Reddit reviews The MILEPOST 2018: Alaska Travel Planner

Have fun! Definitely don't turn around before you get to Atigun pass (if you aren't going all the way), it's only a few hours past Coldfoot. There is something awe inspiring about the land once you get past the trees, you can literally park your car and walk hundreds or thousands of miles in any direction before you see a person. On our way up we saw a moose, prints from about six different bears, more caribou than we could count, bald eagles, and met a wolf in the middle of the road who chased us for half a mile. The drive up to Deadhorse and back is the reason I'm planning a move out to Alaska in May. If you do end up going all the way, be aware that if you want to swim in the Arctic ocean (you do) you need to sign up 24 hours in advance and provide information for a background check (you have to go through the oil fields). You can also go on a wildlife tour, rumor has it you can occasionally see a polar bear.


A few other things: you can get gas at the Yukon camp, in Coldfoot, and in Deadhorse. Definitely bring at least 5 gallons with you and have at least one spare tire for each vehicle and a patch kit. Most people will tell you to bring two full spare tires. If you don't feel like buying one for a rental car we were able to talk American Tire & Auto into renting us a tire for a grand total of $15. Bring plenty of food and ammo, and buy some swag at the Yukon Camp and Coldfoot. Breakfast in Coldfoot is amazing as well.



Also, this can't be said enough, get the milepost!

Passports make the boarder crossings easier.
No guns in the vehicle transiting thru CAN.

A current issue of Milepost will tell you what businesses are still open and when. They drive the AlCan every year and call out just about every culvert and crick.
https://www.amazon.com/MILEPOST-2018-Alaska-Travel-Planner/dp/1892154374/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520835866&sr=8-1&keywords=milepost+alaska+2018

Shop for Jade in Cache Creek.
http://jadeshop.ca/
Darn, looks like the teepee camping is no longer available.
https://www.historichatcreek.ca/

Make sure you set aside a couple of hours to stop at Laird hot springs for a soak in the woods.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/liard_rv_hs/

Aquire your hometowns' city signs and nail 'em up at the Sign Post Forest at Watson Lake, Yukon Territory

Parks Canada reservations system for your camping nights:
https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/ParksCanada

This is the must get book I mentioned. It’s WELL worth it.

The MILEPOST 2018: Alaska Travel Planner https://www.amazon.com/dp/1892154374/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GUTXBbHX016PP

I did the drive in late winter (March) from Connecticut in 2004. The hotels were very inexpensive since it was off-season. Went to portage Glacier and I was the only person there. Got stuck in Anchorage during a snow storm and went to the zoo and I was just about the only person there too. Fun trip.

Buy the current Milepost guide off Amazon and spend some time flipping through it.

The Alaska Highway is all paved except any short sections they are working on. You don't need a second spare tire or anything like that. I'd recommend a tire patch kit and a small 12v compressor. Also bring a spare headlamp bulb if you have halogens, some wiper fluid, and maybe a spare set of wiper blades in the trunk. Towing for breakdowns is super expensive so amp-up your roadside assistance plan and make sure it works in Canada. The distance from the last dealerships in Dawson Creek to the next ones in Whitehorse is ~900 miles.

The road is good with wide margins all the way to Whitehorse. Expect to see a lot of wildlife. If you're traveling alone bring some sort of tripod so you can take an occasional self-portrait with the timer function on your camera.