On Homer, we stayed On Homer Spit. I highly recommend staying in a RV park on the Spit. There are several.

Be sure to have a 2009 copy of The Milepost. It is the only travel guide you need for Alaska (sorry Fodors), particularly when touring by RV. Every major road in Alaska is covered mile by mile (even by tenths of mile). It will list all of the RV parks. We preferred the state and national RV parks as they provide much more space than the most of the commercial RV parks and are usually more scenic.

As for Gardyloo's comment about driving an SUV and staying in B&Bs to meet "real people", we found that many of the other RVers (particularly in the state campgrounds) were Alaskans. We met plenty of real Alaskans.

I finally have time to look back at our Alaska RV vacation pictures and information. It was a fabulous vacation and it's hard to believe it was in July of 2002. Seems like just a couple years ago! We would absolutely do it again.

(I may make my reply in several bits as I look back at your questions and look through my information from our trip.)

We are a family of four and, at the time of our Alaska RV vacation, our kids were 13 (daughter) and 9 (son). I did a cost comparison with renting a car and staying in hotel/motels, but I do not have that comparison any longer, sorry. Our MAIN reasons for deciding to do Alaska in an RV were for the experience of it all. We love car camping and this just seemed like a step up from that. We love the atmosphere of campgrounds, especially state and federal campgrounds. Very relaxing and serene. It's more of a wilderness experience than driving from town to town and staying in hotels/motels. Also, we liked the idea of having NO TV during the vacation. It's always such a temptation for the kids to plop themselves down on a hotel room bed and do nothing but stare at the tube. Without the distraction of a TV, we did a lot more outdoor exploring.

We went in July (for two weeks), so I don't know about the weather in May or June. I'm guessing it can be quite cool in the evenings. I'm sure you could find an Alaska tourist website that would show you the average highs and lows during the months of May and June.

We rented a 22' RV from Sweet Retreat Motorhome Rentals. I tried to find them just now on the internet and was unsuccessful, so maybe they are out of business. The RV was really quite easy to maneuver. And we had plenty of space for the 4 of us. I think a slide-out is totally unnecessary. If you are concerned about maneuverability and parking, I'd suggest going for a smaller size RV rather than a larger one. You'll still have plenty of room, I think.

Parking was not a problem that I recall. When scouting out campgrounds look for ones that have "pull-through" spots for RVs. That way you simply drive in and keep driving in the same direction when you leave. No need to back up.

We ate in restaurants occasionally, but mostly ate our meals that we prepared in the RV or on a grill. Can' remember if the grill was "extra" or if it came with the RV.

Since our trip was 7 years ago, my information is a little sketchy, sorry.

I recall that we really liked all of the campgrounds we used. Here are the ones for which I was able to find the names and locations (in no particular order):
Millers Landing, Seward
Beluga Lookout RV Park, Kenai
Homestead RV Park, Palmer
Carlo Creek Lodge & RV Park, Healy
Tolsona Wilderness Campground, Glennallen

We did stay in Homer, on the spit, but I don't have the name of the campground.

Sites and activities I would recommend:
* Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage (check to see when the native dancers are performing)
* Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters in Wasilla
* Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward
* Matauska Glacier - one of our BEST vacation experiences EVER was doing a glacier hike with Mica Guides

We really like the atmosphere at campgrounds. People are friendly, open and helpful. As someone mentioned earlier, the showers in most RVs are teensy tiny, so we simply used the showers at the campgrounds. We found them to be clean. Make yourself a "shower caddy" with which you can carry your shower supplies to the campground showers.

Remember, you WILL have to dump the RV waste regularly. I was dreading it, but it is really no big deal.

You absolutely will want to get the Milepost guide, as someone mentioned earlier. It is indispensable. Woodalls makes RV and campground guides. I always just looked through them at the library to find information on campgrounds.

You asked about unlimited mileage vs ppm. When I was making that decision, I just didn't want to have to keep track and possibly restrict ourselves from exploring, so I went with unlimited mileage.

I don't know if you've had a chance yet to check car rental rates, but according to Newsweek, they have increased 74% in one year. So renting a car may not be such an economical option anymore.

Well, I hope some of this is helpful. No matter HOW you travel in Alaska it will be amazing. I don't know when I'll have an opportunity to go back, but I would jump at the chance in a heartbeat.

I've just returned from vacation, so am checking this site for the first time in a while.
padams and AJMelheim--Thanks for your responses! AJ, you touched on so many of my questions; I really enjoyed reading about your trip. So much information! I think we will take the advise of you and padams about staying in state or national campgrounds. I'm definitely starting to think that we will rent an RV rather than a car. I agree with you, AJ, that it is the experience of it all, being in the wilderness, when you camp. Thanks so much! Hope you get to go to Alaska,again!

When we went to Alaska, we rented a car. We wondered about the costs of that, hotels and all, vs. an RV, since we saw so many campers! And not to knock that at all, but just to make one point about food costs -- we had motels or B&Bs that had breakfast, and we bought a cheap styrofoam cooler and lunch supplies before we left Anchorage, and so all our lunches were picnics, and we only ate out for dinner. So that helped keep costs down (some).

ViktoriaB...Just getting back to life after our trip to AK. We spent 15 days traveling in our 30ft RV, with a slideout, that reserved via Great Alaskan Holidays. Our RV rental costs was 1,900.00USD. Gasoline was a $1.00 more per gallon vs the lower 48. Gasoline costs for the 15 days $350.00, traveled 1,200 miles. We went to Denali, Whittier and Homer. Campground costs $375.00. Loved the WILLIWAW campground in Portage Glacier. Got to see the salmon in the stream. Lots of Waterfalls and wonderful hicking trails in the area as well as the Whittier Glacier trips. We stayed in the Savage River campground in Denali. Really surprised as to how clean the campground restrooms were, especially since it was the end of the season. During our trip we saw numerous bears and moose but few Eagles. Fishing was successful, caught both salmon & Halibut. And the biggest surprise, it got to 70 degrees as couple of the days we were there. It would rain and then it would stop, so the rainy season wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Next year we will go back in May as I prefer that time of year vs the August trip. However by going in August, we got to see the Fireweed in bloom. And the best part of traveling in the RV, you have a restroom on board so you will never have to worry that it's 100 miles to the next restroom.

bdawk--Thanks so much for getting back to me and giving me all the specifics of your trip, especially all the costs. We reserved a 25' RV from Great Alaskan Holidays for the first two weeks of June next year. Our cost will be $1981. I am hoping that the cost will go down at some point; if it does, our price will automatically go down as well.

Your gas costs were not quite as bad as I had imagined. Of course, by next June I'm sure the prices will be a whole lot higher! Right now, I don't even like to think about it!

Our actual itinerary is still evolving, although I know we will concentrate on the Kenai Peninsula--Homer, Seward,etc. How many miles we will end up putting on our rig, I can't even guess. Who knows, we may end up going above Anchorage,too.

Glad your weather turned out alright, knowing (from what I've read)how much rain Alaska gets at that time of year. I hope our weather is decent, but I'm trying to prepare myself for not-so-great weather, as well. I know that May and early June are supposed to be drier months.

In case you read this, did you stay at campgrounds every night, or did you ever just pull over and overnight in a parking lot or a pull-off, somewhere?

Thanks again for "dropping by" with all your details. I am surprised that this post is still getting any replies at all, but I enjoy reading anything that comes my way!

We pulled into parking lots to eat but not to sleep. We stopped at various pull outs along the road system. We stayed in State & Fed campgrounds. We went 1,100 miles but we stayed put in Homer for 8 days of our 2 wk trip. I would recommend getting this book from Amazon: Traveler's Guide to Alaskan Camping: Alaska and Yukon Camping with RV or Tent. In the book, the author's list water & dump stations which is a great bit of info that you won't find just anywhere. Also, in the book are descriptions of campgrounds and their recommended sites in the various campgrounds. And just an FYI, RV get about 10 mpg so plan you stops in gas stations accordingly. Cost of gasoline didn't differ between the stations available, so it made sense to which ever station had the best access for the RV. There is a gas station just north of Great Alaskan to refill with Gasoline & Propane, so I wouldn't take the option of prepaying for your fuel.

bdawk--I already have the Alaskan camping book that you talk about. Someone in an earlier reply recommended it to me (maybe it was you?). It's very informative.

About you staying 8 days in Homer: What did you do there for all that time? Just fish? Did you go over to Halibut Cove, by any chance? If so, how was it? It seems like most people have said that they would recommend only staying in Homer for maybe 2 to 3 days, at most. We are looking forward to Homer, so I'm interested in that. It sounds like a funky little town! Any good shops that you would recommend?

We fished, picked berries, went to Seldovia. Pratt museum was worth the visit. There are shops along the Spit and a few around town. My favorite is "A Better Sweater". If you are just passing thru, 2 days is enough, If you are fishing, then it's a different story. If time allows, Seward is pretty nice too. Seward is a fishing town too, but they do have the Fjords boat trip. That side is more Glacier vs beach & fishing. Favorite Homer restaurants: Fat Olive's and Two Sister's bakery.

I posted this after our two weeks in Alaska in September of last year. Perhaps it will help to make your RV experience most enjoyable.
Some thoughts on renting an RV in Alaska
My husband and I rented an RV for 15 days at the end of August, beginning September, 2008. It was a wonderful experience and we would do it again.
I thought some would appreciate my comments.
We rented from Great Alaska Holidays with the unlimited mileage option. After much comparison, we felt they included much more in their price than other companies. We picked the 22 foot for pricing and as there were two of us. The bed over the cab is good for a 6’2 man as the pull out couch was much too short. We put our luggage up there with hubby and I used the pull out. The dinette could also have made into a bed, albeit a short one.
Our long flight from Orlando arrived at 6.15p.m. and by the time we collected luggage it was too late for the company pick up. They should accommodate the later arrivals, as the taxi cost $25. We chose to pay to sleep in the motor home the first night, so we could check it over well. After such a long flight, we wanted a hot shower – but there was no soap…..we used hair shampoo. For that reason, and the fact that a good night’s sleep is nice after traveling, next time we would go to a hotel.
There was no list available to do an inventory – there were several items missing from our RV. such as a broom and dustpan and cooking utensils. Minor, but annoying.
Checkout took well over an hour, as people were checking in and checking out with only two employees on duty.
First one sits through a 20 minute video that shows everything one can do wrong while driving an RV. I think that is to encourage you to take the CDW insurance, which we did for an unexpected expense of $239. I must add that we have owned motor homes for twenty years, the largest 26 feet, so driving was no worry.
We had to pay $5 for two weeks rental on a toaster we had just bought for home for $6.
We also paid $22.50 for an inverter for the laptop.
Our first stop was Fred Meyer supermarket – and were directed by the employee to one that was totally in the wrong direction from our southward travel. Fortunately we were re-directed by an incoming camper to one closer.
Shopping, what an experience in Alaska. I knew food would be more expensive, but WOW. We had to buy 4 lbs. of sugar to use 15 teaspoons for tea; 1,000 matches in order to use perhaps a dozen; paper towels, toilet paper (one roll was with the RV); and the smallest dish detergent would last a month. So, the moral is to bring whatever you can from home in small quantities.
Being seniors, we were able to use the Golden Age Pass in the National Parks – so they cost $9.00. There were no facilities, but we were very self sufficient in the motor home. Otherwise we paid between $25 and $38 for camp grounds.
When we checked the motor home in at the end of our trip we gave all our left overs to a departing camper – who was very grateful.
This is absolutely the way to see Alaska, we traveled 1500 miles in fourteen days, from Anchorage south to Seward and Homer, and north to Fairbanks (where we did a tour north of the Arctic Circle). I hope this has helped some travelers.

Other thoughts: For us, Homer did not rate more than a couple of days. Actually we should have spent the time in other places. Do try and add Denali to your experience
Regarding driving a motorhome on the narrow highways, I think the rule is that if there are four vehicles behind a motorhome, then you HAVE to pull over. And there are many pullover spots.
Jean

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Twoaussies made a good point about bringing some caffee, tea bags, creamer and suger packets. Having suffered the same as you did, next trip we were more prepared. Great Alaskan would have reimbursed you for your after hours cab ride if you had informed them of such an expense. Just another FYI, broom and dust pan are under the couch, you just have to feel for it. Another lesson we had learned after we purchased a broom on our first trip. There is a Safeway grocery store right down the road on the left but their prices are higher than Fred Myers, but then again, lesser quanities are better for a week vacation.

Camperrentalusa Renter BEWARE:Very Nice RV that I only drove locally to the Beach. Rented it with the full cleanup fee. Great Experience UNTIL returned and got the surprise of my life. I should have known when the Owner, Erik, was telling that I was getting a great deal. I guess he's makes it up on the backend.when he charged me an additional $165 for a fine scratch on the top foot of the RV. When he encouraged me to come to his facility to discuss and he show me the next day, he NO-Showed and I had to hunt down maintenance staff to explain the issue. Having been told it was a 20 to 30 min. buff job plus seeing the the RVs next to mine were scratch 10X worse, I figured whatever 25 minutes costs. And after no-showing he never had the professionalism to call me back, tell me what he was charging me. He got his extra day rental fee which is what he wanted and lost a customer for LIFE. I would rent from ANY of the other camper places in Ventura County

twbaker,

Can you contest this fee though you charge card company since he didn't show up? I'll bet this is a scam he pulls on a lot of people. That's why when we rent any vehicle we check it inside out and UNDERNEATH and not any marks, scratches etc!

To everyone else...just a note the orginial thread is from July 2009.

Utahtea