sahara102

I am planning a trip for June 7-21, 2005. I have put together a tentative itinerary and need opinions on whether it is "doable" or needs to be changed.

Day 1:
-Fly into Anchorage and pickup RV
-Stock up on food
-Stay at Anchorage RV Park

Day 2:
-Alaska Native Center
-Bike the Tony Knowles Trail
-Travel to Talkeetna
-Stay at ??? RV Park (any suggestions)

Day 3:
-Denali Flightseeing Tour
-Travel to Denali National Park
-Stay at Riley Creek Campground

Day 4:
-Tour Denali by shuttle bus
-Stay at Riley Creek Campground

Day 5:
-Horseback riding with Denali Saddle Safaris
-White water rafting
-Stay at Riley Creek Campground

Day 6:
-Travel to Fairbanks
-Visit University of Alaska Museum
-Visit Pioneer Park
-Stay at Chena Marina RV Park

Day 7:
-El Dorado Gold Mine & Train Ride
-Riverboat Discover
-Visit North Pole
-Stay at Chena Marina RV Park

Day 8:
-Arctic Circle Drive Tour
-Stay at Chena Marina RV Park

Day 9:
-Visit Chena Hot Springs
-Stay at ??? RV Park (near Gakona)(any suggestions)

Day 10:
-Travel to Seward
-Stay at Millers Landing RV Park

Day 11:
-Goodwin Glacier Dog Mushing Tour
-1/2 day Sea Kayaking Tour
-Stay at Millers Landing RV Park

Day 12:
-Full day Major Marine Tour
-Stay at Millers Landing RV Park

Day 13:
-Raft Float Trip/Horseback Riding/Gold Panning with Alaska River Adventures (anybody every been on this trip??)
-Stay at Millers Landing RV Park

Day 14:
-Visit Exit Glacier
-Alyeska Tram
-Travel to Anchorage

Day 15:
-Return RV at 9:00
-My flight out is not until 8:00 at night. I'm thinking of renting a car for the day. Not sure what to do until 8:00 pm. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your input!!

BudgetQueen

I wouldn't waste your first day with the RV rental- Anchorage is difficult on RV parking- the only Anchorage Rv "park" is Walmart. Eagle River state park is very nice however. And the Chena River State Park in Fairbanks is one of the nicest, very convenient downtown but totally wooded. Determine if the Arctic circle "drive tour" is what you want?? This essentially is a long ride in a van to get a photo in front of a sign, then return. Better are the one way fly and van tours. If you go to Chena Hot Springs- there is no way I would consider a single day Seward trip- you are looking at a 10 hour road trip. Be prepared if you go with Millers Landing- run down, parking in dirt, not wooded at the RV sites, lots of discarded junk around. And unpaved road - tight two lanes with some pot holes. I would cut one Seward day and camp between Fairbanks and Seward. Beyers Lake state Park is a good location? And yes definately rent a car the last day. Request the Anchorage visitor guide www.anchorage.net plenty to see and do. If inclined? and you get an early start- you could do some great glacier trekking with MICA guides- 2 hours from Anchorage and a scenic ride out on the Glenn. Or consider a ride up and look at Independence Mine via the Hatcher Pass.

sahara102

Dear BudgetQueen....thanks for the response. I thought if I picked up the RV right after we arrive it would save me having to get a hotel room for the night and I'd be able to get an early start for the 2nd day.

I'll rethink the Arctic Circle Tour. Do you have any recommendations on tour company's to use?

After leaving Chena Hot Springs on Day 9, I was planning to drive down to Gakona or Glennallen. I'm not sure where to stay....Tolsona Wilderness Campground....Northern Nights RV Campground....any suggestions? And then traveling on to Seward on Day 10. Is this doable?

Have you been to the Chena Hot Springs? Is it worth the trip? I'm traveling with my 14 year old son so I'm trying to plan things that he'll enjoy. Would I be better skipping the Hot Springs and going to Kennicott Mine?

Thanks for your help. This is an overwhelming trip to plan.

sahara102

How about Stoney Creek RV Park in Seward (instead of Millers)?

mlw

We recently did a 10 day RV rental (See my post RV'n in the KP)I agree with BudgetQueen,no point in having the RV in Anchorage;plus we were worn out after the long plane ride and very happy to spend the first night in a hotel and start fresh with the RV the next day. We found many of the private campgrounds did not look nearly as good as they sounded in their advertising. The exception being the Heritage RV Park in Homer, we liked it a lot. In Seward the city campground along the waterfront was enjoyable, and once you park the RV, you can walk to lots of stuff, downtown,Sealife Center, boat harbor, restaurants. We paid for one night at a time,and moved to a better spot if we saw one the next day.(3 nights total)Williwaw USFS campground on the Portage Whittier Road is another nice spot....great scenery! We rented a car the last day, and there is lots to do in Anchorage.Can't speak for anything north of Anchorage, as we stayed in the KP, but hope to return sometime!!!

Connie

I would DEFINITELY stay at the Seward City campground right on the shores of the bay. Great mountain views, sea otters, ships coming and going, an easy walk into town. Yes, it is a parking lot, and we hate those, but it was well worth it for everything else.

You'll pass by it and see it's where everyone is staying.

ChristieP

There are LOTS of wonderful things to do in Anchorage for your last day, especially in downtown. The Alaska Art & History Museum is very good, and the Alaska Experience film is neat. The downtown area has excellent shopping and eateries, and is very pedestrian-friendly. If nothing else, stock up souveniers for yourself and the friends! If you are going in an RV, I'm betting you'll be bringing a cooler? Take it back filled with fresh halibut, salmon, and reindeer sausage! They make great gifts!

crazydazy

Just returned and BudgetQueen is right -- traveling will take you more time than you are planning. We were there for 8 days and went from Anchorage (2 days) to Denali (3 days) to Seward (3 days). Loved all of it.
Miller's was at the end of a long dusty road and we weren't overly impressed. Although we weren't RVing, we do own a 5th wheel and checked out some of the camping areas. The waterfront sites in Seward allowed a beautiful view, easy access and also allowed campground fires. Also, you can fish right in front of your RV. Although I understand the bugs are so bad in the summer, this might not be a pleasant experience. It took us 7.5 hrs from Denali to Seward in a car, no stops and very little traffic in Sept. However, there is construction on Route 1 going down the Kenai Penisula and you can plan on that holding you up as well.

If you plan on going from Exit Glacier to Anchorage, it will be at least a 2.5 hr. drive depending on traffic. Exit is worth the visit as is the hike so that will be getting you up and going very early if you need to be in Anchorage by 9:00 a.m. You might want to do the Tony Knowles Trail on your last day. We walked part of it and again, it's a beautiful way to see some of Alaska. At least you'll sleep on the flight home We really enjoyed our Major Marine Tour. The ranger on board was very informative.
Sounds like a wonderful trip and I'm sure your son will enjoy it. You may want to think about leaving a little lee-way time in there for the extra traffic and traveling and making stops when you don't expect them. There is so much beauty around every corner, you may find yourself stopping to take in the view more than you think. We LOVED Seward as it was more like the Alaska we had imagined. Heck, we loved all of it!!!

BudgetQueen

There is a big difference traveling in season and Sept in interior Alaska. You can get behind miles of traffic on the two lane roads and you can't count on consistant 55mph driving. As for going down the Richardson from Fairbanks, across the Glenn to Seward will add at least 2 more hours. Kennicott mine is an all day tour, fly in. I have been to Chena Hot Springs - a day pass is something like $20pp? Frankly the previous owners were superior to the present and the reason to go there is for the Northern Lights in winter, again my opinion only. You might want to really look at day 9-10 and cut back- you are underestimating the time needed. I never recommend any stright through driving- there is so much that can happen along the way- nice scenery, wildlife, spur of the moment stops, dining etc. Time is necessary!

mollynandy

First of all... Whew! You've got a lot on there.
We just got back from two weeks, and I would say you might want to leave out a couple activities and have some time to just hang out in the RV and relax.
We went non-stop for the first 6 days and then we crashed for half of one day. It felt good to sleep in.
Anyway, on Day 2, leave about 2 hours for Alaska Native Heritage Center. Day 7, if you are taking Richardson to Seward, you can hit North Pole on the way out. Day 11, I think the Glacier Dog mushing is pretty expensive. We did Ididaride ($44/person) and it was a lot of fun. Its on the Exit Glacier Road and the owner won the Iditarod this year. By hey, if money is not a problem, go for the big trip.
We had a late flight out (2:30 am!), so we had a long dinner in Anchorage, finished up buying gifts for family, and went to a park. You can also hit the Saturday Market.
Have fun!!!!
Molly

repete

My main suggestion would be to possibly trim a day from the Fairbanks-Chena end of the trip and add it to the Seward-Kenai Peninsula part. The Fairbanks-Chena area is nice for a day or two IMO.

Also consider a meal at the Double Musky in Girdwood either on Day 14 or if you get a car, Day 15. On Day 15, you could poke around for a slow trip to the various sights on the Seward Highway between Anchorage and Portage or you could go north of Anchorage to Eagle River Nature Center.

If this trip wasn't already pretty heavy in miles, I'd suggest a trip down to Homer, which is a great place, too.

Barblab

How about driving to Talkeetna the first day and saving the Anchorage stuff for the last day when you have returned the RV in the morning and rented a car? That should give you a little breathing room on another day. Plan to spend the last night at the Anchorage RV Park (web site anchrvpark.com) as this is a really nice park about 30 - 45 min drive in the morning from Great Alaskan Holidays. I too vote for staying at the Sewerd City lot for its locations and view. Have fun!

Sidepockets

I agree on Double Musky, just great.

alaskahomergirl

UMMMMMMMM Double Musky......yum! yum! VERY GOOD food!