Road Trip Vancouver to Anchorage in May
Mar 4th, 2013, 01:50 AM
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Road Trip Vancouver to Anchorage in May
Read NorthwestMales reply to another post on this road trip and only have a couple of questions some of these areas appear quite remote should we carry any special spares and chains. Some of the smaller towns appear to have limited accommodation would it pay to book a day ahead. I am not asking for anyone to do my research for me but if some one already has notes regarding accommodation, distances between towns etc any information would be appreciated. Intended trip May 2014. Regards SouthAussie
Mar 4th, 2013, 07:56 PM
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Hi there...
Can't recall whether you're going all the way on the "Alaska Highway", but IF SO, you will be so surprised at how very FEW miles of the path were at all mountainous.
Of the 2400-ish miles between Seattle and Anchorage, first of all, fewer than 30 of them were unpaved roadway (road repairs), and there was only one spot between the start of the Alaska Highway (thats Dawson Creek) and Anchorage which had hills and "compact snow and ice on the roadway" (and that was in northern BC).
On the WAY toward Dawson Creek perhaps east of McLeod Lake, BC, you could find yourself in some snow.
I should say that I went during the first week in April, and that by May your worries should be rather minimal.
Also, because "tourist season" doesn't kick-in in earnest until later, I don't think you will have any worries at all with regard to lodging.
Although, in a perfect world, you will NOT (do what your dad used to do, when having the whole family in the car, driving into a new town after 9pm/dark, and pulling off the highway in search of a "Vacancy" sign late at night). BeCAUSE it is so far between key destinations, you'll often have the choice to drive 300-ish, or 600-ish miles in a day. Upon gaining that understanding, it should be easy to determine to which town you should phone ahead for reservations. Let the progress of your trip decide on whether you should MAYBE phone no more than 30-ish hours ahead for a room at a certain spot on the map.
Clarity: I would not bother carrying any special spare tires and chains. (they even do a very good job on the Alaska Highway of warning of a "bump" up ahead in the road, AND THEN putting a RED FLAG in the exact spot where the BUMP itself is).
The only other significant difference between my April departure and yours in May is that all of the lakes were still frozen in early April, which seeeeeeemed to add to their picturesque quality.
I drove a standard rental car sedan all the way to Seward, AK and back - it got dirty, but otherwise not a scratch on it.
Can't recall whether you're going all the way on the "Alaska Highway", but IF SO, you will be so surprised at how very FEW miles of the path were at all mountainous.
Of the 2400-ish miles between Seattle and Anchorage, first of all, fewer than 30 of them were unpaved roadway (road repairs), and there was only one spot between the start of the Alaska Highway (thats Dawson Creek) and Anchorage which had hills and "compact snow and ice on the roadway" (and that was in northern BC).
On the WAY toward Dawson Creek perhaps east of McLeod Lake, BC, you could find yourself in some snow.
I should say that I went during the first week in April, and that by May your worries should be rather minimal.
Also, because "tourist season" doesn't kick-in in earnest until later, I don't think you will have any worries at all with regard to lodging.
Although, in a perfect world, you will NOT (do what your dad used to do, when having the whole family in the car, driving into a new town after 9pm/dark, and pulling off the highway in search of a "Vacancy" sign late at night). BeCAUSE it is so far between key destinations, you'll often have the choice to drive 300-ish, or 600-ish miles in a day. Upon gaining that understanding, it should be easy to determine to which town you should phone ahead for reservations. Let the progress of your trip decide on whether you should MAYBE phone no more than 30-ish hours ahead for a room at a certain spot on the map.
Clarity: I would not bother carrying any special spare tires and chains. (they even do a very good job on the Alaska Highway of warning of a "bump" up ahead in the road, AND THEN putting a RED FLAG in the exact spot where the BUMP itself is).
The only other significant difference between my April departure and yours in May is that all of the lakes were still frozen in early April, which seeeeeeemed to add to their picturesque quality.
I drove a standard rental car sedan all the way to Seward, AK and back - it got dirty, but otherwise not a scratch on it.
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