Lora and Erics
RV Adventure & OUR Alaska Dream
with Bella Bee Marie
Touring Alaska in 30 Days
In July of 2018, Lora and I rolled our RV across the Canadian Rockies on our way to Alaska. Our goal was to visit a friend and former boss of Lora when she worked at the Church of Good Shepherd in Rocky Mount, NC. Before visiting our friend Lora and I visited Alaska.
There are a host of sites and blogs that suggest vacationing in Alaska. We want to not tell you what to do, but only give you our experiences during our visit and how we came about making the decisions we made to give us the most exciting trip across Alaska in under 30 days.
Whether you fly, drive, or RV someone can visit many of the tourist destinations suggested by many travel and tourism sites across the web. Consider the Alaska Highway system a sun with the rays being roads that end. There are only 4 Interstate Highways in Alaska.
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Fly:
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
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Ship:
Many Ports of entry, but most popular are Juneau, Seward, Palmer, Anchorage, and Whittier
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Drive:
Plan to spend at least four days traveling the Famous Alaska Highway between Dawson Creek and Anchorage. From Spokane, Washington US/Canadian boarder, plan and extra 2 days minimum to reach Dawson Creek. Add extra time to visit Dawson Creek, Laird Hot Springs, Watson Lake (Sign Forest), and White Horse.
Our RV Trip around Alaska Summarized
Day 1 - 2 Tok (Gateway to Alaska)
Breath in the Alaska air and take a day of rest after the long journey across the ALCAN (Alaska Highway)
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There are a few campgrounds available, most have laundry, showers (free), and camper washing stations after that long journey. We recommend Tok RV Village Campground & Cabins. A bit higher cost, but facilities are most up to date.
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Campgrounds are open from May through September. April or Earlier visitors have only Sourdough Campground to camp with power access only. No bath or building access.
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Campground we visited:
Tok RV Village Campground & Cabins
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Points of Interest we visited:
Tetlin Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center (After US Boarder Crossing, before Tok)
Tok Mainstreet Visitors Center
All Alaska Gifts
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Restaurants we visited:
Day 2 - 7 Valdez
Many RV and Driving tourism sites directs visitors to Fairbanks after visiting Tok. Fairbanks is the most visited city in Alaska year round. Save the best for last and build a vision of Alaska on the experiences before getting spoiled by the best places first.
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Drive south to Valdez. The roads along the way will have frost heaves worse than the ALCAN, so use caution. Best time will be approximately 4 1/2 hours by car.
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There are great views along the way and many places to pull over for pictures.
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Campground we visited:
Bear Paw Camper Park Adult Park
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Points of Interest we visited:
Thompson pass
Keystone Canyon
Lowe River
Horsetail Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Rudleston Falls
Keystone Canyon Tunnel
Old Valdez Cemetery
Old Town Valdez
Worthington Glacier Recreational Area
Valdez Glacier Lake
Glacier and Wildlife Cruise with Stan Stephens Glacier & Wild Life Cruises
Columbia Glacier
Prince William Sound
Chugach Mountains
Columbia Bay
Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery
Valdez Museum
Crooked Creek Information Site of Chugach National Forest
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Restaurants we visited:
Old Town Burgers
Day 7 - 9 Palmer
We reverse direction back on the Richardson Highway to Alaska Interstate A1. At Glennallen we turn left toward Anchorage.
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Once again the views on a clear day are amazing. Each view is like you've never seen it before as the weather chances from cloudy to clear, rain to sun, summer into winter.
Campgrounds we visited:
Mt. View RV Park
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Points of Interest we visited:
Musk Ox Farm
Reindeer Farm
Independent Gold Mine State Park
Hatcher Pass
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Restaurants we visited:
Grand View Café & RV Park (on route to Palmer)
Day 9 - 12 Kenai City
We reverse direction back on the Richardson Highway to Alaska Interstate A1. At Glennallen we turn left toward Anchorage.
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We by pass Anchorage, because we have to pass by on the way to Fairbanks. There are 2 legs south of Anchorage that are worth visiting. The routes lead to Seward or Homer.
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It is difficult not to stop and enjoy the scenery, but remember you will see it at a later date when you are nearer to the attractions.
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Kenai City or Soldotna are good stopping points to tour the west side of the Kenai Peninsula. We decided on Kenai.
Campgrounds we visited:
Diamond M Ranch Resort
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Points of Interest we visited:
Captain Cook State Recreation Area
Russian Orthodox Church build
Cook Inlet
Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area
Cooper Valley Visitor Center
Homer
Wayside Visitor Center
Bishop Beach
City run Campground
Homer Spit Rd
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Restaurants we visited:
Fresh Catch Café (Homer)
Day 12 - 14 Seward
Seward is on the eastern side of the Kenai Peninsula. Visitors head to Kenai Fjords National Park where glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield into coastal fjords. The Seward port accommodates Cruise ships from major carriers as well. The small community has an assortment of glacier and porpoise cruises.
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Campgrounds we visited:
Stoney Creek RV Park
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Points of Interest we visited:
Wildlife Cruise and Buffet Dinner
Alaska SeaLife Center
Seward murals
1910 Iditarod Dog Sled Race Start Marker
Exit Glacier (Kenai Fjords National Park)
Lowell Point
Caines Head State Recreation Area
Day 14 - 17 Anchorage
Anchorage has the largest population in Alaska. The city is a good stop over to visit surrounding attractions.
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Campgrounds we visited:
Golden Nugget RV Park
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Points of Interest we visited or seen passing:
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center south of Anchorage
Visitors Center in Anchorage
Turnagain Arm waterway
Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk
Chugach State Park
Indian Valley Mine & Gifts
Bird Creek Access parking area
Portage Train Station
Portage Glacier
Begich Boggs Visitor Center and Portage Glacier Café
Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
Wittier on the Prince William Sound
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Eklutna, AK
Day 17 - 20 Denali
The drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park is long and not visually inspiring like some other parts of the state. It is not until the last 30 minutes in the route do you begin to see mountains and lush green landscapes. We are scheduled to ride the Denali Transit Bus to Eielson Visitors Center. Denali National Park has a few options to visit the park. The Eielson Visitors Center is a 6 ½ hour round trip non-narrated bus trip.
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Campgrounds we visited:
Denali Rainbow Village & RV
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Points of Interest we visited or seen passing:
Denali National Park
Denali Transit Bus to Eielson Visitors Center
Denali Visitors Center
Denali Dog Mushing Demonstration
Denali Highway
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Restaurants we visited:
The Black Bear Bakery and Restaurant
Day 20 - 24 Fairbanks (Initial Visit)
The route along AK-3 North is very relaxing. The road is in great condition. As we get closer to Fairbanks we begin an assent up the mountains. The views extend all the way to the horizon. Fairbanks is the heart of Alaska's Tourism year round. The time spent in Fairbanks and surrounding areas will be memorable.
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Campgrounds we visited:
Riverview Campground, North Pole, AK
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Points of Interest we visited or seen passing:
North Pole
Santa Clause House
The Antler Academy
Fairbanks
The Alyeska Pipeline Visitor Center
Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
Dog Mushing Museum
Tanana Valley Farmers Market
St. Mathews Church
Riverboat Discovery tour
University of Alaska
Georgeson Botanical Garden
Agricultural & Forestry Experiment Station
Large Animal Research Station
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Restaurants we visited:
Gambardella's Pasta Bella Restaurant (Closed, now Salty's)
Soapy Smith's Pioneer Restaurant
The Pump House Restaurant
Day 24 - 27 Coldfoot (Bonus Trip for the dieheart)
Only 1/3 of all visitors who visit Alaska will travel to the Arctic Circle Land Mark on the Dalton Highway. The Dalton Highway is a gravel and oil truck route to the oil rich region of Prudhoe Bay, the beginning of the Alaska Oil Pipeline. Prudhoe Bay is the northern most town with road access in Alaska and where you can take a tour to get your feet wet in the Arctic Ocean. May tourist will fly from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay and then drive back by tour bus/van in a long day trip.
We travel to the Coldfoot, about midpoint to Prudhoe Bay. Coldfoot is known by the Discovery Network TV show "Ice Road Truckers". There is limited lodging and BLM campgrounds along the route. To Coldfoot there are only 4 gas stations.
The route is true wilderness. Rolling mountains and hills as far as the eye can see. The famous Oil Pipe Line zig zagging its way through the open range.
The route is plagued with frost heaves and pot holes so be aware of the conditions and weather forecast.
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Campgrounds we visited:
BLM Marion Creek Campground
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Points of Interest we visited or seen passing:
Dalton Highway
Yukon River Visitor Center
Arctic Circle
(It marks the northernmost point at which the center of the noon sun is just visible on the December solstice and the southernmost point at which the center of the midnight sun is just visible on the June solstice)
Fingers Point where granite formation come magically out of the earth
Coldfoot Visitors Center
Gates of the Arctic National Park
Coldfoot Camp
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Restaurants we visited:
Coldfoot Camp
Day 27 - 30 Fairbanks (Return Visit)
A return from driving the Dalton Highway is an ego booster. A vehicle or camper caked in mud is mark of success. Some campgrounds post pictures of the campers returning from a trip on the Dalton Highway as a badge of courage.
Take the time to wash the vehicle and camper well. Now back in Fairbanks there is time to explore more sites.
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Campgrounds we visited:
Riverview Campground, North Pole, AK
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Points of Interest we visited or seen passing:
North Pole
Chena Lake Recreation Area
Salcha
Harding Lake Recreation Area
Fairbanks
Gold Dredge 8
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
Alaska Museum of the North (UAK)
Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs Resort
Hot Springs
Cafe
Ice Museum
Aurora Viewing
Activity Center
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Restaurants we visited:
Bruster's
Drips Cafe (Salcha)
Salchakit Roadhouse Restaurant (Salcha)
Tok (Back to the Beginning of the 30 day tour)
