Alaska- Tent Camping or RV Rental?? Thoughts/Opinions...
Apr 28th, 2004, 05:56 PM
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Alaska- Tent Camping or RV Rental?? Thoughts/Opinions...
My boyfriend and I are planning a 12 day trip to Alaska from May 30th thru June 12th.
We are trying to decide between renting vehicle and tent camping(we have tent/equipment) for most of the trip or rent a 24' RV for our travels.
Some sidenotes here -
..Money is not an issue for our decision
..We are both in our early 30's
..My boyfriend has extensive camping experience(i.e. he has camped in a tent on Mt Washington in the dead of winter); I like camping, but am not as "nutty" about it as he is. Even if we go with the tent camping option, I plan on spending 3-4 of the nights in lodges/B&B's, for a bit of comfort.
I'm looking for opinions/thoughts from those that have done both or can give me preferences for either.
I keep thinking that although the RV will be more comfortable, it will hold us back on the true Alaska experience... so then I lean towards the tent camping, but am worried about being eaten by a bear!(I know, I'm just as likely to be gobbled up by one while hiking as I am in the tent!)
Thanks!
We are trying to decide between renting vehicle and tent camping(we have tent/equipment) for most of the trip or rent a 24' RV for our travels.
Some sidenotes here -
..Money is not an issue for our decision
..We are both in our early 30's
..My boyfriend has extensive camping experience(i.e. he has camped in a tent on Mt Washington in the dead of winter); I like camping, but am not as "nutty" about it as he is. Even if we go with the tent camping option, I plan on spending 3-4 of the nights in lodges/B&B's, for a bit of comfort.
I'm looking for opinions/thoughts from those that have done both or can give me preferences for either.
I keep thinking that although the RV will be more comfortable, it will hold us back on the true Alaska experience... so then I lean towards the tent camping, but am worried about being eaten by a bear!(I know, I'm just as likely to be gobbled up by one while hiking as I am in the tent!)
Thanks!
Apr 28th, 2004, 07:04 PM
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I would worry more about being eatten alive by the mosquitos in Alaska. With a tent you will be spending a lot more time outdoors and those little devils are out at all times of the day!
It's been a long time since we were in Alaska but for the three weeks there in July it rained at least a little every single day. Taking down a wet tent isn't fun. Taking down or setting up a tent while it's raining isn't fun.
Utahtea
It's been a long time since we were in Alaska but for the three weeks there in July it rained at least a little every single day. Taking down a wet tent isn't fun. Taking down or setting up a tent while it's raining isn't fun.
Utahtea
Apr 29th, 2004, 04:15 AM
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My son and his friends do a lot of camping but one chooses to sleep inside his jeep because he's afraid of bears. I agree with utahtea that rain might be a problem and it would be better to have an RV.
I just finished reading Peter Jenkins' "Looking For Alaska". It took him more than a year to explore the state and understand the experience of living in Alaska. You will probably learn more from your b&b hosts about living in Alaska than from the experience of camping by yourselves in a remote location. We are choosing a b&b instead of joining a big camp out the first weekend of our trip this year. We like camping but the event is rain or shine and I'm looking forward to breakfasting with our hosts and the other guests. Who knows, one of the hosts might work on the slope and has experienced impromptu camping in his truck when a blizzard causes white out conditions. I vote for taking every opportunity to talk with people who live there instead of "just nature and us" camping. Hope you have a great trip!
I just finished reading Peter Jenkins' "Looking For Alaska". It took him more than a year to explore the state and understand the experience of living in Alaska. You will probably learn more from your b&b hosts about living in Alaska than from the experience of camping by yourselves in a remote location. We are choosing a b&b instead of joining a big camp out the first weekend of our trip this year. We like camping but the event is rain or shine and I'm looking forward to breakfasting with our hosts and the other guests. Who knows, one of the hosts might work on the slope and has experienced impromptu camping in his truck when a blizzard causes white out conditions. I vote for taking every opportunity to talk with people who live there instead of "just nature and us" camping. Hope you have a great trip!
Apr 29th, 2004, 07:02 AM
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We were in the same situation since we are big tent campers. I posed the same question here and was pretty convinced to not take the tents.
We rented an RV and loved the experience. It actually gave us a lot of flexibility since we didn't have reservations at hotels or B&B's.
The only problem is, if you decide to rent an RV, you are going to have a tough time finding one this late.
It turns out that we didn't see many places good for tent camping. Most of their campgrounds, state parks included, are just parking lots (literally). Some were even closed when we got there due to budget cutbacks.
I would recommend reservations for two places--the campground at the entrance to Denali and the Russian River National Forest C.G. on the Kenai Pen. close to Cooper Landing. This was the best campground we saw anywhere in Alaska.
We thought we could get away from the crowds and be in the wilderness too but it is actually harder, and more expensive (you would need a plane or boat) than we thought.
It took us a few days to accept that it wasn't going to happen. Not only are there lots of tourists but the locals, understandably, out enjoying the summer as well.
We rented an RV and loved the experience. It actually gave us a lot of flexibility since we didn't have reservations at hotels or B&B's.
The only problem is, if you decide to rent an RV, you are going to have a tough time finding one this late.
It turns out that we didn't see many places good for tent camping. Most of their campgrounds, state parks included, are just parking lots (literally). Some were even closed when we got there due to budget cutbacks.
I would recommend reservations for two places--the campground at the entrance to Denali and the Russian River National Forest C.G. on the Kenai Pen. close to Cooper Landing. This was the best campground we saw anywhere in Alaska.
We thought we could get away from the crowds and be in the wilderness too but it is actually harder, and more expensive (you would need a plane or boat) than we thought.
It took us a few days to accept that it wasn't going to happen. Not only are there lots of tourists but the locals, understandably, out enjoying the summer as well.
Apr 29th, 2004, 06:46 PM
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We rv'd in Alaska for 5 weeks in Aug. 2002 but our rv was 32 ft. and we towed a pickup truck. That gave us the ability to go drive roads that we did not want to take the rv. on.If you do take an rv to Denali, I would recommend making a reservation inside Denali at the Tek Campground. This gives you the right to drive further into the park than general traffic is allowed to go. It also makes it convenient to hike or hop the tour bus at will.
