joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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While 3 weeks is not optimum, it is doable as a first trip. However I would suggest leaving your rig at home and doing a fly/rent scenario. Either fly the family to Anchorage, rent a Class C from one of the numerous rental businesses there and spend the better part of your 3 week vacation in Alaska. This would be my second choice though.
First choice would be to fly to Whitehorse, YT and rent a Class C from Fraser Way RV rentals. I would split my time up between northern Canada and Alaska. From Whitehorse take a day trip to Skagway, then back and up to Dawson Town for a day or so, then on to Fairbanks, down to Anchorage, on through to the Kenai, to Homer, then back to Seward, back to Anchorage or catch the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Seward over to Valdez, then back to Glennallen, to Tok, Northway and back to Whitehorse.
Not sure as to the cost of rentals but many forum members do it, just never read any of them give a cost run down of their trip. My fuel to get to/from Alaska is currently costing about $4,000 for us to get there and back to Florida, not too sure rentals would be a great deal more.
No matter what you are told, there is no way to see all of Alaska or northern Canada, no matter how long you spend there. We lived in rural Alaska for over 25 years, did our best to wear out 5 airplanes, numerous boats and half a dozen RVs. While we saw lots of Alaska, we didn't come close to seeing "all" of it. To many folks, tourists and residents alike, driving the paved highways in south central Alaska constitutes seeing "all" of Alaska. You can see approximately 5% of the state by staying on the pavement, add all the gravel roads and you have upped you total to about 10% of the state. But you can see some beautiful scenery, wildlife, mountains and glaciers from the highways. Going to Alaska is indeed a "trip of a lifetime", one that you can do over and over and over, as many of the forum members do.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins
www.jbpacooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper Alaska 2004 - Alaska 2006 - Colorado photos
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fivercamper
Florida
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Joined: 07/09/2003
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sirdrakejr wrote:Sure you can do it in that short a time. Here is how:
3 - When you get close to what you think you want to see, start the camera.
4 - Slow down as you drive by so the camera gets it all.
I was amazed at the number of times in Alaska while we were taking our time gazing at some beautiful vista, a car would pull up, a door would fly open, and one of the occupants would jump out, snap a picture, run back to the car, and take off.
Dave
'08 Hitchhiker Champagne 35LKRSB
'08 Ford F450 6.4PSD
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campalaska
Alaska
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Joined: 05/09/2008
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a couple years ago i spent a week in Dawson city alone and 1.5 weeks getting there and back from the anchorage area of Alaska. Ive lived here over 20 years and haven't seen nearly all that is available n the roads system let alone off it. the drive from anchorage could be done in 3 days with the camera idea (but that's just a dumb way to see this great state. next summer my son and i will go on a 2200 mile trip over about 3 weeks. we will only plow through about 200 miles of stuff we have seen before.
- 1999 GMC Sierra 2500 Extended Cab 6.5FT Bed
- Firestone Ride-Rite Airbags.
- 1999 Adventurer 810ws
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cacutlers
So Cal
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Joined: 06/04/2007
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We live in San Diego Ca and had the same delima. This summer we flew into anchorage and rented a small suv and tent camped/cabins for the 3 weeks. We also have 2 boys 13,15 and they enjoyed the whole trip (no fighting) The Rv rentals were very expensive around 5500 just to drive off the lot for 4 people. We spent $7200. in alaska for all expenses including rental car. Alaska air has a great card to earn mileage and we earned 3 tix and paid $840. for one. We have also driven to Grand Tetons- Yellowstone-Banff- Jasper and home in 2006 it was a wonderful trip and 3 weeks was plenty of time to enjoy all the sights. That trip cost 4500. Towing a trailer with a ram 2500 pick up. You will enjoy either trip.
2002 Wanderer 192sd
2003 Ram 2500 Quad Cab Hemi
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