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.
I appreciate this video. I'm planning for Alaska June 2025. I have the milepost and most of the emergency kit items. As a new solo traveler this trip is a memorial trip for my husband who passed in March. Videos like this really build my confidence in driving almost 4,000 miles.
@@YazzieL90 I think it will be a very enjoyable trip. I made the video with my son in mind. He had bought a vehicle and drove it from Washington back to Alaska solo and I tried to make the video as informative as I could. Best of luck on your Alaska trip next year, let me know how it goes. :-)
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.
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.
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:)
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.
In October 1988 my wife, me and our 2 cats drove from Mississippi (just graduated AF Tech school) to Anchorage in our 1087 Honda CRX (small car). We drove up the Cassiar highway. No cell phones, no gps back then. Just our Rand McNally road map. It was awesome. Drove back to Washington state 6 years later taking the same route. Made it from Anchorage to Spokane Washington in only 3 days. Those were very long 3 days of driving.
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
@@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 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
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!
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
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!
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.
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:)
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!
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!
Thank you. Just back from Tuktoyaktuk (the Dempster Highway), can't wait to return to the North toward Alaska this time. Terrific video, great advice, God Bless.
Beautiful drive!! I'm from DC (Mile Zero of the Alaska Highway) and I'm amazed at the natural beauty. Taking this trip is something I want to do one day
very nice edition! txs good info thanks for the 10 tips we planned for two years and tag team drove the entire thing three people toke our time and did it in three to four hour stints! two spares on the roof gas on the roof flew back shiped the car sold it to a group that did the same thing. we built the car by professionals..;. we had a blast no rush drove with traffic all the way! 1992 that vehicle made two more trips ...modified jeep cherokee extended top! it had a bear cage built in the back for three people ....
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!
Great video! Lifelong Anchorage resident here and have only been on the highway one time. It was fun seeing Burwash Landing where we were stranded for a month waiting for the car to get repair. It was 1962 so I am sure the repair is much faster these days!
Rain X is the Best . We've travelled the AK highway a few times bayin the '70's & '80's . We also drove the Dempster hwy . . So much to see in northern Canada and the vistas seem.. well they Do go on for Miles & miles and you can drive hours without seeing any cars . The most beautiful area on earth . ( In my opinion ) Cheers, great video Oh, we also used to see great herds of wild horses
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.
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.
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.
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
ปีที่แล้ว +1
I really enjoyed watching the movie you shared, the natural scene is so beautiful. Thank you! I clicked the subscribe button to your channel!
Great video...thank you for your great tips. One of the best tips was putting my husband's phone and my email on my screen saver as you suggested. What a great idea! I hope it won't be needed, but I feel safer now.
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!!
Drove all the way to Deadhorse from Montana in 2016. The roads (June) were excellent on the Alcan and Alaska routes. Only exception was road construction for several miles just south of Deadhorse; where many spring washouts were being repaired. Encountered many folks on motorcycles, bicycles, and one guy walking (not a great idea in polar bear country).
@@mtacoustic1 Thank you. Whoa a guy walking? Yep, that’s crazy. My sister worked at Kuparuk site years ago, said they’d get occasional polar bears coming up toward their camp, I have yet to see a wild one:)
My brother and I drove the AlCan back around 1971; in those days the Canadian portion wasn't paved, but it was the best dirt road I have ever seen, although REALLY DUSTY. We kept looking for the fabled bad part and never saw it. The effective speed limit was what your car's engine could keep up all day long. The best kind of car for that was one with a big old V8 engine (not a flathead). By the time one gets a hard day's drive out of Vancouver there isn't much scenery; most of the way one is surrounded by skinny trees too small to get a board out of, but tall enough to block any view there might otherwise be. The highest point on the highway is near the tree line, so there is a bit of a view there. Lots of places to fish if that is your thing; I don't know about fishing licenses. I was surprised to see the poor tires on many cars and pickups headed south as we neared Alaska. It was definitely something to do once.
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.
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.
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,.
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🇱🇰
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:)
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’ve driven that Hwy several times in the past ten years. I’ve driven in a 2WD regular car, an SUV and a truck. Thank you so much for the compliment 😊💕
Wonderful video. I'm too old to travel now, but this is like the real thing. Question: What is the song with the lyrics 'where the wild things wander' lyrics and by whom. I can't find it anywhere.
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.
@@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:)
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.
@@davidtexas9009 yep, that’s the last restroom stop for about 2-3 hours, if you’re driving toward Alaska. Then there are restrooms at the Tetlin refuge area, or at the store in Northway (both on left hand side or else next restroom stop would be in Tok.
@@Some_kind_of_wonderfü most times we didn’t carry much cash, but the time we did thankfully, is when the internet went out and gas stations only took cash in Watson Lake (rare but it can happen). A few days ago I talked to some tourists here and they said travelers need to be aware of Hwy conditions in Canada because of the wildfires and potential closures, such as near the area of Jasper. In AK, we had a near disaster on the Glenn Hwy mile 64, right before 4th of July, due to the river erosion in that area. They had to make it a one lane for a few days and Thankfully fixed it.
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
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.
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
@@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.
I plan to head to Alaska in May of 25 from San Francisco my vehicle uses diesel. Are there issues with availability? Also i will bring my dog/(she is my baby girl), any info with this. And I will not be on a time schedule, we can accommodate, for relaxation. Thanks
@@augustinehess2341 A lot of gas pumps offer both gas and diesel, both in Canada & AK. We always carried a copy of a health certificate & rabies vaccination with us, but honestly we were probably asked only once or twice to see their papers. Many border agents didn’t seem to mind, and some offered treats at the AK border:)
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.
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.
@@Some_kind_of_wonderfü Depends on a few things. Not a car expert but I know some vehicle batteries can die in the winter time if they sit too long without starting occasionally or they might have a lot of miles/older and may need a new alternator, things like that. When we lived in Anchorage (Southcentral AK, which has milder winters than Interior or Northern AK), I didn’t have any issues with my vehicle starting up with my remote start. I have an 8-year old Chevy SUV. I didn’t even plug in my car every night, just on the nights where I knew it would get to -5 or below in Anchorage, it was parked under a carport. Where we live now, a few hours north of Anchorage, I don’t plug in my car every night during winter, but do when it gets -5 or so. Talkeetna, Glennallen to Fairbanks and north of there, is where you’ll get the really cold winters in Alaska. Hope this helps.
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?
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:)
@@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 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.
It’s funny that the highway runs through Canada and no canadian calls it the Alcan ……that was an aluminum company in Canada …we just call it the Alaska highway.
@@chadleschasin2893 lol, yeah I hear most younger tourists in AK call it the Alaska Hwy but many older folks call it the Alcan still. I think the drive through Canada is the most beautiful drive:)
@@amraouikhalid3525 Sorry I’m not sure of all the song names or artists. At the time, I used what I could find off a Musicbed subscription. Then I later canceled that due to the high price and use music from epidemic sound subscription or from TH-cam. Sorry, wish I could of been of more help with the music info:(
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.
I appreciate this video. I'm planning for Alaska June 2025. I have the milepost and most of the emergency kit items. As a new solo traveler this trip is a memorial trip for my husband who passed in March. Videos like this really build my confidence in driving almost 4,000 miles.
@@YazzieL90 I think it will be a very enjoyable trip. I made the video with my son in mind. He had bought a vehicle and drove it from Washington back to Alaska solo and I tried to make the video as informative as I could. Best of luck on your Alaska trip next year, let me know how it goes. :-)
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.
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.
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:)
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.
In October 1988 my wife, me and our 2 cats drove from Mississippi (just graduated AF Tech school) to Anchorage in our 1087 Honda CRX (small car). We drove up the Cassiar highway. No cell phones, no gps back then. Just our Rand McNally road map. It was awesome. Drove back to Washington state 6 years later taking the same route. Made it from Anchorage to Spokane Washington in only 3 days. Those were very long 3 days of driving.
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 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
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!
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 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.
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.
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!
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:)
Thanks for your video. It will be useful on my trip to Seqard
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video:)
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.
How was the trip to AK?
@@Some_kind_of_wonderfü I did not make it this summer - my frenchie is pregnant and I’ve opted for puppies
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:)
Agree!!
Fantastic video,I learned so much,going to watch it again
Thank you so much!
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!
Thank you. Just back from Tuktoyaktuk (the Dempster Highway), can't wait to return to the North toward Alaska this time. Terrific video, great advice, God Bless.
@@jpschaefer thank you and safe travels.
Beautiful drive!! I'm from DC (Mile Zero of the Alaska Highway) and I'm amazed at the natural beauty. Taking this trip is something I want to do one day
@@raistlinvanspronsentravel thank you. It is a beautiful drive:)
very nice edition! txs
good info thanks for the 10 tips we planned for two years and tag team drove the entire thing three people toke our time and did it in three to four hour stints! two spares on the roof gas on the roof flew back shiped the car sold it to a group that did the same thing. we built the car by professionals..;. we had a blast no rush drove with traffic all the way! 1992 that vehicle made two more trips ...modified jeep cherokee extended top! it had a bear cage built in the back for three people ....
Very Informative and Expertly edited!!!!! Thank you 🙏
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.
Great video! Lifelong Anchorage resident here and have only been on the highway one time. It was fun seeing Burwash Landing where we were stranded for a month waiting for the car to get repair. It was 1962 so I am sure the repair is much faster these days!
Rain X is the Best .
We've travelled the AK highway a few times bayin the '70's & '80's . We also drove the Dempster hwy . . So much to see in northern Canada and the vistas seem.. well they Do go on for Miles & miles and you can drive hours without seeing any cars . The most beautiful area on earth . ( In my opinion )
Cheers, great video
Oh, we also used to see great herds of wild horses
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.
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.
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😊💕
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
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.
Thank you for sharing. Very enjoyable and relaxing. 😊👍🏽Appreciate the tips.
Thank you for all the helpful information!! Looking forward to my trip next summer. Great video!
Great video...thank you for your great tips. One of the best tips was putting my husband's phone and my email on my screen saver as you suggested. What a great idea! I hope it won't be needed, but I feel safer now.
Thank you and glad the tips helped! Please let me know how your trip goes:)
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!
Great video. Thank you. Very informative. Beautiful nature all the way.
Thank you so much, truly appreciate it:)
Hello, thanks for the video! We're you driving during winter or summer season here?!
@@xktwnxl4zlx213 some of the video clips were from early May and the rest in in July. The most wildlife we saw was in May:)
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:)
Drove all the way to Deadhorse from Montana in 2016. The roads (June) were excellent on the Alcan and Alaska routes. Only exception was road construction for several miles just south of Deadhorse; where many spring washouts were being repaired. Encountered many folks on motorcycles, bicycles, and one guy walking (not a great idea in polar bear country).
@@mtacoustic1 Thank you. Whoa a guy walking? Yep, that’s crazy. My sister worked at Kuparuk site years ago, said they’d get occasional polar bears coming up toward their camp, I have yet to see a wild one:)
My brother and I drove the AlCan back around 1971; in those days the Canadian portion wasn't paved, but it was the best dirt road I have ever seen, although REALLY DUSTY. We kept looking for the fabled bad part and never saw it. The effective speed limit was what your car's engine could keep up all day long. The best kind of car for that was one with a big old V8 engine (not a flathead). By the time one gets a hard day's drive out of Vancouver there isn't much scenery; most of the way one is surrounded by skinny trees too small to get a board out of, but tall enough to block any view there might otherwise be. The highest point on the highway is near the tree line, so there is a bit of a view there. Lots of places to fish if that is your thing; I don't know about fishing licenses. I was surprised to see the poor tires on many cars and pickups headed south as we neared Alaska. It was definitely something to do once.
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.
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.
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.?
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 💕
What a great video, thanks for taking us on your journey.
Thank you:)
Anyway...a nice video. Thanks for posting
The best alCan video……thank you
@@lennyracine9775 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:)
This vid is highly informative! Nicely done! Thank you!!!
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!
Such an mazhing view of Alaska...that it seems...we suddenly landed on some another planet...having too much snow...❤❤
hello this was a very informative video thanks for sharing good job good job ,,,regards GJ
@@grumpyjamaican thank you.
👩Thank you so much for making this video it is very informative and to the point you're a "Lifesaver" God BLESS you.🙏❤️👍
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
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:)
Loved your video - it was helpful - thanks
Thank you!
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:)
That was amazing info. Thank you
Thank you for watching:)
What a beautiful place
What kind of vehicle are you in? We are interested in going and want to use something reliable/comfortable. Great footage ❤
I’ve driven that Hwy several times in the past ten years. I’ve driven in a 2WD regular car, an SUV and a truck. Thank you so much for the compliment 😊💕
Wonderful video. I'm too old to travel now, but this is like the real thing. Question: What is the song with the lyrics 'where the wild things wander' lyrics and by whom. I can't find it anywhere.
@@einerreklov4304 Thank you. I think the song is called Wander by Every Echo.
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:)
Back in 1995, I hitchhiked alone up and down the highways in Alaska. Would probably no longer work today in this fearful society.
Very interesting and informative
enjoyed your video, thanks
Thank you and I’m glad you liked it😊
thankyou. Greeting from Istanbul Turkiye
Thank you for the info !
thanks for sharing
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.
❤❤❤ thank you from morroco to you
Better getting a 'new' vehichles to travel on this Highway. It will be going a long journey for the travellers.
Beautiful trip. Is that a restroom stop (@ 26:15) by the border?
@@davidtexas9009 yep, that’s the last restroom stop for about 2-3 hours, if you’re driving toward Alaska. Then there are restrooms at the Tetlin refuge area, or at the store in Northway (both on left hand side or else next restroom stop would be in Tok.
Only one tip is needed. Bring 3x the amount of money of your worst-case scenario.
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 :)
Amazing video, thanks
Thank you for making this video 😊
I’m curious why cash was necessary. Can a credit card not be used in all the places you stopped?
@@Some_kind_of_wonderfü most times we didn’t carry much cash, but the time we did thankfully, is when the internet went out and gas stations only took cash in Watson Lake (rare but it can happen). A few days ago I talked to some tourists here and they said travelers need to be aware of Hwy conditions in Canada because of the wildfires and potential closures, such as near the area of Jasper.
In AK, we had a near disaster on the Glenn Hwy mile 64, right before 4th of July, due to the river erosion in that area. They had to make it a one lane for a few days and Thankfully fixed it.
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
thank you 👍🍺
I drove the Alcan in November 1970 in a 1970 ss396 with my wife
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.
Good video
Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it and sorry for the delay in getting back to comments.
Love it
thank you so much, I appreciate it.
❤❤❤❤❤
@@jonathanbarone4708 thank you, much appreciated 😊
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.
I plan to head to Alaska in May of 25 from San Francisco my vehicle uses diesel.
Are there issues with availability?
Also i will bring my dog/(she is my baby girl), any info with this.
And I will not be on a time schedule, we can accommodate, for relaxation.
Thanks
@@augustinehess2341 A lot of gas pumps offer both gas and diesel, both in Canada & AK. We always carried a copy of a health certificate & rabies vaccination with us, but honestly we were probably asked only once or twice to see their papers. Many border agents didn’t seem to mind, and some offered treats at the AK border:)
Gravel roads where even 10 mph is too fast, just awful. Summer 2024.
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.
awusome info 😏
Thinking about doing this drive with a Subaru Outback. Would such a vehicle be suitable?
Sorry for the delay. Yes, a Subaru would make it. Right now we’re seeing cars, trucks, motorhomes, motorcycles. Best of luck.
I like this Ths
Thank you.
Do they also have a lot of diesel pumps at the gas stations?
@@JanitorZach-ij9hi yes they do
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.
@@danielmonfort3235How was your trip to Kodiak?
@@realalaskalivinghi! So if my car has remote start, you think there shouldn’t be any issues with starting the car in negative degree weather? 🙌
@@Some_kind_of_wonderfü Depends on a few things. Not a car expert but I know some vehicle batteries can die in the winter time if they sit too long without starting occasionally or they might have a lot of miles/older and may need a new alternator, things like that. When we lived in Anchorage (Southcentral AK, which has milder winters than Interior or Northern AK), I didn’t have any issues with my vehicle starting up with my remote start. I have an 8-year old Chevy SUV. I didn’t even plug in my car every night, just on the nights where I knew it would get to -5 or below in Anchorage, it was parked under a carport. Where we live now, a few hours north of Anchorage, I don’t plug in my car every night during winter, but do when it gets -5 or so. Talkeetna, Glennallen to Fairbanks and north of there, is where you’ll get the really cold winters in Alaska. Hope this helps.
Neat
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.
It’s funny that the highway runs through Canada and no canadian calls it the Alcan ……that was an aluminum company in Canada …we just call it the Alaska highway.
@@chadleschasin2893 lol, yeah I hear most younger tourists in AK call it the Alaska Hwy but many older folks call it the Alcan still. I think the drive through Canada is the most beautiful drive:)
Beside the new grass, animals crave the salt used on winter roads……..fyi
Thank you
Your voice...
nice vedeo please if can tel me a name of music i love it khalid morroco thanks
@@amraouikhalid3525 Sorry I’m not sure of all the song names or artists. At the time, I used what I could find off a Musicbed subscription. Then I later canceled that due to the high price and use music from epidemic sound subscription or from TH-cam. Sorry, wish I could of been of more help with the music info:(