North to Alaska! Getting There Is Half the Fun

Alaska is America’s last great wilderness and the dream destination of many RVers. In the September issue of Insight from RVT.com, we share travel tips from a summer tour of Alaska. (Click here to sign up for our monthly enewsletter.) This week we’ll share additional information about things to do and see, cool shops and restaurants, and more helpful RV travel tips you can use to plan your own RV tour.

Getting to Alaska is an adventure. Divided by huge mountain ranges, much of Alaska is accessible only by boat or plane. It’s a land of few paved roads, most of them located in the south central region connecting Fairbanks to Anchorage and the scenic Kenai Peninsula. Because many roads and scenic areas are inaccessible once the snows start in late September, you’ll want to plan now for a trip next summer. Summer travel in Alaska is pleasant. In July, daytime temperatures were 70-80F., dropping to 50-60F. at night. Be glad of the cool weather; Alaskans don’t have A/C.

If you want to travel in your own RV, you can take the long drive up U.S. Route 5 from Seattle or across Canada. Or load your RV onto the ferry at Bellingham, Washington and connect with Alaska’s extensive Marine Highway System in Prince Rupert, Canada. You can ride the Alaskan ferry through the Inland Passage, along the southern coast to the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak and the Aleutians. If your time is limited, fly into Anchorage and rent an RV.