with front wheel drive. We put on snow tires to be safe, as well as carried chains. I would not recommend this drive in the fall/winter if you only have a front wheel drive vehicle. Our other vehicle was a 4WD chevy 1500 with all season tires. Not only was it better suited, but we also carried chains and tow straps incase the equinox got stuck. Luckily this never happened, but if you have lived in snow, you know the feeling when you only have front wheel drive and you just can’t seem to budge out of a snow bank.

Plan accordingly with your vehicle and understand the limitations it may have regarding winter weather.

Our road while living in Alaska. The nox handled snow pretty well depsite not having 4WD.

The Big list of things

Prior to our drive, we consulted with several websites/blogs as well as the Milepost and compiled our own list of items to have. Bulleted below is everything we considered and/or had with us during our drive.

If you plan to make this trip, whether it is in summer or winter, consider packing some or all of these on your drive. Remember, it is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. There are not a lot of stops along this route during late fall/winter, but even during summer it is a long haul. Be prepared, that way you have a great drive without hiccups. (if you are driving through summer, you can skip some of the snow specific gear)

PASSPORT: You can’t get into Canada without it. Double check before you leave! Also, no pepper spray crossing the border. We had to surrender ours to “the Queen” when entering Canada.
Pet Passport: Bringing a pet? We brought ours and made sure to have a current rabies vaccination including health certificate signed by our vet. Both times crossing the border, no one asked for Spencer’s papers and they clearly saw him on my lap. But they can and I would hate to be turned around at the border.
Gun information: Start here. This is a few years old, posted on Alaska Department of Fish and Game, but worth reading. It outlines some concerns when driving through Canada with a firearm. Ultimately you will need to go to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police website here and find the form for non residents allowing you to transport your gun. Please read which guns you can and can’t transport and other laws specific to Canada.
AAA: We have AAA roadside assist and paid for the premium membership ($119/year). We met and discussed coverage in Canada with a representative and felt like this was a good safety net incase we needed it.
Swim Suit For The Hot Springs: Ah yes, the Liard Hot Springs. It’s literally not even a question. You are stopping here! It’s amazing, both in fall and summer. Be safe, know your surroundings and enjoy. At this stop they have a short walk along wooden planks to the hot springs. There are private male/female changing rooms, as well as steps with railings into the hot springs. It is such a relief to relax after several long days in the car!

Spare tire: The equinox came with a donut, so we upgraded to a regular tire prior to leaving. With limited shops open in fall, we didn’t want to be stranded for a day or two waiting on a tire to be patched. Plus driving on a donut for several miles (maybe a hundred) on snow didn’t sound appealing. Summer should be fine without a full size spare, but if you have the room and money to purchase one, I wouldn’t do this drive without it.

Chains: Consider carrying chains. In summer, likely not necessary. In winter, you never know when you might need them to get out of a tough spot.
Snow Tires: Our truck had all season tires and handled the snow fine for the drive. The equinox had summer tires initially leading to this short story —> We were arriving in Dawson Creek about to come to the official start of the Alaskan Highway. An unexpected storm came the night before dumping over 8 inches of snow. We weren’t expecting this based on weather reports. Our equinox couldn’t handle the snow with its summer tires. Panicked, we called everyone in Dawson Creek and found a chevy dealership that might be able to help us. Despite being peak season for mounting snow tires, they had our size in stock and were able to squeeze us in within a 2 hour window to remount our newly purchased tires. Talk about the best customer service I have experienced. An added bonus; they stored our summer tires (we literally had no room anywhere in our vehicles for 4 tires) for free, for 8 months. On our drive back to the lower 48, we stopped at the same dealership, and they remounted them for us. Plan ahead, Don’t be like us! It was STRESSFUL!
Walkie Talkies: Are you taking two cars? Consider walkie talkies. Cell service is spotty and if you need to exit and make a pit stop, walkie talkies make all the difference.
Flashlights: Pack a few. This is even more important during fall with limited daylight. Whether your car breaks down, can’t find something in your vehicle, or need to flag down another car, it’s always good to have a few flashlights. And extra batteries.
H20 and food: Not only are there many different locations to pull off the road and have a picnic with gorgeous views, this is also for safety in case you end up stuck for a few hours.
Road Atlas: Aside from the Milepost, a road atlas can come in handy. We had one mapping out our drive, but had fair cell service (Verizon seemed to have better cell service than AT&T) allowing us to use apple maps the entire trip.
Cold Weather Gear: If you are traveling in fall or winter, have it easily accessible. Wool socks, coat, boots, gloves, hand warmers, winter hat. Whatever you wear when it is literally freezing outside and are out in the snow. This is primarily out of safety, but also to be ready to handle the snow walking to your hotel, or getting out for pictures.
Cold Weather Sleeping bag: Incase you break down and have to spend time in your car waiting for tow service.

Shovel: We did not travel with a shovel and didn’t need one while driving. Might come in handy to dig a tire out of snow and we will likely carry one next drive to Alaska.
Tool Kit: We always carry one similar to this. It’s not our exact kit, but you never know when you will need a hammer or pliers.
Windshield fluid: It you have never lived in cold weather, you will find out quickly why this matters. THE FLUID FREEZES. Instinctively I knew this, however having not lived in below freezing temps before Alaska, this was very helpful to find out before we started our drive. We used a good portion of our California fluid getting into Canada, and at gas stations began buying the one meant for below freezing temperatures. Don’t get to the point where it freezes on you. Might end up with a cracked line and going without any for the drive.
Good car battery: Make sure your car battery isn’t old, sometimes freezing temperatures can zap them overnight leaving you unable to start your car.
Jumper Cables: Have a good pair. We drove with two cars, therefore one could jump the other if needed. The truck being 20 years old had a few rough mornings, but never needed the jump. If you are traveling solo, consider one of those portable jump starters. Just a suggestion. (this is more important in winter verse summer). We heard good things about Weego, but you will need to check which is best for your vehicle.
Engine block heater: Don’t worry too much about this unless you are driving in January or February. If you are doing a drive during those months, you likely already know why this is needed. In Tok Alaska and other places like Haines Junction, it isn’t uncommon for -30 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. These are temps that can truly cause you to have problems starting your engine.
External charger/extra car charges: Don’t forget your cell phone and camera chargers. Bring them all.
Ice Scraper: Having now lived in New England for two winters, I realize how common these are. Growing up in the Central Valley of California, I had no idea how many people owned these. Get one if driving to Alaska during any season with the exception being summer. If you can’t find one where you live, most gas stations have them along the drive.
Leave An Itinerary: We texted family each morning letting them know our planned destination for the day and sent them a message or called each night to let them know when we arrived. Always good to have someone to check in with!

Camper shell: If you are packing all stuff inside a car, perfect. We had a truck and thought, “hey we might as well get a camper shell before we go”. Best idea ever. We hit multiple rain storms before even reaching Canada and saved all our luggage from getting soaked. It also protected against theft and stopped a big storm from dumping snow all over our suitcases.
Car jack: I hate using the small ones that come with a vehicle. I didn’t want to risk having to use one while stranded in the snow. We bought a larger one that we still use today. Didn’t need it for the Alaska trip, but it recently came in handy living in Maine.

We made a list of pet friendly hotels as part of our planning process

As you can see, despite having our plans pretty well set, we did make some adjustments on the fly.

what about using my credit card in Canada?

Prior to driving to Alaska, we downloaded our bank’s mobile apps. It was helpful for several reasons.

I could directly manage my credit and debit cards through the app. I self selected each state I would be driving through, including Canada. Even put dates we would be driving to ensure that our card would be safe for use while on the road.
The other reason, to unlock your card if the bank places it on hold. Thank goodness for the app. After driving into Canada, my wife’s card was locked, despite her letting the bank know where she was going. We were at a gas station, needed fuel to go any further and it was good to have access to the bank when needed.

Also, consider calling your bank before making the drive. We were unsure if there were added expenses for using our cards in Canada. It ended up being a nominal fee that really made only a small difference in purchases.

cell phone service

We didn’t think about checking our cell carrier before crossing the border. Soon after we crossed, we received a text outlining the details of our service. I’m not sure if this is how all carriers work, but worth calling before you get to this point. Check on data charges and any associated fees with being out of the country. If you normally have unlimited data, I would also check if it continues to be unlimited in Canada. Ours did not.

Car check by mechanic (we sure did this)

If you haven’t done it in a while, get a good mechanic to do a “once over”. We’ve had our fare share of fixing parts on road trips, but this is not our specialty and had a mechanic perform a routine check of both cars before heading out. This included

Cooling system
Tire check
Battery check
All belts for cracking
Wiper blades
Engine/spark plugs
Coolant (add some with high freeze point if you have it or as your drive further north)
Literally, just tell the mechanic you are making a long drive and want a general look over on all the belts, the fluids, and whatever else might need to be checked for safety (try to find one you trust so you don’t get sold something you don’t need)

what am i missing?

By now you have thought about

Purchasing the Milepost
If you will be driving in summer/fall or maybe even spring or winter
Whether you have a car that can handle the drive
Reviewing the Big List Of Things and creating your own checklist
Calling your credit car company
Calling your cell service provided
Having a mechanic look at your car

We were overwhelmed with packing and preparing at this point and took time to step back and start looking at the exact route we would take. Even after driving this highway twice, there is still so much we want to see, as well as learning new ways to pack and enjoy the experience.

If you want to check out our drive on the Alaskan Highway, click here

Otherwise, enjoy your drive, stay safe, and don’t forget to contact us if you have any questions.