In the summer of 2018, as a solo woman RVer I took an RV road trip to Alaska via the Alaska Highway and the Cassiar Highway. I fortunate to spend 3 1/2 months touring the scenic, wild and remote state of Alaska!
The Alaska Highway, Yukon Territory, Canada
My solo RV Road trip started from my winter home in Nevada and Arizona. I drove through California, Oregon and Washington in the spring, crossing the Canadian border at the end of April. Alaska, here I come!
Traveling to Alaska with a dog took some preparation. Therefore, I took Capone to a veterinarian near Bellingham, Washington for a health check. The USDA verified vet examined Capone and issued a health certificate. This certificate is required to enter Canada and Alaska (I was never asked to verify I had it).
I created a border crossing checklist for RVing to Alaska with a dog. You can watch it here. >>>>>>>>>
Crossing into Canada was so exciting! But as a full time RVer I had some concerns about telling them I was living in my RV. This caused suspicion and questioning by the Canadian Border Patrol. Boy was I nervous! However, after satisfactorily answering everything, I was flagged through. Hello Canada! (To find out all the questions they asked and why I got so nervous you can watch the video. >>>>>>>>)
Once I crossed into Canada, I found a beautiful free campground in Lillooet, British Columbia where I stayed a few days to acclimate. There was some gorgeous hiking in the area. The temperatures were warm, with daytime highs near ninety degrees.
As I traveled north toward Alaska I realized there were a few things I needed to know about driving an RV in Canada: how tall and wide my RV is in Centimeters and how heavy in Kilograms! There were some underpasses that scared me as I tried convert inches to meters in my head (and I had no cell signal).
As a woman traveling solo, I felt completely comfortable RVing across Canada. There was only one incident that caused me some alarm. A strange man approached me near the Highway of Tears in Hazelton, British Columbia.
One day, I was having lunch at a roadside pull-out and a man stopped, got out of his car and started lurking. After some awkward silence, he asked me, “are you traveling alone.?”. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I grabbed my lunch and went inside and locked the door. It wasn’t until later that I realized the stretch of highway I was on is notorious for women disappearing. Yeah, that realization really struck me. But overall, I felt safe traveling alone, even in the most remote areas.
RVing into Alaska
Grizzly Bear in Denali National Park, Alaska
Capone and I crossed the Alaska border in late May and I made my way to Fairbanks. I spent a few days seeing the city and then mosied toward Denali National Park. My reservation at Teklanika Campground was June 14. Teklanika is the furthest point in the park you can drive your personal vehicle to. Without the reservation at Teklanika, you have to take the Camper Bus to get to Teklanika and all points beyond.
While staying at Denali, I hiked the Teklanika River near my campground, and MonoChrome pass where I encountered a Grizzly Sow and her Cub! On my last day in Denali, I rode the Camper Bus about 50 miles to scenic Wonder Lake.
Cruising through icebergs in Prince William Sound, Valdez, AK
I spent the rest of July and August traveling to Homer, Soldotna, and Valdez. In Valdez I boondocked near the Valdez Glacier and took the LuLu Belle Cruise to the Columbia Glacier where I got to witness some Glacier calving. It was a rare sunny day (it was a wet summer in Alaska that year) and a gorgeous day on the Prince William Sound. And oh, the views!!
I topped off my summer by driving my RV on the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay. Prudhoe Bay is a giant oil field on the Arctic Ocean.
From Prudhoe Bay you can shuttle through the Oil properties to dip your toe in the Arctic Ocean. You’ll have to watch the video below to find out if I was brave enough to go in!
The Brooks Range, Dalton Highway near Coldfoot, Alaska
The Dalton Highway is 415 miles of remote rugged road. Also called the Haul Road, it’s mostly driven by big rigs that service the oil fields at Prudhoe Bay. There are few services, no hospitals and almost no cell service. The Haul Road takes you along the Alaska Pipeline through the Brooks Range and over Atigun Pass, the tallest driveable pass in Alaska. It took me two weeks to drive the road (at about 30 mph the whole way) with no troubles. I only carried one spare tire and didn’t even need that. The wild remoteness of the tundra in the fall is breathtaking. With wild caribou, muskox and bald eagles roaming the wilderness. It was amazing!
I fell in love with Alaska and wanted to stay. However, as summer came to close, days were getting shorter and the nights cooler. I knew it was time to say goodbye. With a heavy heart, I pointed my RV nose toward Canada and the lower 48.
When Capone was diagnosed in Yukon a week after leaving Alaska, the trip back to the U.S. became a race. I wanted to be near friends when it was time to say goodbye to my best friend.
My summer in Alaska is a time I will never forget. It was the trip of a lifetime, I highly recommend anyone who has an adventurous spirit and a love of nature to make the journey. You won’t regret it.
For more information about my travels and all the videos of the places I visited be sure to check out the Alaska Road Trip Playlist on YouTube.
Do you love hot springs? How about Ghost Towns? Check out the recent Ghost Town Hot Spring I visited!
What’s life really like as a full time RVer? You might be surprised! Join me for a day on the road!
Have you ever been to Alaska? What is your favorite Alaska memory? Is it on your bucket list? If so, what would you most like to see? Leave your comments below.
DISCLAIMER: Carolyn’s RV Life and Carolyn Higgins share her experiences, thoughts, opinions and ideas in this blog post and on this website for entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, instruction or guidance. Viewers/Readers should consult with professionals before pursing any actions or behaviors exhibited in this video. Carolyn’s RV Life or Carolyn Higgins cannot be held liable in the event of any accident or injury that may occur as a result of application of procedures and information provided in this video.
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7 Responses
I’m so sorry to hear about Capone. I haven’t kept up with you this past year as I was on the road my self in a minvan with 6 cats. I only got the notice because you sent me an email. I think that’s the first one you’ve sent out. Very nice .
Blessings to you on your continued journey.
Thank you Kate. I appreciate your thoughts and kind words.
Sorry to hear about Capone. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am taking a tour to Alaska in August, 2019. Reading about your trip
was very helpful. I missed hearing from you and will look forward to
more post in the future. Have blessed travel!! Nancy
Thank you so much Nancy.
Carolyn,
So sorry to hear about your dog. I have four dogs and 2 cats so I know how they are like family and I also know the pain of losing a pet. I am researching RV living, and will do it a little different at first as I have to work. I am a teacher so during the school year I will need a place I can be for a while, but in the summer I can move. So many questions!!! Anyway, I am enjoying reading about your journey.
I’m so sorry to hear about Capone.
I’m heading to Alaska this year and I just started reading and watching your adventures. Looking forward to more of your emails!
I just now saw the sad news about Capone. I am very sorry because I have 3 dogs and they are like family.
I have enjoyed watching your adventures and admire your courage! Thank you for sharing that wonderful scenery.
I wonder what you decided when you reached the Oregon/Washington border as I have not seen any more. I certainly understand why you might have decided to stop for a while.