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Drive To Alaska From Texas

If you're planning on taking a drive to Alaska there are but a couple direct driving routes that will take y'all in that location. You lot can either bulldoze the Cassiar Highway, which is a small by and large rural road, or drive the Alaska Canada Highway (aka the Al-Tin), which is a slightly larger, slightly less rural route. :-) No thing which mode yous go you'll exist guaranteed two things: several days of non-stop driving, and miles of wide open up spaces. Since nosotros had the opportunity to make the bulldoze last fall we decided to put together this handy dandy guide and  route trip planner for driving the Alaska-Canada Highway.

Alaska Canada Highway Road Trip Starting Point

Facts about the Alaska Canada Highway & Guide for Planning Your Route Trip

The Alaska-Canada Highway is a joint venture that spans across two countries, two Canadian providences, and ane U.S. state. Many people think the Al-Tin can starts somewhere in the northern portion of the Continental Us, just it really doesn't officially outset until the small city of Dawson Creek in B.C.. From that betoken,  the Alaska Canada Highway covers 1422 miles (2288 Kilometers) along the Canadian Rockies and through the Yukon Territory. If you are planning on taking a road trip along the entire highway, you should realistically plan for a minimum of  five days (4 nights) driving, and that's if y'all programme on driving vii-eight hours a day without stopping to adventure anywhere.

When the road was originally built and opened in 1948 it was a mixture of gravel and dirt road, simply is at present completely paved. Although not every bit adventurous as it once was, the route nevertheless presents many challenges. There are many altitude changes, with the highest pass at Superlative Lake (4250 ft), and quite a few sections of the road that have no guardrail or any other safety mechanism. Additionally, due to harsh atmospheric condition, the road is in almost constant disrepair. There are many sections riddled with frost heaves, or eroded areas that are "paved" but feel more like a gravel road. Because of this, it'southward recommended that yous throughly prepare your vehicle for the road trip, and, every bit always, be ready for a roadside emergency. Have a await at our Route Trip Packing List to make sure you have everything you lot need. Here's what the Route looks like on a map.

alaska_canada_highway_map
Dawson Creek to Muncho Lake to Watson Lake to Whitehorse to Tok to Delta Junction

Driving the Alaska Canada Highway

Nosotros set out on the Alaska Canada Highway in Mid-Fall. The biggest benefit of driving the road this time of twelvemonth is the lack of traffic and the cool temperatures. A large downside, however, is the fact that many hotels and other services are airtight for the season. Don't go me wrong, at that place is lodging available, it but becomes quite deficient as you make your way north.

We chose to enter Canada from Kalispell, Mt and so nosotros could spend a couple of days in Banff, AB and relish Banff National Park. From at that place it was a solar day's drive northward to Thou Prairie, AB where we spent the night earlier getting onto the bodily Al-Can Highway.  We set out on our journey bright and early,  the terrain was absolutely lovely from the very kickoff of the drive.

Alaska Canada Highway View

The rolling hills and mountains were absolutely beautiful. Information technology's the kind of landscape road trip dreams are made of.

Alaska Canada Highway Rolling Hills

As we proceeded further due north, nosotros had the take a chance to watch Autumn turn into Wintertime at 70 mph. Very speedily the landscape went from greens and browns, to white.

Fall turning to Winter

For the get-go leg of our trip, we planned on driving equally far as Muncho Lake, in BC. There was a dog friendly hotel I establish and it was about 8 hours away from our starting signal. When we arrived,  nosotros learned our get-go very painful lesson well-nigh off season travel. Always call ahead!

We pulled up to the hotel later on sundown and were immediately greeted by the caretaker outside. I let him know that nosotros were looking for canis familiaris friendly accommodations and he told me the hotel did have a couple rooms left, and that we were in luck. I looked over at Lauren both a scrap weary and excited and told her the good news. It was when the caretaker opened his mouth next that everything turned sour. "Y'all can have a room for $229 a dark, only we're all out of pet rooms" he said. I looked at him quizzically, so asked what he suggested I do with our ii dogs. "Simply leave them in the motorcar overnight… it's not that cold" was his brilliant response.  Obviously, that wasn't the right answer for a pair of canis familiaris lovers like the states. I thanked him for the offer and got back in the car.

Lauren and I just sat there in dead silence. We had no thought what to do. Information technology was 14 Degrees outside, snowfall was falling, and we were in the middle of the Northern Rockies with nowhere to stay. Nosotros finally looked at each other and simply said, keep moving forward. We then began the well-nigh hard and astonishing part of our adventure.

We started driving and figured nosotros would just keep going until we found another hotel that was open. Picayune did we know that nosotros wouldn't find another hotel until the following evening. We started driving once again, but much slower than the posted speed. The combination of snowfall fall, accented darkness, and the road conditions fabricated the drive pretty painful.  Suddenly upwards ahead in the road, we saw something moving, it was vivid white. Every bit we got closer it stopped, turned and looked at us. Information technology was a pure white mountain caprine animal.

White Mountain Goat

I was simply able to grab i, admittedly bad, photo before he scampered off. For the adjacent couple of hours we kept driving and experienced the most amazing brute adventure ever. We drove past an entire herd of buffalo resting along the roadside, caribou grazing on bits of grass poking through the frost, and even a group of wild horses trotting forth the side of the auto.

Wild Horses along the Alaska Canada highway

All the animals were simply walking back and forth in the centre of the road, licking the salt off the pavement.

Horses licking the salt off the highway

As the hour grew subsequently we finally hit a wall where we just couldn't drive whatsoever longer. Driving in those conditions is highly strenuous. We eventually institute a highway pull out that was occupied by a semi truck (I tin can't imagine what he was doing at that place either) and parked next to it, to try and become some rest. Sleeping in a car is a hard thing to do when information technology's 14 degrees exterior. I kept waking up once an 60 minutes or so and having to first the car for twenty minutes to bring the heat support earlier turning it off and falling asleep again. After catching a few hours of nap time, we started back on the Alaska Canada Highway.

As sunrise hitting, nosotros entered the Yukon territory. Funny side note, the Al-Tin can highway crosses the BC and YT border 6 times in almost a x mile stretch. Each fourth dimension, at that place's another sign, some are larger than others though.

Welcome to Yukon Sign

We were hungry, tired, and out of water when nosotros reached Watson Lake. It was the starting time real town that we found and also happens to exist  home to the famous Sign Mail service Forest. We did what anyone in our state of affairs would do, we melted snow so the dogs could have a drinkable of water and we kept going.

Sign Post Forest Watson Lake BC



We took stock of where nosotros were and how we felt and decided to push information technology until we hit Whitehorse. It's the capital of the Yukon Territory, and was certain to have canis familiaris friendly accommodations. We fueled up, had some terrible coffee, and got back on the road. Immediately we were rewarded with more than animal sightings, as they came out at sunrise for a snack.

Caribou on the Highway

There were unabridged herds of Caribou just milling effectually as if we weren't even there.

Herd of caribou in the Road

It was admittedly mind-blowing to be this close to nature.

Alaska Canada Highway 12

The remaining 8- hours or so of that day were kinda blur. It's a practiced thing we fabricated it a point to stop every once in a while to capture the beautiful landscape on film.

Alaska Canada Highway 14

Alaska Canada Highway 13-1
Alaska Canada Highway 16-1

We striking Whitehorse,  plant a hotel, ate something for dinner  (I recall it was Korean nutrient :-) )and passed out . Nosotros slept for a solid 12 hours or so, woke up, and then set up  back out on the road. If you lot are making the same drive, brand sure to end at Kluane Lake, and accept it all in. Yous tin't miss it, considering it's one of the largest lakes in the area, simply it's admittedly scenic.

Alaska Canada Highway 18

Alaska Canada Highway 19

We continued through some more small towns as we made our way towards the Alaska border.  Make certain you lot keep an heart out for the Mounties, they're a catchy lot. :-)

Alaska Canada Highway 20

Most of the towns were shut down for the winter. Each "town" had ane or two gas stations and restaurants open up, but otherwise, everything was starting time to collect snow that would accumulate until the following Bound.

Alaska Canada Highway 21

After about 6 hours of driving we came to the Alaska border and re-entered the USA.

Welcome to Alaska Sign

From here it was some other ii hours to Tok, AK. We stopped and stayed at a cozy piddling B&B called the Mooseberry Inn. The next day, we picked back up on the Al-Can and finally came to the cease of the route when we hit the very pocket-size town of Delta Junction. It's not known for much, simply it does have a large expanse dedicated to the end of the Alaska Canada Highway.

Delta Deep Freeze Sign

End of the Alaska Canada Highway Sign

From this betoken, our fourth dimension on the Alaska Canada Highway came to an end. We continued on our gamble towards Deadhorse, Alaska and the famed Dalton Highway.  If yous plan on taking your own Al-Tin adventure, I advise a piffling planning alee. If you lot honey wild fauna, route trips, and wide open up spaces as much as we do, information technology should definitely be high on your list.

Feel gratuitous to contact us if you are making the trip. We are ever happy to share tips and make suggestions. :)


For current Alaska Canada Highway Road Conditions, employ these three local sites for the nearly comprehensive information.

Alaksa 511

Yukon 511

Drive BC


Where to Stay Along the Alaska – Canada Highway

Here are some of the best Pet Friendly places to stay in some of the ballast cities along our route:

Banff, AB

Ruby-red Rug Inn
425 Banff Artery,
T1L 1B6 Banff, AB

  • Pet Friendly, Gratuitous Wifi, Continental Breakfast, Downtown Banff

Hidden Ridge Resort
901 Hidden Ridge Way
Banff, AB

  • Pet Friendly, Free Wifi, Condo Style Resort, Outside of Boondocks

Grand Prairie, AB

Sandman Hotel
9805 100 St
Grande Prairie, AB

  • Pet Friendly, Gratuitous WiFi, Indoor Heated Pool, Hot Tub, Fitness Centre

Canadian Motor Inn
10901 – 100 Avenue
Grande Prairie, AB

  • Pet Friendly, Free Wifi, Continental Breakfast, Upkeep/Value Chain

Fort Nelson, BC

Super 8 Fort Nelson
4503 50th Ave South
Fort Nelson, BC

  • Pet Friendly, Open Year-Round, Budget/Value Property, Gratuitous WiFi, Pool, Fitness Eye, Breakfast Included

Muncho Lake, BC

Northern Rockies Lodge
Mile 462 Alaska Hwy
Muncho Lake, BC

  • Pet Friendly, Open Year-Round, Rooms, Cabins, and RV Park

Whitehorse, YK

Westmark Hotel & briefing Centre
201 Wood Street
Whitehorse, YT

  • Pet Friendly, Centrally Located Downtown, Free Internet

Canada's Best Value Inn
102 Wood Street
Whitehorse, YT

  • Gratis Net, Budget Chain, Business Heart

Hither are other posts related to Driving the Alaska Canada Highway Guide & Road Trip Planner.

Driving the Dalton Highway – Road Trip Planner and Photos

Kluane Lake – Photo and Video Essay

Road Trip through the Alaskan Interior – Fairbanks to Anchorage to Valdez

Why I Love Alaska


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Drive To Alaska From Texas,

Source: https://www.theconstantrambler.com/alaska-canada-highway-guide-road-trip-planner/

Posted by: holimansque1965.blogspot.com

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