Getting Here

If you have been wanting to see what Alaska is all about, now may be the time to do it. 2009 may be one of the cheapest years to travel to Alaska due to the lower fuel prices. The Alaska-Canadian Highway is now paved all the way to Fairbanks and generally the roads are clear by the first of May. Fuel prices are generally somewhat higher in Canada than in the US and they sell their fuel by the liter instead of the gallon. So if you are paying 50 cents Canadian per liter, that is equal to $1.89 per gallon (liter price x 3.7854 = price per gallon). The interchange rate between the US and Canadian dollar has been fairly equal for the past couple of years. You will need US passports to cross into Canada and back into the US.

There are three main routes that are used to make the trip to Alaska: the Far-eastern route through North Dakota, the Eastern route through Montana and the Western route through Seattle. An absolute must in making the trip is a new copy of the Milepost Magazine.
This magazine will provide a detailed description of the eastern and western routes to the Alaska-Canadian Highway (Alcan) and roadside details of everything along the Alcan Highway. It also has very good maps of all the highways in western Canada and all of Alaska.

FAR-EASTERN ROUTE:
This route is often used by those coming from the east coast as it angles from the border of North Dakota via the North Portal border crossing to Regina, Saskatchewan, to Saskatoon, then northwesterly on Highway 16 to Edmonton, Alberta. Then Highway 43 takes you northwest to British Columbia where it starts the Alcan Highway at Dawson Creek. You can follow the Alcan all the way to Tok, Alaska where you will take the Glen Allen cutoff to Anchorage (Highway 1). From Anchorage take the Seward Highway (Highway 9) to the Sterling Highway (1) which will take you to Soldotna, Alaska. The Kasilof RV Park is located 15 miles south of Soldotna.

EASTERN ROUTE:
This route enters Canada via Interstate 15 north of Great Falls, Montana. In Canada the Interstate becomes 4 which passes through Calgary, Alberta and then to Edmonton, Alberta. (A beautiful side trip from Calgary can be taken through Banff and Jasper National Parks then Highway 40 to Grande Prairie, Alberta on Highway 43) Then Highway 43 takes you northwest to British Columbia where it starts the Alcan Highway at Dawson Creek. You can follow the Alcan all the way to Tok, Alaska where you will take the Glen Allen cutoff to Anchorage (Highway 1). From Anchorage take the Seward Highway (Highway 9) to the Sterling Highway (1) which will take you to Soldotna, Alaska. The Kasilof RV Park is located 15 miles south of Soldotna.

WESTERN ROUTE:
From Seattle, Washington take Interstate 5 to Bellingham, Washington where you follow the roads over to Sumas, Washington and the Canadian Border crossing there. At Abbotsford, British Columbia (BC) take Highway 1 to Hope, BC and north to Cache Creek, BC through the beautiful Frazier River valley. At Cache Creek continue north on Highway 97 through Prince George to Chetwynd, BC. Here you can either take the beautiful winding short cut through Hudson Hope to the Alcan Highway north of Fort John, BC or continue on 97 to Dawson Creek. You can follow the Alcan all the way to Tok, Alaska where you will take the Glen Allen cutoff to Anchorage (Highway 1). From Anchorage take the Seward Highway (Highway 9) to the Sterling Highway (1) which will take you to Soldotna, Alaska. The Kasilof RV Park is located 15 miles south of Soldotna.

Whatever route you decide to take to Alaska, you will truly enjoy the beautiful scenery of northern Canada and the magnificent scenery of Alaska. The roads are good and there are plenty of places to stay along the way. Don’t forget to get a copy of the Milepost. It will make your trip much more pleasant. We hope to see you sometime this summer.