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We're going to Alaska in mid August. First we fly to Seattle, take the ferry from Bellingham to Juneau (family is there) and spend a few days. We're ferrying to Haines and I thought it would be cool to pick up a motorhome there and drive but wanted to get advice about an itinerary.
Wondering whether it's better to go to Denali area (take a plane tour from Tenatka one day, do a Denali trip the next) or head down toward Kenai peninsula and hit Seward.
We have seven days from when we land in Haines before we fly back to the DC area.
Would love to hear suggestions & tips. I've read a few of the posts and it sounds like Tok is a non-starter. That's the town where we'd either head toward Denali or head toward Kenai.
Thanks much!
Maggy
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Alaska motorhome trip - Haines to ???
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Can you even pick up a motorhome in Haines? And drop it elsewhere? It is a long drive from there to the main destinations in Alaska---a beautiful one, at least up and over the pass and down to Whitehorse. But something only lovers of lonely places might appreciate.
With only a week, you might do better to fly from Juneau to either Anchorage or Fairbanks, and pick up a motor home there. If you don't already have reservations in Denali, you might have trouble getting into the campgrounds inside the park. Kenai might be a better choice for a destination.
As for Tok, you are probably right. I haven't been there for many years, and I know things can change. . . but when I lived in Alaska, it was not a place to spend much time. The worst "restaurant" meal of my life was there---we ordered soup and a burger. The soup was an opened can of Campbell's; the burger was a pre-cut patty that went from the freezer to the grill and was cooked to death. It cost a small fortune and we were not happy.
We got off the ferry in Skagway because the reservations agent said she thought the scenery was prettier driving out of Skagway. We headed to the Anchorage area. Keep in mind that it's pretty much a day and a half drive to Anchorage. We overnighted in Tok. Went to a salmon bake place that was ok. It's a long, long drive. Scenery is nice. The acres of fireweed in one old burn area was very dramatic. The lake is surreal but it's a long, long drive. With 7 days I would opt to fly to Anchorage and enjoy Independence Mine to the north and then as much as time permits south to Seward and the rest of the KP.
thanks very much for the advice. i looked again at the map and came to the same conclusion: fly to anchorage and head out from there.
With a week, go to the Kenai. There is much more to see and do than Denali (unless you are avid hikers).