Alaska: the last frontier. Spanning more than half a million square miles dotted with mirage-like towns and framed with vast mountain ranges, seemingly limitless, it bursts at the seams with the unknown. Alaska is one of the few states in the nation where you can come face-to-face with a grizzly bear and never lack room to run and hide.
In a climate very much governed by Mother Nature, there is excitement and beauty to be found over each hillside. It should be no wonder, then, that Alaska remains a sort of Eden for avid outdoorsmen and RV enthusiasts. If you’re planning an RV trip to Alaska anytime soon, you ought to know the best spots to explore and some of the things to expect before you map your route. To help, here are four places we recommend putting on the itinerary:
1. Bear and Whale Excursions
First things first, you’ll want to get out into nature as soon as you arrive. How better to fully experience the wilderness that’s made Alaska famous than to watch its biggest and baddest natives in their natural routines? There are a number of whale watching spots and bear viewing tours available throughout the state that you can register for in advance. Alaska.org offers up several choices so you can find the embarking point nearest where you plan to stay.>
2. Midnight Sun in Anchorage
Similar to the Northern Lights phenomenon that tops most must-do lists for Alaska, we highly recommend your RV trip include a stop at the annual midnight sun that occurs at summer solstice (June 22nd). In summer months, Anchorage is one of the few cities in North America where the sun remains above the horizon for up to 22 hours per day. That means that when it ought to be pitch black at midnight, instead the horizon glows and the sun continues to shine like a basketball ablaze in the sky. If you don’t see it, you’ll wish you had!
3. Scenic Highway Drives
Now for the part that gets RVers jumping out of their chairs. It has been said that you can drive west from the Canadian border across the state of Alaska for a full 365 days, trekking one million acres per day, and still have more ground to cover in the new year.
It’s almost impossible to be disappointed when you grab your keys and set off down any Alaskan road. Whether you make for Mt. McKinley by way of legendary Parks Highway or you choose the iconic coastal views of the Seward, there are wonders to be found in whichever direction you choose.
4. Mendenhall Glacier
Situated just 12 miles from downtown Juneau in the southeastern part of the state, Mendenhall Glacier is one of the greatest natural wonders on display in Alaska. This monumental ice flow feeds into the Mendenhall River after melting and descending from the Juneau Icefields. The national park offers up five hikes to various scenic locations, so you can experience the splendors of the glacier from multiple vantage points.
These are just a handful of our must-sees for an RV trip to the wonderfully endless state of Alaska. With thousands of rivers to traverse and countless mountains to climb, you’ll never run out of places to explore when you visit the Alaskan wilderness by RV. Also, try to check out some of the state’s one-of-a-kind museums, seal-life centers, Denali National Park, and gold dredges.
This the worst article I have ever read on reason to travel to Alaska. There is so much to see and do, that you should allow at least 7 to 8 months to see it properly with all it has to offer. Used to take RV Caravans up there, did it 15 times. RV'ing is the bast way to see it, with every mile providing breathtaking views and memories to last a life time. My last trip was in2015 and lasted 80 days including the Alaska Marine Highway.
whoever you are paying for this, you are wasting your money, There are no roads to Juno and the mindenahal glacier. Anyone who have visited should know that. The Ferry ride to Juno for an RV or travel trailer is quite expensive. A knowledgable author should know that there are several glaciers you can visit by vehicle , and they are Exit Glacier near Seward and Matanuska Glacier near Palmer.
This was far from your bet article. And it was dangerous. As a person who has spent a lot of time in Alaska-NEVER EVER PUT GRIZZLY AND RUN AND HIDE IN TH SAME SENTENCE. YOU CAN NOT OUT RUN THE BEAR AND WILL TRIGGER AN ATTACK. PLEASE PRINT A CORRECTION. Please stick with your repair articles the are good. As other have pointed out YOU CANT GET TO JUNO TO VIEW THE GLACIER BY ROAD.
Can someone tell me what the manufacturers "Hitch Weight" specifically pertains to? Is it the weight on the hitch at the max loaded weight or is it at the dry ship weight of the trailer?
Fairbanks was missed in this article. There is more sunlight there than Anchorage and a lot to see, ie: pipeline, gold dredge, gold panning, etc. Also if feeling adventurous you can drive to Deadhorse but wouldn't pull a trailer, there are several tours you can take.
Drive the ALCAN to Fairbanks, north then a few miles and visit the pipeline viewing site. Later, go to Valdex and view the terminus, you may even see a tanker 'filling up.'
need to plan a trip to Alaska from seattle
I travel with dogs - is it a problem to get them from the mainland to Alaska, or to take them through the state? I would probably rent an RV on arrival to travel in.....do not currently own an RV.....
This article is extremely shallow and disappointing. It misses most of the real highlights of Alaska from the Top of the World Highway, Chicken and Eagle to the halibut fishing at Homer. It also fails to explore the coast of Alaska from the Marine Highway in towns like Wrangell, Petersburg and Sitka and the real Alaska of Fairbanks. All of these sites are accessible by RV. We have done it.
After living in Alaska for 5 years there are tons of great places to visit - especially in an RV, but I don't under why you would list Juneau in "Top 4". You can't even drive to it. That would make it quite an expensive trip to get there having to ferry the RV there. There are many glaciers that are accessible by road that would be a much better choice (i.e. Matanuska or Root). I love Alaska & want others to enjoy its beauty as well.