Anyone going to Alaska in Summer 2018?

[Mike1997]

Would like to hear from anyone planning a trip to Alaska over the summer of 2018 who is NOT on the Airstream Club Caravan.

Interested to know details of your plans and whether we might be able to form our own small caravan from US border up to Alaska and return.

Also looking into workcamper jobs in Anchorage and southern half of Alaska. Welcome any tips or ideas from those who have spent summer months up there.

Thanks

[Gene]

We aren't going (though I'd like to), but there are many threads on the Forum about Alaska trips. We went in 2002, 2006 and 2010 (the last with an Airstream). Great time and there's much to see, so you'll need as much time as you can find. Don't forget there's a lot in northwest Canada too. I documented the 2010 one on the Forum (it had a title like Road Trip 2010, maybe) and maybe you can find it.

Gene

[dasams]

Originally Posted by Mike1997

Interested to know details of your plans :

We soloed our way to Alaska this past summer and I'll be glad to share our itinerary and other details. We did the counter clockwise loop: Vancouver > Banff/Jasper > Alaska Highway > Alaska > Inside Passage > Vancouver Island.

One thing I highly recommend is returning via Alaska's ferry system. It follows the Inside Passage and you can roll off and spend a few nights at any of the cities. We chose Juneau, Wrangell, Ketchikan and Prince Rupert BC and they all had full hook-up RV parks. GL, Dave

[Phoenix]

Just curious; how much did ferry rides increase expenses, versus land routes?

Also, were attractions at ferry stops worth the extra money, versus those available via land routes?

Thanks!

[LoveUSA]

Hi
We are planning on going to Alaska in June of 2018. Thinking of leaving mid-May to drive through Canada.

We are interested in meeting others making similar trips.

Thanks for posing the question!

[dasams]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Just curious; how much did ferry rides increase expenses, versus land routes?

Alaska charges by the foot and our TV plus AS totaled 43ft. We paid for four segments and had a private berth on each ferry: Haines > Juneau, Juneau > Wrangell, Wrangell > Ketchikan and Ketchikan > Prince Rupert. The total cost was ~$2700. The marine highway saved us the 922 mi drive from Haines to Prince Rupert.

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Also, were attractions at ferry stops worth the extra money, versus those available via land routes?

The cities along the Inside Passage are not accessible via car as there are no roads through the mountains. If you ever want to visit Juneau, Wrangell, Ketchikan or any of the other cities along the route, it'll be via ship or air.

[spaceship]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Just curious; how much did ferry rides increase expenses, versus land routes?

Also, were attractions at ferry stops worth the extra money, versus those available via land routes?

Thanks!

I drove south from Alaska to seattle area in November. The quote for a ferry ticket for Tacoma and 16' AS was roughly $3500 Haines to Bellingham. I consider myself an experienced driver in all conditions necessary for a winter trip including when to pull over and wait it out ....so chose to drive. Credit card showed my costs totaled about $1500 (including a tire repair and 1 night in a hotel ) much less expensive.
The drive is stunning as is the ferry trip, ( I live in Alaska) it will be wonderful no matter your choice
Safe travels

[369goose]

Spaceship (and all others),

What's the wear & tear on the Airstream/TV driving and exploring and getting to/from the RV parks in those cities along the Inside Passage and on/off the ferry? Any recommendations on outfitting the rig for that particular trip utilizing the ferry & IP campgrounds?

Have visited and fallen for Alaska so considering going again, this time with the Airstream, in light of the ferry option. Appreciate advice & comments.

[Julie-Bob]

Dasams You say your cost for the ferry was $2700.00 which ferry company and how long ago did you travel. I have TV 20' AS 25 two adults looks like around 6500.00

[drew05]

We are planning on going to Alaska this summer. We will leave in June, and are figuring when and where we will cross into Canada.
There is at least one Rally we would like to attend before going north.

[slentle]

Originally Posted by LoveUSA

Hi
We are planning on going to Alaska in June of 2018. Thinking of leaving mid-May to drive through Canada.

We are interested in meeting others making similar trips.

Thanks for posing the question!

We are in Toronto Canada and are planning a trip to Yukon and NWT and a small jaunt into Alaska. Maybe we could meet up?

[dasams]

Originally Posted by 369goose

What's the wear & tear on the Airstream/TV driving and exploring and getting to/from the RV parks in those cities along the Inside Passage and on/off the ferry?

Getting to the RV parks from the ferry docks was easy with no special requirements. Most are a short drive of just a few miles.

Originally Posted by Julie-Bob

Dasams You say your cost for the ferry was $2700.00 which ferry company and how long ago did you travel. I have TV 20' AS 25 two adults looks like around 6500.00

Is that from Anchorage to Bellingham? We ferried from Haines, AK to Prince Rupert, BC that is about half that distance. We did it last July and used Alaska's Marine Highway run but the state. Most of the ferries are >50 yrs old since they were built and put into service shortly after statehood.

[Gene]

I answered some questions yesterday and then the Forum went offline, so they got lost forever.

But one point was the Alaska ferry is different from other car ferries where you enter at one end and drive off at the other. The Alaska ships have side entrances because the waterways can be very narrow. So you may have to back down the narrow lanes in the ship, or back out. This is difficult if you are not good at backing. I saw a couple of guys having to back up a ramp with boat trailers once and that would be even more of a challenge, but that seems fairly infrequent.

You will have to enter the US several times on an Alaska trip. Be aware US border guards, especially new hires, are often nasty. When we went, fruit was big deal and they went through our trailer looking for fruit imported from somewhere bad. We were kept away and who knows what they were doing in our property? If you look different than what they think as acceptable, they may seize your devices and keep them for a while, demanding passwords. They act like there is no accountability and we felt like we were entering a hostile country. It is probably worse now than it was in 2010 and news reports confirm that. Crossing into Canada is usually pleasant and quick.

Gene

[spaceship]

to 369goose and any others planning a trip by land and/or sea, buy a current copy of The Milepost and know the availability of campgrounds as well as the relatively small road systems along the stops of the inside passage.
This book is an excellent planning tool.
Call the Alaska Marine Highway and get a quote for your vehicle, due to economic situation in AK ferry rates are always on the rise .
There will be wear and tear of course, the northern roads are living organisms and will evolve throughout the spring/summer freeze/thaw and road construction.
I recommend (but do not have) metal rock shields on your AS, mine only has the 3M film and is pretty pockmarked (looks well loved). Don't plan the drive at 'lower 48 speeds' and there is sooooooo much to see

[spaceship]

regarding the ferries, be good at backing!
Depending on how much time you have in each town in SE Alaska jockeying around on the ferries can eat up a lot of time. Just my humble opinion

[dasams]

Originally Posted by Gene

So you may have to back down the narrow lanes in the ship, or back out.

I was on four different ferries and didn't see this.

Originally Posted by Gene

You will have to enter the US several times on an Alaska trip. Be aware US border guards, especially new hires, are often nasty.

We found them to be professional and had no issues.

[LoveUSA]

Originally Posted by slentle

We are in Toronto Canada and are planning a trip to Yukon and NWT and a small jaunt into Alaska. Maybe we could meet up?

We are new to the Forum so don't know how to do more than say - sounds good!

[jackanddiane]

We plan on leaving Scottsdale Arizona mid June and think we want to do the ferry trip one way. Not sure which direction yet. Curious as to how early we need to book ferry. Would love to talk with anyone who’s done the trip before .

[spaceship]

Originally Posted by jackanddiane

We plan on leaving Scottsdale Arizona mid June and think we want to do the ferry trip one way. Not sure which direction yet. Curious as to how early we need to book ferry. Would love to talk with anyone who’s done the trip before .

If the exact dates of travel are important then book as soon as you know, summer is popular

[369goose]

Thank you, spaceship, dasams and all for the great info & típs. We've used other ferry systems (trucks and motorcycles) but it sounds like situations could be different especially with the Airstream. Look forward to hearing any other recommendations.