SOLO TRAVEL: Driving The Alcan Hwy From Alaska To Montana And Back Again . . .

June 2, 2025 Driving South heading toward the Alcan Highway.

One of the requirements of my job is that I work long periods of time isolated off in remote Alaska. Conversely, one of the benefits I receive is the free time I can request off. This year, I’ve taken off time from May 13 to August 5 and I've spent a portion of it road tripping.

I recently spoke with a friend who, at summer’s end, is migrating south from Alaska to a warmer climate. It is odd to think this long-time Alaskan will no longer reside in our glorious state.

As I recently journeyed down and back up the Alcan Highway, I told her I’d share my venture so they can reference what may be of interest for their own travels.

I’ll share on my drive south and itemize those details. I moved to Alaska in June of 1981 and over the course of my residency, I've traversed this road system a total of nine times (making this current trip number ten), So, I had some sense of how to prepare and of what I might encounter along the way.

My first tip: This is a wonderful adventure but it is a very long drive; I covered 2520 miles from my home in Alaska to US Customs in Oroville, Washington. And by the time I arrived back home, I’d logged a total of 6555 miles on my car. So, sit back and enjoy, stop at points of interest, take a lot of pictures, get out of the car now and then and walk and stretch and . . . breathe.

Vehicle: DMV - Check your tags. Mine were set to expire during my travels. (So glad I checked)
Insurance - Verify this is current and update your card
Mechanic - I informed my mechanic regarding the miles I planned to put on my car - and he took over from there. He’d recently changed the oil in my car, so he advised I change it upon my arrival at my destination. He checked the fluids, suspension (We broke down one time along the Cassiar Hwy due to issues with the bearings - apparently they need grease). He gave it a tune up, changed the plugs and when he was finished doing what mechanics do, he gave my lil-go-mobile the thumbs up. (And, yes, I had the oil changed when I arrived at Seeley Lake and again I requested the mechanic give it a go over for the return drive home).

Currency: Exchange Rate -The rate is good - so it is worth taking time to make the exchange. Money Mart in Anchorage offers foreign currency exchange services, however, their rate is poor - they add on a steep fee for their troubles. Wells Fargo and Northrim offer exchange services, however, you have to “order” the money and this will take time - so order well in advance of your departure date. I did not prepare in time so I went to Money Mart. It was still worth the exchange, but as I knew the exchange rate, I felt Money Mart's gouge!

Credit Card - I called my Financial Institute and let them know I’d be traveling so they’d not shut my card off for “suspicious activity”. Also, there was an International Fee associated with my card each time I used it in Canada. And, you’ll want to check to verify whether or not your ‘bank’ converts for the exchange rate.
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You can use a credit card throughout Canada, but I preferred using cash, as I received more bang for my buck.

Canadian currency works a bit different from here in the US. They have bills in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. However, anything below $5.00 comes in coins of $1 and $2 dollars as well as change below $1. However, they round up or down when it comes to penny’s. For instance, if my total for fuel came to $28.02, the total I’d have to pay was $28.00.
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Total Cost - My drive down the Alcan Highway cost $515.00; this included gas, food (one meal per day in a restaurant plus snacks and drinks) and a one night stay at a hotel; The 28 Inn Hotel, in New Hazelton, BC cost $101.00 for a one person occupancy. This total is for my Canadian portion of the trip only. And, if you factor in the rate of exchange, the total came to less than the $515.00. Not too shabby.

Fuel: Gas is sold by liters in Canada. The conversion is 3.785 liters per 1 gallon. Fuel ran anywhere from $5.14 per gallon ($1.36/L) to $7.72 a gallon ($2.04/L). My car averaged 35.3 mpg. I did not need to take fuel cans for my vehicle. However, from past experiences, I stopped and topped off my tank every time I came upon a gas station.

Due to wild fires closing down the Alaska Highway, I drove the Cassiar Highway (which took off a 150 miles from my trip). But, there are fewer stops for fuel along this route. Even at that, my fuel never went below half a tank of gas.

As I used cash to pay for fuel, I’d have to go inside and guesstimate liters and prepay. Once I fueled up, I’d go back to the cashier and they’d give me the appropriate change. I never ran into a problem giving a cashier a $50 or a $100 bill; they always gave back the correct change.

Car Camping: Driving through Alaska and Canada takes several days. Paying for accommodations adds up quickly. So before I left, I converted my back seat into a bed. I bought a pre-cut board from Home Depot and two foam pads from Fred Meyers for a total cost of $55.00. I cut down the foam pads to make the appropriate adjustments, but aside from this, it was an easy task. I topped the pads with cozy bedding and voila - I had a place to sleep whenever I needed to rest my eyes. I purchased privacy items for the windows and I slept quite comfortably.

From all my years working in the insurance industry, my thought processes are still prone to calculating risks. I’d dealt with too many claims where folks left valuables inside their vehicle only to have them pilfered. This in saying, I packed my car in such a way so as to not draw unnecessary attention to its contents; although, my Alaskan plates shout - traveler! My car is black, so I used all black bed and window coverings.

Safety/Vulnerability - Safety is the topic where I field the most questions and concerns. And . . . for clarification - safety is what guides all of my decisions and preparations when I undertake an adventure, especially of this magnitude. Prior to departure, I calculated risks and attempted to mitigate any unforeseen challenges or dangers.

For instance - during most of this road trip, I had no reception so my cell was of little use to me if I were to need help; Roadside Service is of no value if you cannot call them.
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A backup plan is critical. So, I made sure:

* I had plenty of funds in case I had a mechanical issue and I needed to stay any length of time in a hotel.
* I had very few valuables with me and if I were to need to leave my car to go get help, I had a small bag to carry what was crucial.
* My vehicle was in top working order and - that I had the proper tools, that my spare tire was in good shape and that I knew how to change a flat if the need arose.
* I had a map and I looked it over in advance. And for this journey, I purchased a Milepost - a very good tool for mapping out and planning for gas, accommodations, campgrounds, etc.
* Every evening - I let people know where I was located and what my next route would be and where I’d end up the following night.
* I was in a town at night so I’d have cell reception - very important for a host of reasons.
* I car camped near motorhomes and travel trailers. Folks driving these vehicles are probably elderly or they are families, and they’re most likely willing to help if the need presents. Each night, I made sure I was in a town and parked in a safe place with others close by. I ALWAYS topped off my gas tank before I parked for the evening and I made sure that I could easily jump into the driver’s seat if I needed to get out of the area quickly. If I needed to rest my eyes during daylight hours, I’d pull into the parking lot of a store or restaurant. I was very wary regarding rest areas as I could easily find myself in a vulnerable situation in these locations.

I have stories of my travels where my car broke down, I needed help and people were kind and all went well. Conversely, I have stories such as the time I woke in the middle of the night with two men driving their truck in circles around my car - that was a scary night!

Prior to reaching Whitehorse and for miles beyond, billboards line the road system with missing persons information . . . of both men and women. From Whitehorse to Prince Rupert, this section is known to Canadian's as the Highway of Tears. Be. vigilant, safety is paramount.

Cell/Reception: International charges apply through Canada and roaming charges add up quickly traveling through the lower 48 states. I contacted my provider to let them know of my travel plans and they adjusted my services accordingly. (I know someone who recently traveled up the Alcan Highway and at the end of their trip, they'd accumulated a $500.00 phone bill.)

Music: For the most part, this is a quiet drive. So, if you like noise, you’ll want to download music and podcasts and audio books or take along your old CDs.

I enjoy quiet and I find road trips to be a wonderful place for processing, planning, praying and mediating.

Canada provides road signs with information for their local radio stations. I often tuned in and listened to their unique style of broadcasting.

Road Conditions: Alaska provides advance notice of what a driver will encounter on the road ahead. Canada does not do this so pay close attention to their signage as it is very different. Canadians indicate road damage with 5 gallon buckets filled with sand where they've placed a stick in the middle that has a small orange flag on top. Some flags will be missing, so when you see a bucket - slow down. There will be no advanced warning. When you see the sign, you’re right on top of the issue - And . . . if there is a sign, there truly is an ISSUE! Also, the frost heaves up north in both Alaska and Canada are bad, so it’ll be slow going for quite some time. Just breath and enjoy the journey.

Hygiene: Finding a place to clean up along the Alcan highway is not too difficult if you’re in an actual town. Just look for a laundromat or gym or recreational center as they'll most likely have a shower. Even some campgrounds in Canada provide the luxury of a shower. However, I did not find a place to clean up along the Cassiar Highway, aside from a natural water source - Brrrrr!

Road Etiquette: Due to the duration of the trip, I often came across the same vehicles along the road system. Anytime I had opportunity to slow, pull close to the right of the road and allow others to pass by, I did. Be friendly, be courteous as you may find you’ll need their help somewhere along the way.

Wildlife & Cyclists: There are a lot of bear in the Yukon and there are a lot of deer in British Columbia. Be vigilant as they’re all along the road system - as well as there are other wildlife. I came across a herd of grazing bison and some other magnificent animals - I’ll share photos here for you to enjoy.

Oddly, there were several folks cycling the Alcan both on my way down and on my way back north. More often than not there are no shoulders along the road so these bicyclists have nowhere to go to get out of your way. Stay alert.

I hope you find this information helpful. Have a safe and happy trip.