longest distance between gas stations alaska highway

Ive been all over the internet trying to find exactly thisa post from a family, with and RV, and their actual route and recommendations. We had 2, five gallon cans of gas we took with in case we needed them, but made sure to gas up when ever possible. Likewise, on I-80 between Fernley and Lovelock in Nevada, there's a stretch of over 50 miles without gas or other services but there is an intersection (exit) and a rest area. Its nice on long road trips to have a day in a big kitchen to cook huge meals, catch up on laundry, take long hot showers, and get WiFi to write blogs. Of course, if you include 2 lane highways, there's even more desolate sections of roadway in the US. There is a little bit of everything here. In fact, one the way out of Alaska, we did Anchorage all the way to Whitehorse in one day, but it was a long day of driving. The Alaska Highway . It took seven days, and three of the days, the roads were snow covered and slippery in many areas. It was really hard planning our trip last year because there wasn't enough info so I'm glad you found our blog. BTW- the gas station at the Cassiar Highway junction had some of the cheapest gas on the entire drive and gas in general along the Cassiar is a bit more expensive. From Valdez we drove straight towards Anchorage and if you dont choose to detour to Valdez or Wrangell-St Elias NP, then you can easily do the drive from the Alaskan border to Anchorage or Fairbanks in one day. They only ask about transporting weapons through Canada. Probably the least scenic way in my opinion. Even then, there were many steep grades, a poor surface, switchbacks to gain and descend hills, and few or no guardrails. When I was planning our trip I thought I didnt want to drive more than 250 miles per day, which would be about 5 hours a day, and therefore figured it would take me 6 days of driving. In some remote areas, it can be up to 150 miles or more between gas stations. Youre joking right? This was our total fuel expense from San Diego, California all the way to Denali (including all our detours) and back. You can Bring long guns (shotguns, rifles etc) and up to 5000 rounds of ammo. If you love planning, maps, want every detail of information on detours and alternative routes, or if you love history, I highly recommend buying it. Resting opportunities should be no more than 30 kilometers in between Rest areas with gas stations should be no more than 70km in between An example of the rules of distances not being followed, is on E45, where the distance between gas stations Himmerland and Ejer Baunehj is 115 kilometres. One spare tire ought to be fine. Once in Kalispell, Palmer, Anchorage and Squamish. First, some quick facts about driving the Alaskan Highway. Ive been told by a few people that British Columbia now REQUIRES studded/winter tires. The Alcan Highway is 1,387 miles long but the exact length varies year to year on road construction detours. Anyone come down recently? Unfortunately though, there was a horrible incident only a month after we finished our trip where some people who had broke down on the side of the road were murdered. Required fields are marked *. But to be on the safe side, as mentioned above, drive on the upper half of your fuel tank. We intend to drive from Fairbanks via Whitehorse to Dawson City the last 2 weeks in April. Just south of Ely where the 6 connects with 318 there is a small town called Lund (one gas station) then nothing for about 105 miles to Ash Springs. Always take Route 97. It is primarily in Canada. click here to get details on the best hike at Lake Louise, click here to sign up for the Colombia Icefields Tour and do the Glacier Skywalk, Golden Circle of Yukon + Alaska: Guide to Whitehorse, Skagway + Haines, 15 Things to Do on the Kenai Peninsula: Alaskas Best Destination. Could be anything at that time of year. Route 66 RV Trip The 10 BEST TIPS for RVing on the Mother Road How to prepare? Well-known member Apr 4, 2010 #10 Two Hands said: We made the drive to Alaska this last summer with our 2007 Big Horn 3055RL and 2007 Chevrolet 2500HD diesel which gets about 11.5 when towing. The road was winding and snaked through various tunnels and bridges, while taking you alongside the railroad tracks and all their bridges and tunnels. Modern construction methods do not allow the permafrost to melt, either by building a gravel berm on top or replacing the vegetation and soil immediately with gravel. In February, I drove from Fairbanks to Haines (via Haines Junction) to catch the Ferry to Seattle. In Alaska, the distances and signs are posted in miles and miles per hour. The beauty and free camping opportunities at the top of some of these passes tempted me to stop and sit still for a few days to enjoy but I wasnt prepared for it. High Country RV: I loved this campground and that is really saying something because I rarely stay in campgrounds. But, dont quote ME on that! We have driven the Alcan before but not sure if we should get them for driving in May or not. In retrospect, this wasnt the best source of information, not because they were lying, its just, they were probably more time rich than me and more importantlythey didnt have 5 antsy kids riding with them. For US travelers: If you want to compare the price of gas from CAD to USD take the price per liter and multiply by 3.78 then multiply that by the current exchange rate of $1 CAD to the USD (at the time that was $0.76 USD). I found a cool website (http://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/index-Northern.html) that has webcams along the route. While there isnt a lot to see and do on the Alaskan Highway, if you detour less than a hundred miles off it in many directions you can find epic adventures. If you are later in the season I highly recommend spending two nights at Summit. Does anyone know if this is okay? TIL that a 106-mile portion of I-70 in Utah has no gasoline or exits. If you do run into trouble, people along the highway tend to help each other out. Of that, 1,048 km are in British Columbia, 907 km in the Yukon, and 477 km in Alaska. Its beautiful all year round! If you want off-the-beaten-path adventure, wildlife and gorgeous Alaskan scenery, I highly recommend checking out Valdez. Weve been traveling with our 5 kids in a 30 foot class C RV for the last 4 years and have seen most of the Western USA and a large part of British Columbia. I believe the longest distance in Baja is about 250km, and that includes a few stops consisting of "a guy with a barrel by the side of the road". A legal winter tire (on a standard passenger vehicle or a four-wheel/all-wheel vehicle) MUST have at least 3.5 mm of tread depth. Understand . It was a long time between gas stations and finding restrooms was nonexistent for hours so we had to potty outside Several times . I personally am an overplanner and enjoyed having it but you dont NEED it. . thanks! I asked many people, most of whom happened to be retired, who all raved about how great it was. Taking advantage of the Alaska Marine Highway is one of the best alternatives. For the most part, the roads are good enough that a car can average 105 kph (65 mph). Between Fort Nelson and Watson Lake is one of the longest distances between major towns and it's only 320 miles between gas stations. Now, if you have money to throw on some excursions in Alaska, Im sure you can pay to see some incredible wildlife. It is off the NWT Highway 1 that heads to Yellowknife, on NWT Highway 2, but if you are in need of gas and the Enterprise station is close, it is the place to go. I have driven the AK Hwy 68 times over the past 13 years. Copyright 2023 AlaskaTrekker | All Rights Reserved, http://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/index-Northern.html. We just drove slow and enjoyed the scenery . Your actual mileage will vary, however, and if you spend enough time on the road you're guaranteed to run into traffic delays or detours. Are chains advised? Thank you. Falfurrias to Edinburg on 281 or 77 Kingsville to . Next, take at least one full day to drive Icefields Parkway. Frasier Canyon British Columbia One old log bridge can still be seen at the Aishihik river crossing. Then plan enough time to enjoy the trip, rather . One of peoples biggest fears when driving the Alaska Highway is running out of gas. For crossing here by Beaver Creek it probably doesnt matter but I know the border crossing by Skagway can get really long with all the tourists off the cruise ships. Get a copy of the "Milepost" it says where pretty much every fuels stop in the North is located. The driving distance from Anchorage to Fairbanks is 360 miles. Alaska is a remote state, and the cost of transporting gasoline to the state is high because it must be shipped by boat or plane. Bridges, which progressed during 1942 from pontoon bridges to temporary log bridges, were replaced with steel bridges where necessary only. Its also worth noting that some gas stations in remote areas of the Alaska Highway may only accept cash or travelers checks, so its a good idea to have some cash on hand. They were out of this world delicious! The Denali Highway stretches 135 miles from Paxson to Cantwell, connecting the Richardson and Parks highways. Another time I didnt like the vibe was when we were parked across the street from Liard Hot Springs. Logged live from sunny San Diego. We're glad you found us! One gallon = 3.79 liters. You want me to write all of the addresses down for gas stations all along the nearly 1,400 mile Alaska Highway? If you dont care about those details and want to know if the ALCAN is for you, skip to the next section. This route is the shortest distance to drive to Alaska from Seattle and Portland (about 100 miles shorter than the west access route described below). And from the midpoint (the town of Coldfoot) to the end of the road (Deadhorse), you won't find gas stations, restaurants, rest stops, or hotelsin fact, you won't find services of any kind over this entire 240-mile stretch. (Example: During a February 2012 trip, some gas stations were sold-out of fuel which made it 200 miles between fill-ups! We chose to drive the Alaskan Highway on the way up and the Cassiar to the Yellowhead to the West Access and Sea to Sky Highway on the way back and I cant say enough how perfect this itinerary was. North of Fort Nelson, the Alaska Highway crosses the Rocky Mountains: Expect about 200 miles of narrow road with curves and hills with 10 percent grades and few passing lanes. This was also only a half day of driving because we had spent most of the day hiking Kings Throne near Haines Junction. The frozen ruts destroyed all four of my tires and buying replacement tires in Canada cost over $900. The longest stretch between exits on an Interstate Highway is located between Wendover and Knolls, with 37.4 miles (60.2 km) between those exits. I think this is the longest stretch on a major highway in Ontario w/o gas. There are actually a lot of recreation centers along the way, but not all of them were the best in terms of workout facilities. Road Surface: Paved (Mostly) Copyright 2023 Nomads With A Purpose | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Range Reserve. This is a great hike and camping near here or even just spending a day on Kathleen Lake would be a great addition to your itinerary. Hotels, motels, campsites, and RV sites are open from May until September. The longest distance in the continental US between gas stations is apparently 179 miles on NV/OR 140 between Winnemucca NV and Lakeview OR. However this time Ill be making the drive end of October, 1st week of November. I laughed when you mentioned the gyms/rec centers because thats totally one of my concerns. He is an author of bestseller books on Amazon: Route 66 Travel Guide 202 Amazing Places and Alaska Highway 202 Best Stops. Between Valdez (or Tok) and Anchorage theres the Matanuska Glacier that you might want to hike. TY very much, J. Scott. I have only had to wait 1 day one time when the highway had a bad washout in BC. The same tires in the states cost only $500. And if you like knives, the store has a rad collection of knives for sale. I made the drive originally in July of 15 and it was beautiful. Here are the top things road trippers should consider before shifting into high gear. Detouring from here to the Golden Circle was a really nice change of scenery for us. There were four main thrusts in building the route: southeast from Delta Junction, Alaska toward a linkup You could easily drive the Alaska Highway straight through and just go have a blast in Alaska, but chances are youll need to stop occasionally to sleep or stretch your legs so here are the top 5 places Id plan on doing that: The mountains surrounding Muncho Lake are jaw dropping gorgeous, although so are most of the mountains in Alaska. . According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's longest "motorable road". Liard Highway, (Highway 77 in British Columbia and Highway 7 in the Northwest Territories) is an all-weather road linking northern British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. I was too worried that even if we tried to sleep there wed freeze overnight so we drove on towards Muncho Lake. Service hours are short and after 5pm it is pretty much credit card only. The Dalton Highway has the distinction of (among other things) having the longest stretch of service less road in North America. Dont confuse this with Dawson City which is near Alaska and north of Whitehorse. If you are driving here through Idaho, click here for some inspiration on where to go on a Idaho Road Trip. However, the Burwash-Koidern section is still a problem, as the new highway built there in the late 1990s continues to experience frost heave. Camping at Strawberry Flats campground, which is at mile market 437 when driving from Dawson Creek, was certainly a highlight for us mountain lovers. 5 Important Tips I actually had my sights set on camping that night at Summit Lake campground but we were too early in the season. Where does the Alcan Highway Start and End? A post shared by Adventure Travel Family (@nomadswithapurpose) on May 21, 2019 at 6:21pm PDT. A gas station operates at the junction of Highway 37 and the Alaska Highway in summer . That's about 260 miles (between actual gas stations, not city limits). Truly there was a time when finding gas stations along the Alaska Highway was something one really had to be ready to take into consideration. Most of this highway is freshly paved though, so even though its a little windy and requires driving it at a slower pace (we averaged more like 45mph/70kph along the Cassiar), it was nice not worrying about potholes like we did on the Tok cutoff (seriously, that highway is horrible). This is the ultimate travel guide and pocket reference for anyone wishing to experience the adventure and wonder of THE ALASKA HIGHWAY! Some of the towns and cities along the Alaska Highway where you can find gas stations include: Its important to plan ahead and make sure you have enough fuel to reach the next station in case one is closed or has limited hours of operation. Much of the road will be a two-lane paved asphalt highway with a gravel shoulder wide enough for the typical vehicle. If you allow for the worst case of 23l/100km, with a 65l tank and allowing for say 10 litres remaining in the tank, then by my calculations you'll get (65-10)/23 x 100 = 240 km. It is an invaluable 768 page book that documents the entire trip including every gas station and motel along the way. And at least 12 to 16 hours of driving each way. So in Grand Prairie, we paid about $1.20 per liter times 4 is $4.8, and 3/4 or that = $3.60 per gallon, which wasnt much different than what we paid in the States. I made the drive during the last week of April 2014 in my F150 44 without a trailer. Depending on how you get to Dawson Creek, the start of the highway, you will probably pass through the very large cities of Prince George or Calgary, which will be great places to stock up in. I will be traveling with my 14 yr. old grandson & my two (2) English Mastiff. If we had more time or werent doing the Kenai Peninsula, then I would have spent a little time in this area of Glacier View since there are a lot of other epic adventures you can do here like white water rafting, ATV riding, and zip lining, along with some great camping spot . The truth is, it would require a hell of a lot of recklessness to actually run out of gas. Driving the Alaskan Highway is LONG and in all honesty, BORING. There was a stretch in south Texas along the King ranch that was a long one without gas. It passes by only three small towns (Coldfoot, Wiseman, and Deadhorse),. The roads were not plowed and many of the curves with steep drop offs had no guardrails. The roads were bad totally covered in snow we had several snowstorms . Even though there are places you can stop along the way, theres nothing thats that really worth stopping for plus, the hikes and bike rides I planned on doing werent going to be fun because it was raining on and off most days. It is important to plan ahead and make sure you have enough fuel to reach the next station. Still recommend not pulling a trailer at that time frame? In some areas, gas stations may be closer together, while in other areas they may be farther apart. It's a beautiful drive! The only two places we got a campground along the Alaskan Highway was Strawberry Flats Campground on Muncho Lake and High Country RV Park in Whitehorse both of which I highly recommend. When we reached Tok we left the Alaska Highway, 100 miles before its official end. I wish I was a better writer and could capture for you the excitement that builds in the RV as we get closer to that black speck on the horizon and we realize that its our seventeenth bear sighting in 3 hours and feel slightly glum that as rad as it is, its almost cheating, because from the comforts of my vehicle there is no risk of harm. Learn how your comment data is processed. I drove the Alcan February 15, 2017 . This is very sad but it is a singular case and I dont think it is a fair representation of whether the Alcan is safe or not. Should cross into Canada tomorrow from Montana. To keep your towing. You can easily explore Lake Louise in one day and if you do, click here to get details on the best hike at Lake Louise. One huge misconception about driving this highly regarded northern highway has graduated from the long gone history from the days of old. One mile = 1.6 kilometers. Almost all of the Alaskan Highway through Canada was great. We slept in our van. Good luck with that. There were many other RVers on the road and you never felt like youd be waiting too long for someone to stop and help you. Since Im moving to the lower 48 I dont want to buy studded tires for a one-time use (I have a 4wd truck & good all-season tires). --mark #10 skyhigh70 likes this. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. The next day I really didnt have the intention of driving so far, but there really wasnt anything that amazing to stop for except for the 17 bears we saw along the highway. The Alaska Highway is plowed in the winter by both the Canadian and the Alaskan governments, so it is in good condition and driveable year-round. Any interested in caravanning? The Alaska Highway begins (Mile Zero) at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and runs 1,387 miles to Delta Junction, Alaska. Big Delta State Historical Park and turn off to Rika's . Gasoline is often more expensive on the Alaska Highway due to a number of factors. He also traveled through the Alaska Highway. The trip between the Canadian border to Fairbanks, Alaska, is a stretch of nearly 1,500 miles, and the trip from Seattle, Washington, to Fairbanks is a whopping 2,313 miles. We had a full-size mattress in the back of the van and a 20 below sleeping bag and was very warm all night every night . Additionally, some of the gas stations along the Alaska Highway may be closed during the winter months or have limited hours of operation. If you asked me this when we finished driving it, Id say no. Junction 37 Services. These factors contribute to the high cost of gasoline in Alaska. The highest price we came across was $5.70 American/gallon. Anyone else have knowledge (or preferably first-hand experience) with the BC winter tire requirements? Is it your dream to pile your kids in the car and head out on a road trip to Alaska? We saw plenty of eagles, sheep, caribou, moose, and fox, but no bears. Route: There is only one way to do this drive. Then we broke up the drive by relaxing at Liard Hot Springs for a few hours. Yes, driving to Alaska is generally safe. The canyon is about 84KM long and the roadway snaked along the Fraser River. They are passionate about adventuring in the outdoors through surfing, climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. North of Coldfoot, there is a 240-mile (386-km) stretch of road with no gas stations, restaurants, hotels, or any other basic services until the Prudhoe Bay oilfield at Deadhorse. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Additionally, some stations may have limited hours of operation, so its important to plan accordingly and make sure you have enough fuel to reach the next station if a station is closed or has limited hours. The speed limit will be in kilometers per hour (KPH), where 1 mile = 1.61 kilometers. My daughter and son and law have made the trip x2 and are very nonchalant about driving that Alcan. While I drove this by myself with my kids, if Victor had been with us, he wouldve needed to find a gym along the way to get his swoll on (I couldnt say it with a straight face). . Due to the highway's isolation and rough surface, you must do some planning before you go. While the Alaskan Highway provides so many opportunities to learn about history, its not the driving force in my life right now. The Cassiar Highway is a much narrower road, especially the section closest to Watson Lake. While some of the towns on the Alaskan Highway are good to stretch your legs for a few hours, Whitehorse is a place you should plan on staying in for a few days. Especially pulling a 34 ft trailer! The drive is long, but just like another pregnancy or childbirth, you endure it and look back so fondly at it. We had two flat tires . Last, spend one day in Jasper National Park. If your RV is in good shape, it might be ready for a long journey. Its important to keep in mind that prices for gasoline can be significantly higher in remote areas, so its a good idea to fuel up when available. Although we did see about 40 bears in Canada just on the side of the road. It may take us a while to get through Canada. Not to worry though, finding RV washes along the way are easy and inexpensive and due to the common windshield cracking issue, there are a variety of places to get minor repairs down quickly. With the exception of the Yukon, where there are signs that explicitly say No Overnight Camping, there were plenty of dirt pullouts and rest areas to sleep at. ), Connects: Dawson Creek, BC, to Delta Junction, Alaska on the mainland - well, information is just too sporadic to be able to make an accurate determination. Additionally, its worth noting that gas prices in remote areas can be higher than in urban areas. The U.S. Army commandeered equipment of all kinds, including local riverboats, railway locomotives, and housing originally meant for use in southern California. All depends on the snow and ice in Canada when it comes to a trailer. ABOUT THE AUTHORS However, I would tell everyone to prioritize time on the Kenai Peninsula. Gas stations can be found at regular intervals along the Alaska Highway, but it is always a good idea to fuel up when available as some stretches between stations can be quite long. . The Alaskan Highway passes through a few major cities but mostly through really small towns. We didnt see a single bear in Alaska. A.) And found that it was better to pull over to the right and slow way down when passing trucks because they put sand and rocks on the road whenever it snows and it cracked our windshield . We did run out of water between Fort Nelson and Watson lake because we slept in Liard Hot Springs and theres no water there so we were always sure to have water after that . There is seriously a lifetimes worth of hiking, climbing, off roading, and mountain biking in these mountains. It did get busier from Dease Lake down to the Yellowhead Highway junction. . MUST-HAVE for all Alaska Highway travelers. All of the big towns have gas stations and there are a few gas stations in between but they will cost a lot more. Categories Alaska, North America Road Trips, 25 Epic Things To Do Near Anchorage, Alaska. Take your time, keep your tank filled when possible and enjoy the ride. The bears along the side of the road were the best part of the trip. Joined Nov 28, 2006 Messages 21,509 Reaction score 3,045 Location North of Weird First Name . The Alaska Highway, also known as the Alcan Highway, is a remote road that runs through Canada and Alaska, so gasoline can be more expensive than in urban areas. Plenty of opportunities to get into trouble. I plan on driving a Monaco Class A RV (45x8.5), Cummins 515hp Diesel w/212 gal. HEED THIS ADVICE: Get gas when you are near half a tank since several towns are entirely closed during the winter. It could be a few hours until your next stop, Cell service is non-existent in many places for hours on end, Buy The Milepost (without cell service the book is your only source of info). The Highway is well maintained but being 1,387 miles long. Seriously off grid! Just another note there was no lines to follow the road because the road was snow-covered so you never know if you were on the right side of the road and the roads go straight up and down and sharp right and sharp loves like roller coasters it was so much fun driving them . Its important to plan ahead and make sure you have enough fuel to reach the next station in case one is closed or has limited hours of operation. Banff, Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway, and Jasper are incredible but can be crowded and overwhelming. I am trying to decide what month(s) are the best for making this trip. Find the proper car for a long-distance road trip. Lots of animals were on the road . The mountains were still fully covered in snow so we couldnt hike at the pass, but in the town of Valdez we did a short hike to this incredible viewpoint and discovered a free camping area at the base of a glacier. But if youre brave and prepared, it could be an adventure of a lifetime. Is The Alaska Highway PAVED? So multiply that total range by 0.75 to give yourself a quarter-tank reserve between fill-ups. John I could sure use some of your wisdom. Leaving Fairbanks Dec19 2017 headed to California , Anyone else? Its rainy season now so make sure your wipers are in decent shape and your fluid is topped off. I wanted to make sure I got a campsite as close to town as possible since I was planning on spending a few days here. Ive got a 2017 4Runner and studded tires. The 2,198 ft. long replacement bridge is the longest span on the Alaska Highway. Take a backpacking trip and sleep beneath glaciers. I hit the brakes. If you are wondering what is the longest distance between gas stations in the Continental US is, I think I found it last week. Before you start planning your trip down the Alaska Highway, get The MILEPOST: Alaska Travel Planner. This was our total cost for all the campgrounds we stayed at over our entire 4 months of travel. You fill up at each town, then you drive, and you never skip filling up in a major junction. Gas stations are few and far between, If youre hungry get food the next time its available. The Cassiar runs north-south and connects the Yellowhead Highway with the Alaskan Highway near Watson Lake. Tanana Trading Post and Tesoro Gas station to South side of highway. A post shared by Adventure Travel Family (@nomadswithapurpose) on May 16, 2019 at 10:33am PDT, Glacier National Park is one of our all-time favorite national parks for a good reason.

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