The Milepost
 

Multiple folks have recommended The Milepost. I borrowed a 2002 copy from the library. I wasn't as wowed as I expected to be. I had originally intended to purchase a 2006 edition, but now I'm thinking of copying the relevant pages.

What do you think?

The milepost was like my bible when we drove the Alaska Highway in 1992. It stayed on my lap the <b>WHOLE </b>way! (I was the passanger)

What was great about it was the UP-TO-DATE information, including a 4th of July BBQ and exactly where the road work will be because it can be different each year.

I thought the reading wasn't very interesting before going, but as you are traveling along you will appreciate it.

Utahtea

I guess it depends on if you are driving much or staying in one spot. My opinion, if you're springing for a trip to Alaska, you should spring for the Milepost too.

I agree with Utahtea that it was very useful while there. I also used it to hire a pilot to pick us up from an island in PWS and take us to Cordova. It was a fun ride and I don't think I'd have found him or thought about doing that without seeing his little ad in the Milepost.

I totally agree with the above posts.
We would have been lost without the Milepost on our trip.

I will disagree with the above posts. Altough I think that for the first driving trip to Alaska it is an extremely helpful tool. I strongly feel you do not need to buy one. Copying the relevant pages is a great idea. We use Milepost but never for accommodations or dining. These are very subjective adds and we are always aware of that. What we did, we purchased Milepost a few years ago and still using the same one but we never bring this huge book with us. I cut out those pages we need. Things that we are interested in usually stay at the same places. Such as access to hiking trails, location of wilderness areas, scenic spots, Russian Church in Ninilchik, Homer Spit. If we nedd to find a good restaurant we asked locals and do research here, on tripadviser or and google before our trip. We also check, days before our trip, website of DOT for the latest information on road constructions. How often while on vacation would I need Home Depot, Wal-mart, or bookstore in Anchorage? If I need any of those places I just ask at the hotel, cabin, gas station. We also enjoy to stop at the scenic places that appeal to us and not because they are recommended by Milepost. Further, we always enjoy getting acqquainted with local people and as a result we formed long lasting friendship with many Alaskans including a group of Native Alaskans in the remote White Mountain.This is, of course, MHO

The Milepost is not as necessary are some folks say. It's best use is getting to Alaska. It was great when I first drove the Al-Can in the winter of 1984, but -- as mentioned -- don't use it for dining or accomodations.

Especially with all the other sources of info available, it's less and less necessary. But it is a nice novelty. It gives you a lot of data, but not a lot of context.

I always have my MILEPOST with me. But don't buy new copies each year. It is a good guide in my opinion of some attractions and interests along the way.

oops, meant to say ``as some folks say.''

we have bought one and used two older ones for planning purposes. We have always traveled at least a week on land before our cruise and I found it helpful. I have also copied only the hwys and side trips I planned to go on and/or cut those sections from book. With all the camera gear we carry, it is too big a book to carry around for two weeks for one week land. We do take our Frommers Alaska book, and get the visitor guides for each city or port.

Years ago we rented an RV for a week to tour before our Alaska cruise. I was soo happy I had the Milepost. We had no set resevations so for us it was great. If we were getting tired, there was always a reference to a State Park or campground for the night. However you seem to have a definite iternary, so might not be as usefull for you.

I'll give my 2 cents...we rented an RV in 2004 in Alaska and found the Milepost to be very very helpful. Since we were only doing Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula,and the Milepost is rather bulky, I carefully removed the sections we would need and put them in a folder to take along. I used it constantly. For one thing, the turn offs of the main roads are not very well marked (which is a good thing in that the roads are not cluttered with billboards and signs) There are small milemarkers along the main roads,and the format of the Milepost follows these. Even with the Milepost, we missed some of the turnoffs ( never did get to see the Russian Churches on the way to Homer!)