Driving The Alaska (Alcan) Highway - What it's really like!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 เม.ย. 2023
- In this video, I provide Tips for driving the Alaska Canada Highway, also known as the Alcan. The first few minutes cover important tips on what to pack, then the videos start playing to show you what it's REALLY like to drive through Canada to AK (trip starts from Washington). Thank You for keeping the comments respectful.
Canada border rules: travel.gc.ca
AK Marine Ferry Schedule: dot.alaska.gov
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- Holly
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This video covers the drive from the north Washington Border, along the Alaska Highway through British Columbia (BC) and Yukon Territory in Canada to the town of Tok, Alaska - and also details the direction to get to the official end of the Alaska Highway in Delta Junction, which is a few hours from Tok. Thank you for keeping comments respectful. I put a lot of work into making this video from two previous trips through Canada.
My Dad was a semi driver in the 50’s, Seattle to Anchorage, he took me in 59’. 800 miles of gravel road an 9 pilot cars. The most beautiful world I’ve ever seen.
Hello Alaska Living!
Loved your vid! And I admire how you stayed calm during the no- gas situation.
Very well put together. Held my attention the whole way thru.
And those are great songs... especially the the one that starts with whistling!
Thank you very much!
Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.
Discovered your video by accident. Of all the Alaska/Canada videos I've watched, and I'd easily say hundreds, you by far have the most appealing. Just enough talking to make it interesting. We've been to Alaska 5 times. Your work is a real treat.
Aww, thank you so much. I greatly appreciate it!
Wow, thanks so much for this. Watched several others about the trip, all more “how fun” sorts of travelogues. Greatly appreciate your concrete and practical insiders knowledge.! We’re driving up from Oregon in August to Haines and ferrying to Juneau for work. Well done.
I lived in Fort Nelson for 17 years and had relatives in western Oregon and Washington; so this was a real trip down Memory Lane. Thanks so much.
We made this trip in 66. My dad was in the Union and we was always traveling. This was a real adventure and something to see. A great trip for sure. A lot nicer and easier today then back then.... thanks for sharing
I rewatched the video as I just finished mapping out my stops. Appreciated the information again and seeing some of the spots after reading about them! You guys drove the route very fast, I am impressed by how much driving you did
Awesome, thank you! You and Pops are going to have an adventure on the AK Hwy for sure! Look forward to meeting you guys and your family this summer:)
@@realalaskalivingAs a Canadian, it's better to say British Columbia OR B C then to keep saying Canada. How did You like Our New Type of Canadian dollars??? You might also say that there's Provinces, then Territories North of Alberta/ B C.
I drove the ALCAN Highway in 1992 and I see that all the towns are much bigger now. Just loved my trip, A dream come true. Thanks for the updates!
Even more interesting that the AlCan is to take the Inside Passage from Seward to Puget Sound, but you need to take it in a boat under 50 feet. Fiords by the hundreds and waterfalls and whales and goats and sheep on the hillsides.
Thank you for all the helpful information!! Looking forward to my trip next summer. Great video!
This vid is highly informative! Nicely done! Thank you!!!
Very Informative and Expertly edited!!!!! Thank you 🙏
My husband & I really enjoyed your video. We live in the South of the lower 48, but have been to Alaska many times. It’s one of our most favorite states! Btw, you have the most soothing voice!
What a great video, thanks for taking us on your journey.
Thank you:)
Thanks so much! We plan to visit this year, and this was good perspective.
Thank you. Feel free to check out my other videos on things to do and what places to go for food that I recommend:)
That was amazing info. Thank you
Thank you for watching:)
Loved your video - it was helpful - thanks
Thank you!
Great video. Thank you. Very informative. Beautiful nature all the way.
Thank you so much, truly appreciate it:)
This is the first time I've followed your venture. Thank you very much. Lots of info on your trip. I used to live in Ft. St. John back in 1970. It was a small town and now it's very large for Canada BC. Thanks again.
Thank you for the kind words.
Outstanding video. My wife and I along with our mini schnauzer are thinking about driving to Alaska next June. You provided a lot of great information I needed to know. Thank You!!
Thank you. From what I heard from tourists I met this summer, they stated the roads have more frost heave from Destruction Bay to Tok, AK so to go slower, especially if in a motor home. June is a beautiful month to travel:)
I really enjoyed watching the movie you shared, the natural scene is so beautiful. Thank you! I clicked the subscribe button to your channel!
Thank you, appreciate it.
Better video than most. My wife and I did Anchorage to Orange County, California in August 2018. Took us 19;days. We took our time. Glad you gave more respect to Canada to most other similar TH-cam videos.
Thank you so much. I appreciate the kind words.
I just found your channel from Through My Lens. It was so kind of you to share your helicopter ride with Josh and Pops!
I'm planning to do this drive in 2 years. I appreciate the practical tips you give in your videos, it's exactly the information I'm looking for.
Ahh thank you, and glad you enjoyed the videos. Alaska is a beautiful place to visit😊💕
Amazing video, thanks
Thanks for doing this and bringing back some wonderful memories to this legally blind Old lady. Lived up North in BC and Yukon in my younger days. Take care and again thanks so much. Smiles from Mimi
Fantastic video,I learned so much,going to watch it again
Thank you so much!
June was perfect for this adventure for us. Always light out most of the way. It’s a great highway and everything I’d hoped it would be. Great video.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much. I've been researching for a year gaining knowledge for my trip next April. I'll be spending my 62nd birthday year in Alaska! The most wanted place to go in the US, all my life. So excited. I'll be driving and leaving from South Dakota. Thanks for your video and going at a slower pace to take it all in!
I'm going in May if everything works out and can't wait. Hope your upcoming trip goes well fellow traveler.
very good video , you said very enough and told us anything about all tips , thank you so much
Thank you. I probably could’ve talked about the unpredictable winter weather:) we’ve had -25 to -30 below for a week. Thankfully I grew up in this so I’m prepared for it, but it’s still cold:)
@@realalaskaliving yes i understand , thanks
👩Thank you so much for making this video it is very informative and to the point you're a "Lifesaver" God BLESS you.🙏❤️👍
I am driving the ALCAN right now! Left Dawson Creek this morning and staying at Muncho Lake. Absolutely gorgeous…darn near hot day! Saw a sow and a cub and lots of caribou (almost hit one)….
Hey, tell me, how was it. Only reason why I’m asking is because, like I said, I’m a single woman and I had a fear of safety, take it safe. I got three dogs , a bad attitude 10 & a Glock - so I should be ok - did you see many POC?
@@I.AM.JUPITER it was awesome! Didn’t have a single bad experience. Only think I was worried about was my trailer setup but other than a trailer tire flat I didn’t have any problems
Thanks for your video. It will be useful on my trip to Seqard
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video:)
I drove this route twice; 1980 and then 81, many parts of the highway were not paved. Very beautiful scenery; rough ride sometimes....thanks this has been fun to watch.
Thank you.
Great informative video. I drove the Alcan in late June & early Sept. 2022 & gas was over $9/gal. in June. The best tip I would add to your list just below bring cash (both US & Canada) is the first stop to make when entering town is the Information Center. The people are most helpful & it is a one stop to find all the most useful info for traveling from the cheapest gas to help with making reservation for the Alaska State Ferry. Or & by the way, the Ferry was the cheapest, & most enjoyable, option for me when I left Alaska, but then my truck only gets 9mpg,.
Good morning, did you travel with pets.?
I live in Fort St. John.
Just a head’s up. There is a small oil refinery in Prince George. Your cheapest fuel is usually there. It will get more expensive from Cache Creek to Williams Lake then drop until you reach Prince George. The price of fuel will climb from there north.
Anyway...a nice video. Thanks for posting
When I first moved here (North Pole, Alaska) in 1999, I joined a group called "Alaska Living." Many of us are still friends to this day. It is a wonderful place to live!!
Aww that is awesome:)
Such an mazhing view of Alaska...that it seems...we suddenly landed on some another planet...having too much snow...❤❤
Very interesting and informative
Love it
thank you so much, I appreciate it.
thank you 👍🍺
Is this our planet ..? When seeing this vedio , I think like that .. what a beautiful environment .. i have no word to describe beauty of canada.. actually which is very beautiful .. without people empty landscapes.. mountains with snow.. wild animals .. forests.. blue colour water with rivers and lakes .. all of these things are marvellous .. i can' t believe this is our planet.. love you (canada)...🇨🇦from🇱🇰
Agreed, Canada is definitely beautiful 💕
Hey, this is so great thank you so much because I plan to leave here. I’m in Georgia, I plan to leave here in the middle of July to head to Alaska. I’m single and I’m black and I’ve ha e my 3 dogs. I feel a little scared. I got to be honest with you, but I know that I’m not gonna let that stop me.
I’ve always dreamed of going to the Yukon driving to Alaska, and I have the opportunity to do that now. Thank you so much for your video. This is gonna help me as a single woman driving this road to be safe. I really appreciate it.
Going alone, I recommend getting a GPS Garmin device, I think ours cost $99 at Walmart a few years ago. I love and trust that thing cause it always got us to where we were going, and re-routed us if we got off the path to check out something in a town. And it gave us the estimated arrival time to a hotel we booked, so I could call the hotel if we were going to arrive late. If you’re bringing a dog, have your papers ready just in case they ask at the Canada border, most don’t ask but some do. They want to see the rabies vaccination proof document. At the AK border they’ve always been super nice and didn’t care about the documents, mostly just gave our dog a treat:) July is a good traveling time, my video was filmed in both our May trip and in July. Best of luck on your trip and keep me posted on how it went:) You may also want to get the Milepost book, has lots of info on the Alaska Hwy.
I'm from Whitehorse, Yukon. A great travel video my dear. Been to Alaska many times to visit friends and hockey tournaments in the winter. Northerners rule!
Thank you so much. And yes, agreed:)
Drove it quite a bit from 98 to 2001 while living in Fort Nelson, BC; the Alaska Highway is Fort Nelson's main street eh! Nasty in Winter though eh!
thankyou. Greeting from Istanbul Turkiye
Thanks for yours nice video, appreciated. Very informative for beginners. If you allow me, One more tip: never miss Liard river Hot spring, I hope you was been there…So beautiful place for the rest. Highly recommended!
I didn't stop on this trip but on another trip we stopped at Liard, it was amazing! Thank you:)
I all ways wanted to do a trip to Alaska to go fishing with a friend this video sure has me convinced now about doing it we live in Washington sate thanks a lot I’m for sure going to talk about with him.
The only thing I have to ask how do we our hand gun to protect us from the bears while we fish through Canada
I was told that you have to declare your gun and ammo ahead of time before crossing border. Not sure if you’re allowed to use it in Canada?? Hopefully someone else can comment on that rule. I only know that they allowed us to cross the border with bear spray. It is a beautiful drive:)
@@realalaskaliving thanks for your reply back so fast I sure will appreciate it I will be checking into it because I really want to do this trip I will be checking out your videos
I'm doing it later this May unless something special comes up that I can't pass on. I can't wait. I'm in Southwest, Utah now in a small old town and have been on the road for 3 months after selling my East, TX lawncare business after passing out due to the extreme heat index. I've met many people along this short 2 months and heard many stories. I've met amazing people on backpacking trails from Big Bend to Arches to the Grand Canyon. I've shared some beers with homeless people and spent a night around a campfire with astronomers. Life is short, you have to take risks and go outside your comfort zone, I'm only 32 but in these last 3 months I've learned I've only just started to live.
Life is short, experience, empathy and knowledge in my short time experience this thing we call life are what truly matter.
Edit: I'm a 2nd Amendment type and don't carry anymore. I wouldn't recommend picking up hitchhikers unless you can defend yourself. I've carried 4 hitchhikers in my life but that's because I was armed and has my pistol next to me seatbelt, I no longer do that. It's a risk you should be aware of. Chances are you'll be fine 99/100 times and all those people were interesting but one was definitely concerning. You should consider this before stopping for a hitchhiker, if you're alone it's your risk but if you have friends or family with you then you should consider how your decisions might effect them.
I agree. Years ago it may have been safe to pick up a hitchhiker, but with some of the people broke down along the hwy that we stopped to help, they were on some type of drug and we didn't want to put ourselves in any danger (that happened a few times in Alaska along the hwy). The drive from Utah to AK would be beautiful, I highly agree! It took me over 20 years to see every State in the United States, and it's something not one of my friends or family members can say. I just love road tripping the most :) Safe travels and please reach out to let me know how it goes. Best of luck to you on your trip!
What do you recommend to keep the car warm during winter months so that the car will have no trouble starting up?
I keep my car plugged in during the colder days of the winter months (I have a block heater & oil pan heater installed). Because I don't want to waste electricity, I have the plug in on a timer, and then it would auto turn on two hours before I need to go to work. In winter months, I also use only synthetic oil, which helps with colder starts, versus doing a regular oil change. And then, although it's not necessary, I have a remote start on my car, and "warm it up" for about 15 minutes. My partner uses a drone/alarm in his vehicle which drains his battery more, so we got a Noco device to jump start his vehicle when it got too cold. My remote start came with my car and so far I had never needed a jump. Our winter months can dip down to -25 to -30 below on certain days. Hope this helps.
@@realalaskaliving I appreciate very much, and will be heading to Kodiak, AK in the next month or so. Thanks for the information, and will keep in mind during the winter time.
Good video
Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it and sorry for the delay in getting back to comments.
Thank you so much. We learned a lot from this video. We have plans for 2025. Lynn and Danny
Thank you. Keep me posted on your trip:)
I like this Ths
Thank you.
Watching here in Saskatchewan 😊,,it's my dream to travel Alaska by land..
I absolutely love the drive and Alaska in late Spring or Summer is a beautiful drive, but I also think Canada is so beautiful too :)
Great video both scenic and very good information.
I traveled The Alcan solo (just my 🐕 as companion) and spent 2 summers working for the Burrough schools. Most memorable vacations of my life. One mistake I made is stocking up on food before leaving WA..
Can't take fruits / veggies or anything Canada grows into to the country. Waste of $$$ as it all was left at the border.🙄 I didn't read beyond the NO guns laws.. never thought of fresh fruits ect.. Makes sense. They also searched every inch of my RV.. guess they couldn't believe a woman would travel Alone without a weapon. I told RCMP I had left my hand guns in lock-up @ RV Park in WA as I knew the laws in CA was NO guns.
Thank you. My first trip I had to discard our fruit at the border:( The Alaska Hwy is such a beautiful drive indeed.
Good morning, was there any issues with dog.?
Good morning, any doggie problems crossing Canafa border.? Thx
@@qnslanman we always have a copy of our dog’s rabies vaccine paperwork but most times they never ask for it. No problems getting in with our dog, some border agents at the AK Border are super nice and offer our dog a treat:)
Okay this a video ment for millennials. For starters i drove the Alcan back in the 90's gps was not what we used we used a map. It was paper and it folded up, but some people never learned how to fold let alone read one. A compass helps for some. Canada still has mile post markers, and if anyone reslly learned about the Alcan is the milepost towns. They were built for rest for travellers besides a safe place. I always stopped at the mom and pop places the food was better and service to.😊
We're actually not millennials and found that the advice can be used for anyone. I have stopped at several gas stations and asked about local maps but they looked at me like I was crazy and said they didn't have them. It was meant to offer advice, as some don't file the Milepost too useful but some find it helpful, so I guess to each their own. On the last trip to Whitehorse, we didn't use a GPS and only a few times, in the cities, used our smartphone to get direction on navigating out of the city. Some people with newer vehicles use the WIFI that's in their vehicle, but our car was not that fancy so we found the Garmin GPS handy. Hope that helps, if anyone was confused on the directions part:)
Neat
Hi, I am planning to go to Alsaka by ferry and take my Toyota Corolla. we are a couple and Mulsim, don't know, could find Halal Food in Alaska or on the way back to Vancouver. I intend to drive through Danile National Park and then FairBank before we could start our return drive through, yokan and BC. Any suggestion about if I carry or buy from Anchorage our food, keep it in Ice Box, and get warm at various stops along the way.
They have grocery stores in Canada. We would buy a cooler and put our lunch meats in there to keep cold, buy more ice bags at gas stations if the cooler started getting warm again. At hotels we chose, we warmed up any leftovers in the microwave. Then in Alaska same thing, we always put food and beverages in the cooler to keep chilled. Hope this helps.
1 kilometer is roughly 60% of a mile, give or take. Way easier math, look at your 60MPH to our 100KPH and there you go.
Thinking about doing this drive with a Subaru Outback. Would such a vehicle be suitable?
Better getting a 'new' vehichles to travel on this Highway. It will be going a long journey for the travellers.
I got a Volkswagen Jetta base model and planning to drive it with a 1000 lb trailer hitched to it. What do you think about it? Are the roads too steep to pull camper by a regular sedan? Please share your advice
What month do you plan to drive? Winter months or summer?
@@realalaskaliving I’m planning to go in July 2024 and back in August
@@shajibkumarguha234 does the vehicle have a factory installed receiver? For the hitch? And if so, what is the tow rating on it?
@@realalaskaliving No it’s not factory installed. I got it installed in a garage. Vw web says it’s towing capacity is 1400 lb but not recommended. The trailer I’m building, will be 1000 lb max.
@@shajibkumarguha234 to be safe, I would call or take it to a Trailercraft or the VW dealership and ask their recommendation. I have seen cars on the AK Hwy pulling small trailers, but every vehicle is different. And a few times I’ve seen trailers on the Hwy alone, is because the wheel bearings weren’t greased well and that will make a tire stop or fall off. Hope this information helps.
did you ever have issues finding gas or getting to low?
If the gas station at Hwy 37 Jct didn’t take our American dollars, we would’ve got to Whitehorse on a very low tank of gas, but thankfully they did and the internet was back on the next day so we were able to top off in Whitehorse. One full tank of gas got us about 6-6.5 hours of driving (about 350-400 miles). But we topped off anytime we were getting close to half a tank of gas, just to ensure we had enough.
I did the Alcan twice (1999/2000) towing trailer both times. My rule for fuel is when the gauge gets to 1/2 tank I look to fuel up - never had issues. I did not travel @ night for many reasons.
Don't be shy about saying "British Columbia" instead of Canada, LOL. And of course the Alaska (or Alaskan or Alcan) highway doesn't begin until Dawson Creek, so no need to call Highway 1 in BC's Fraser Valley "the Alaska Highway."
There, I feel better now. I'm happy to live in that big speed bump between "WA" and "AK" :) Comment given in good silly BC fun, eh.
awusome info 😏
Great video. Thanks 😊
Back in 1995, I hitchhiked alone up and down the highways in Alaska. Would probably no longer work today in this fearful society.
If l want to see the end of the Alaska Highway and drive to Delta Junction should l turn around get back on highway 1 going to Alaska or just keep on driving to Fairbanks and then Anchorage?
Oops l meant Anchorage
The official end of the Alaska Hwy is right in the center of Delta Junction. From there, you can drive to Fairbanks (1.5 hours away) or take the Richardson Hwy to Glennallen (about 2-2.5 hours away), then Glennallen to Anchorage is about 3 hours. Hope this helps:)
If you go to Fairbanks, it’ll be a 6 hour drive on the Parks Hwy to Anchorage.
@@realalaskaliving Thank you my wife and l was thinking just driving to Delta junction and turn back around and back to Tok and see what’s there. We are moving there next year so time is not an issue. By the way you have a very relaxing voice and thanks for the information.
I decided to take your advice and continue on instead of turning around thanks a million. I appreciated the info have a great day.
Can I drive the Alaska Canada Highway with my Idaho driver's license?
I believe any license of the U.S. From what I had heard from others is you can’t get through the border with a recent DUI or more than one DUI in the past years. Or if you have a gun and ammo, they’ll make you declare at the border which can take hours. Some border agents let us through with our dog with no issues, but sometimes one will ask for our dog’s rabies certificate. If none of those apply to you, it should be fine going through with any U.S. license. They never had asked for my license, just my passport. Hope this helps.
Only one tip is needed. Bring 3x the amount of money of your worst-case scenario.
Your voice...
Beside the new grass, animals crave the salt used on winter roads……..fyi
Thank you
I guess the Walmarts are important
I put that in there since some Alaskans will fly out of state to buy a vehicle for thousands cheaper, and should buy emergency items for the new vehicle. Some Alaskans also drive friends’ vehicles down to the States and don’t think to carry emergency supplies. It’s nice for them to have the option to return, if they don’t want to use the items. I’ve seen people on the Hwy without a gas can, miles away from a town, people with no flashlights, or blankets to sleep when it’s cold at night, etc. various situations, so I tried to give as much helpful tips as I could. Thank you.
I was really liking your video until I saw ketchup on your eggs! Lol!
Ha ha, okay. Thank you:)
you must be extremely wealthy.
Nope, but have lived pretty frugally for years, and the one thing I would budget for is a trip. The first trip to Canada paid for itself. Our son worked on the North Slope and wanted a Honda 4WD ATV, which was not sold in AK. So I got a loan and bought a truck in WA. We drove it back, with the ATV and then I turned around and sold the truck in Anchorage for several thousand more, which covered our expenses. We used airline miles to fly out. The 2nd trip did cost us about $1,500 that we paid.
In past trips over the last decade, our family friends would want their college-bound kid’s vehicle driven out of state to WA but afraid to drive through Canada, so my sister would drive as long as they paid her expenses, and she’d have me help her drive on a few of the trips. We both love the beautiful drive through Canada. I finally wanted to do a video on it and help as many as I could, with tips to do the drive:)
Loved your video.
that explanation about garmin, made me stop watching...
Hi from Alaska. I want to drive to Washington, but I'm broke 🥲 so just watching videos about the Alcan. Great vid!
Edit: "let's keep wildlife wild" YESSSS, thank you!!
My sister sometimes looks on Craigslist or FB Marketplace to find people that want their vehicle driven down for them and they pay her upfront. It's how I've done several of these trips, helping her drive, which I mentioned in my other video taking Hwy 37 down from AK to Washington:)