Travel to Alaska
My guess is that a trip to Alaska is on almost every RVer’s bucket list, as it was on mine. So imagine my delight when I received a summer job offer in, of all places, the wilds of the Last Frontier. I found myself hitting the road rather quickly, but was able to do some research into what I needed to drive to our 49th state.
I hope these travel suggestions will help you achieve a hassle-free checkmark on your bucket list.
Remember, if you’re roadtripping, you will be traveling through two border patrol stations: into Canada, then back into the U.S. at the Alaska border. Both patrol stations have some similar restrictions, but it’s best to be prepared.
Passport to paradise
A passport is required to enter Canada and, more importantly, to gain access to Alaska, so be sure to have a current one with you. If your passport has lapsed, bring it along with your birth certificate. I even brought a letter of intent from my soon-to-be employer, showing the reason I was traveling through the Great White North to enter Alaska.
Where I go, my dog goes
Sully is an integral part of my family. Well, he actually is my family, so wherever I go, he goes. Because I would be traveling through Canada, I looked at their requirements for letting a pet come across the border.
My Golden was up-to-date on his shots, but Canada also requires a rabies certificate to pass through their border patrol. His rabies tag wasn’t enough, so we contacted his veterinarian to get a copy of the certificate and I printed it out before we hit the road.
Note: I’ve found it invaluable to scan all of my dog’s veterinary records and carry them digitally on my phone. This has come in handy while we are on the road, as we’ve had a few “out of town” doctors he’s visited, and they can see his medical records immediately. Think about downloading your pet’s info on Google Drive or Dropbox so you always have them on hand.
Storyline
Be ready to explain why you are traveling through Canada. Border patrol will usually want to know how long you will be visiting their country and the reason for your travel. If you intend to stay longer than a few days, you will need to explain where you are going and for what reason.
Don’t bring
- Don’t cross either border with firearms or weapons for self-defense like mace, bear spray, or stun guns.
- Don’t bring fresh fruit or vegetables
- Don’t bring pet food that has lamb or beef ingredients
- Don’t bring firewood
- Don’t bring a radar detector
- Don’t bring live bait
Allowances
- You can bring up to 24 cans of beer, 40 ounces of liquor or 1.5 liters of wine
- You can bring up to 10 packs of cigarettes or 50 Cuban cigars
- You can bring up to 11 pounds of fresh beef per person
What they don’t tell you
- Do bring plenty of money, because fuel in Canada is expensive. I paid anywhere from the equivalent of $4.50 per gallon—they measure in liters—to $7 per gallon. I would also suggest using a credit card that doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees.
- Do bring your camera, as each of the provinces are a unique beauty in their own right—and you’ll definitely need a camera in Alaska.
Back to the U.S.
If you follow all of the suggestions to travel through Canada, you should have no problems re-entering the U.S. at the Alaska border. Be prepared to show your passport, answer questions about your travel intentions and destination, and be truthful in answering any questions.
The trip itself
Now, here’s the fun part: Sully and I drove from Colorado to Glacier View, Alaska in 6.5 days. I know many people can drive continuously and arrive in 2.5 days with several drivers trading off, but until my Golden Retriever gets his driver’s license, I was handling the driving responsibilities on my own.
We spent the first night in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Although only four hours from home, we got to spend time with family there, which made for a great start to a long, but entertaining journey.
Our second night was spent in Harlowton, Montana and I quickly decided that we would go back and explore more of this state, as it slowly grew on me. The undulating hills, billowing prairie grasses and distant mountain ranges with names like Crazy Mountains intrigued me to no end.
Day 3 was spent traveling through Alberta, Canada, where I found farm after farm of green pastures populated only by huge silos and “happy barns”—or barns with happy faces on the side. I also discovered that the entire country has a love affair with RVs—there are campgrounds in almost every small and large town, and the roads are in great condition for traveling in a big rig.
On day 4, we were on to British Columbia. It was easy to picture Dawson Creek, B.C. back in the days of the Klondyke gold rush—it’s a “crossroads” kind of town and it began that way, with prospectors traveling through on their way to the Yukon territories. Then the railroad found its way to town. Today, the town is celebrated as the beginning of the Alaskan Highway.
On day 5, we traveled a beautiful stretch of road into vast wilderness, with mountains squeezing us in from all directions. Staying the night at Muncho Lake was a treat, as we were assigned a room in an older log lodge right on the edge of the lake. A sea plane was parked on the water’s edge, and we awoke to a couple of inches of snow and a playful black bear.
My favorite part of the drive occurred on day 6 as we entered the Yukon territories and headed toward Destruction Bay. We spied a huge bull moose along a stream, and then—not more than 20 feet from my vehicle—a mama grizzly bear with three cubs running behind her. Every once in a while the cubs would stop to playfully roughhouse and the mom would wait for them to catch up. Wildlife seen at its best—in the wild!
We arrived at Sheep Mountain Lodge in Glacier View, Alaska the final day to begin a summer season of work—and play, on my days off. There is so much to explore in this vast state, and I’m grateful I didn’t put off coming here any longer. If you’re thinking of making our northernmost state your next destination, get here as soon as you can.
Take a look at the RV rentals you can get from Outdoorsy, and hit the road. You won’t be disappointed!
