1. http://andysbigtrip.blogspot.com/

2. T R AV E L I N G T O A L A S K A
PLANES, TRAINS, AND
AUTOMOBI LE S

3. SHOW ME THE MONEY$$$$

4. PLAN AND PLAN SOME MORE

5. INFORMATION AND MORE
THERE IS NO END TO THE AMOUNT OF
INORMATION YOU CAN GET REGARDING A
TRIP TO ALASKA; WEB SITES, BOOKS, TRAVEL
GUIDES, BLOGS, ETC, ETC - ACTUALLY CAN
GET INFORMATION OVERLOAD!!!

6. THE BIBLE FOR TRAVLING TO ALASKA
“THE MILEPOST”
NO MATTER HOW YOU TRAVEL!!!!
NEW $30.00
USED $12.00

7. BUDGET ????
INEXPENSIVE
$2000 to $3000
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD $4000 to $7000
ALL OUT
$8000 PLUS

8. SO MANY WAYS TO GO????
• PLANES
• PLANES & CRUISE
• PLANES & CAR,RV
• DRIVE (whew)

9. COST OF PLANE FLIGHTS
COST OF FLYING TO ALASKA
USING A VARIETY OF AIR RESERVATIONS
COST WAS FROM $800 TO $1200 PER PERSON
HOUSTON- ANCHORAGE -SEATTLE - HOUSTON
$400 ROUNDTRIP: HOUSTON - SEATTLE

10. A CHEAP CRUISE USUALLY 7 DAYS
YOU COULD FLY TO SEATTLE TAKE A 7
DAY CRUISE ONE WAY, FLY BACK
HOME FOR ABOUT $2200 TO $3000.
NEGATIVES- VIEWS, TOURS, VERY
LIMITED
LOTS OF CRUISE LINES AND DEALS

11. BIGGER CRUISE ROUNDTRIP
7+ TO 10+ DAYS
MORE EXPENSIVE OPTION, USUALLY
INVOLVES A ROUNDTRIP, FEW MORE
DAYS FOR EXCURSIONS, RUNS FROM
1400 TO 2400 PER
NEGATIVES AGAIN LIMITED VIEWS,
TOURS

12. ADVENTURE CRUISE 20 DAYS+
INVOLVES CRUISE, PLUS DAY OR
OVERNIGHT TRIPS,, #1
DESTINATION IS DENALI N.P.
MORE EXCURSIONS AND LOTS OF
TIME.
NEGATIVES: VIEWS, AGAIN
STILL LIMITED, WEATHER,
EXPENSIVE PROBABLY AROUND
$6000.00 EACH POSITIVES. ALL
PLANNED OUT

13. Cruise Details
Included: Shipboard Accommodations, Meals, Some
Beverages, Onboard Entertainment and Daily Activities, Port
Charges, 24-Hour Room Service
Not Included: Shore Excursions, Personal Expenses,
Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Specialty Restaurants, Spa
Treatments, Some Taxes
Optional Add-Ons: Flights, Hotels, Transfers, Insurance
*All itineraries are subject to change without notice.
**Prices are per person/double occupancy.
***Some Cruise Offers are dependent on the type of
stateroom purchased.

14. LETS DRIVE - MAYBE

15. DAVID AND DONNA
DECISIONS AND CHOICES
• KEEP IN MIND, AS I’M RESEARCHING, I MADE LOTS
OF LIST AND NOTES. VERY EARLY, I’M LEANING
TOWARD DRIVING. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I’M
LOOKING AND FINDING MORE PLACES WE WANT TO
SEE KEEPING OUR OPTIONS OPEN.
• RESULT MORE AND MORE CONFLICTS!!!

16. ALTERNATIVES ??
OTHER WAYS TO TRAVEL
COMBINATION TRIPS

17. TAKE YOUR CAR ON A CRUISE

18. BETTER ALTERNATIVE ????
• POSITIVES
• KEEP YOUR OWN CAR
• BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, CRUISE-DRIVE
• NEGATIVES
• EXPENSIVE
• TIGHT SCHEDULING
• FEATURES OF THE CRUISE

19. www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

20. ALASKA ADVENTURES CRUISE AND
RV RENTAL
• http://www.alaskaadventures.com/alaska_highway_cruises/pages/national_parks_explorer.htm
15 DAY- 2000/2600 7DAY CRUISE, 8DAY RV
22DAY -3900/4600 7DAY CRUISE, 15DAY RV
INCLUDES DENALI, ALASKA HIGHWAY
BACK TO VANCOUVER

21. ALTERNATIVE ALASKA ADVENTURE
• POSITIVES
• SEE MORE
• COMBINES BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
• ALL INCLUSIVE SCHEDULE, CHOICES
• NEGATIVES
• EXPENSIVE a few hidden cost
• LIMITED PACKING
• SCHEDULE IS SET

22. MOST PEOPLE CRUISE, WHY?
POSITIVES:
1. CHEAPEST WAY TO GO
2. TIME AND DISTANCE
3. SET SCHEDULE, PAY AND GO
4. ALL KINDS OF DEALS
NEGATIVES
1. LIMITED TO WHAT YOU SEE AND DO
2. MAY NOT BE THAT CHEAP????
3. VIEWS – what side of the boat??

23. LET’S CRUISE, FLY, OR DRIVE?
DRIVE TO SEATTLE AND BACK @
5000 MILES - MIN 7/8 days
COST 1000 TO 1500
COST OF CRUISE 1,200 TO 6,000
NOTES: DOGGIE, HOUSE
ESTIMATED COST 8 to 10+++
23

24. OPTIONS AND MORE OPTIONS
CRUISE COST
AIRPLANE COST
TAXES
PORT COST
TIPS
EXCURSIONS
SPENDING MONEY

25. DAVID AND DONNA
DECISIONS AND CHOICES
AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF
PLANNING, WE DECIDED TO DRIVE.
WHY? MORE FREEDOM,
PLAN OUR OWN ROUTE, PUPPY DOG
BE FLEXIBLE, PROBLEMS OF COURSE…

26. SOME QUICK NUMBERS
DRIVING:
HOUSTON TO SEATTLE 2,500
HOUSTON TO FAIRBANKS 10,000
FLYING:
HOUSTON TO SEATTLE 5hrs
ANCHORAGE TO HOUSTON 10hrs

27. TOURIST FACTS OR FICTION
2 MILLION VISITORS (POP 650,00) 350k IN 3 CITIES,
ANCHORAGE, FAIRBANKS, JUNEAU compare with Harris County 4.2m
ROADS: Alaska 4,900 Houston 9,000+
MOST CRUISE
SMALL WINDOW TO VISIT MAY TO SEPTEMBER
HOTELS, (cost)
RESERVATIONS ????

28. Considering the cost of Gas
• DRIVING FROM HOUSTON TO ALASKA
• (USING FAIRBANKS AS DESTINATION)
• GOOGLE 4100mi LETS GO WITH 10,000mi RT
• COST OF GAS
$3.50 $3.75 $4.00 $4.25 4.50
• 10,000/10 =1000 3500 3750 4000 4250
4500
•
12 = 850 2975 3187 3399 3611 3823
•
15 = 700 2450 2625 2800 2875 3150
•
20 = 500 1750 1875 2000 2125
2250
• Lets go with a 10 to 15% under so probably add at least
cost times .10 Ex, 2800x.10= 280.00extra

30. OUR DAILY PLANNER
FOR EACH DAY OF OUR
TRIP, I PLANNED THE
ROUTE, SITES TO SEE,
MILES, CAMPS, USING
MAPS, GOOGLE
DAY ___
DATE__________
DESTINATION:_____________________________
MILES:_______
CAMPGROUND:____________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
NOW BASED UPON EACH
DESTINATION, THE ITENERARY
COULD CHANGE. EXAMPLE
DENALI, WORKED
BACKWARDS
IF DURING THE DAILY PLANNING,
IF I WOULD FIND A ROADBLOCK NO HOTEL, TOO MANY MILES, I
COULD ADJUST THE ITENARY. GO
BACK TO MAPS, MILEPOST AND
LOOK MORE.
SITES:____________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
NOTES:___________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
DURING THE PLANNING
OF OUR TRIP, I MADE
DOZENS OF CHANGES

31. DAY
CITY
MILES
DATE
1
SALINA, KS
681
8/25
2
CHEYENE, WY
681
8/26
3
BILLINGS, MT
457
8/27
4
LETHERIDGE, AB
404
8/28
5
JASPER
580
8/29
6
DAWSON CREEK
325
8/30
7
FT NELSON
282
8/31
8
WATSON LAKE
319
9/1
9
ROSS RIVER
CHANGE!!
9/2
10
CARMACKS
383
9/3
11
DAWSON CITY
219
9/4
12
DELTA JUNCTION
292
9/5,
13
FAIRBANKS
95
9/6
14/15
DENALI
150
9/7,8
16
ANCHORAGE
212
9/9
NOTE
MILEAGE
CHANGE??
SOME DAYS
MORE, SOME
DAYS LESS!!!

32. 17
HOMER
168
9/10
18
SEWARD
169
9/11
19
VALDEZ
120
9/12
20
TOK
139
9/13
21
HAINES JUNCTION
290
9/14
22
HAINES/SKAGWAY
167
9/15
23
WHITEHORSE
109
9/16
24
DEASE LAKE
407
9/17
25
PRINCE RUPERT
452
9/18
26
PRINCE GEORGE
446
9/19
27
CACHE CREEK
276
9/20
28
SEATTLE
458
9/21
29
TWIN FALLS, ID
629
9/22
30
CHEYENE,WY
618
9/23
31
AMARILLO, TX
513
9/24
32
HOUSTON
582
9/25
TOTAL MILES
10523
FERRY

33. 2

34. OUR ROUTE TO ALASKA

35. CANADA & ALASKA ROUTES
NORTH --YELLOW BLUE GREEN
SOUTH--PURPLE GREEN PINK

36. DAVID AND DONNA
DECISIONS AND CHOICES
WHAT ARE WE DRIVING
OUR OWN VAN
RENT
DRIVE TO SEATTLE, RENT RV
WHERE ARE WE GOING, MOSTLY DONE???!!!
SCHEDULE
RESERVATIONS

37. RV RENTAL PROBLEMS
1. COST+MILES
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
SET UP
NO EQUIPMENT
NEW TO RV DRIVING
TOUR SET ROUTE
CAMPGROUNDS
RENT HOUSTON, RENT SEATTLE

38. PROBLEMS AND HEADACHES
•
•
•
•
•
•
TIME OF THE YEAR TRAVELING
AVOID CROWDS
WINTER COMING
DENALI CLOSES 9/15
STRICT SCHEDULE
COST

39. DAVID AND DONNA
DECISIONS AND CHOICES
• ALL KINDS OF HEADACHES
• SCHEDULES
• HOTELS FOR PUPPY DOG
• MADE FOR A VERY STRICT SCHEDULE
• COST

40. THE BIG, BIG DECISION????
AFTER SOME INITIAL RESEARCH
WE DECIDED TO BUY AN RV
•
•
•
MADE PLANNING MUCH EASIER
LOTS OF CAMPGROUNDS
ITENARY OOPS

41. AFTER WEIGHING THE COST vs PURCHASE PRICES
TIGHT SCHEDULE
SOMETHING WE HAD LOOKED AT DOING BEFORE

42. WHAT KIND OF RV
SORRY BUT THAT’S FOR ANOTHER DAY
AND DO NOT THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT
DID NOT ADD A LOT MORE HEADACHES

43. F I NA L I T I N E R A RY
USING THE CAMPGROUND
REVIEWS AND GOOGLE, IT
WAS VERY EASY TO MAKE A
FINAL ITENARY AND ROUTE
MAP - WHEW FINALLY!!!!!

44. http://rvparkreviews.com/

45. WHO NEEDS TO SCHEDULE??
AND WHAT TO PACK
• DURING ALL MY RESEARCH
• CROWDS
• DENALI & JASPER NATIONAL PARKS
• WHAT TO TAKE,CLOTHES, FOOD, OTHER
• HOW TO PACK THE RV

46. DRIVING IN ALASKA
ROAD CONDITIONS
FROST HEAVES- WHAT?
OTHER CONCERNS
ROAD WORK(411)
PULL OUTS
DANGERS

47. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
PASSPORT- MANDATORY
INSURANCE-CAR/MEDICAL
DOGGIE PAPERS
MORE FREEDOM= MORE REQUIREMENTS
47

48. MORE STUFF TO CONSIDER
•TIME OF YEAR may/sept vs summer
•WEATHER ?????
•MONEY EXCHANGE
•PHONE
BE CAREFUL

49. WEATHER FACTS
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG
SEPT
AVG HIGH
AVG LOW
AVG RAIN
RECORD HIGH
55
39
0.7
77
62
47
1.0
85
65
51
1.9
82
63
49
2.4
82
55
41
2.7
73
RECORD LOW
17
33
36
31
19
DAYS RAIN
SUNLIGHT
7
16
8
18.4
12
19.1
14
17.0
14
14.2

50. OUR GREAT ADVENTURE
http://andysbigtrip.blogspot.com/
GREAT FOR COMMUNICATING & PICTURES

51. OUR ROUTE TO ALASKA
NOTES: 1ST NIGHT HOTEL (HEAT
AND LONG MILES TO BORDER),
RV CAMPS REST

52. ALASKAN HIGHWAY

53. ORIGINAL
CHICKEN
DAWSON CITY
CARMACKS
ROSS RIVER
ORIGINAL ITENARY HAD US GOING
TO ROSS LAKE, CHANGED IT BUT
HAD MADE PLANS AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE. MILEPOST ROSS RIVER

54. CHICKEN
DAWSON CITY
CARMACKS
ROSS RIVER

55. CHICKEN
DAWSON CITY
CARMACKS
ROSS RIVER

56. CHICKEN
DAWSON CITY
CARMACKS
ROSS RIVER

57. DENALI NATIONAL PARK SEPT 7 DAY 14
FAIRBANKS
F- 120
400K VISITORS
6MILL ACRES
A-240
ANCHORAGE

59. ROUTE FROM ANCHORAGE
SEE NOTES
HOMER
CHICKEN

60. IN CASE YOUR INTERESTED
493 MILES ONE WAY, NEARLY ALL GRAVEL, DEADHORSE,
POP?25/50, PIPELINE, ICE TRUCKERS

61. www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

63. CANADA & ALASKA ROUTES
NORTH --YELLOW BLUE GREEN
SOUTH--PURPLE GREEN PINK

64. SEARCH SITES WE USED
http://rvparkreviews.com/
RVPARKREVIEWS
http://woodalls.com/
WOODALLS
http://www.goodsamclub.com/travel/ca
mpgroundsandrvparks/Default.aspx
GOODSAMCLUB
https://maps.google.com/
GOOGLEMAPS, SEARCH

65. WHAT WE LEARNED
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
SCHEDULES
CAMPGROUNDS
ROADS
BORDERS
PICTURES
BLOG
PHONE
INTERNET
WEATHER
FISHING- SALMON RUN ALL SUMMER,BUT BETTER IN SPRING

66. OTHER ALTERNATIVES
• CAMP IN YOUR CAR, TENT
• BICYCLE
• MOTORCYCLE
• DRIVE AN RV ONE WAY
• FALL DEALS
• LOTS OF FOREIGNERS DURING SHOULDER SEASON

68. JUST IN CASE
MOST OF LIKE DISCOUNTS
CAMPING WORLD- GOOD SAMS
http://www.campingworld.com/
GAS BUDDY
http://www.gasbuddy.com/
PILOT GAS STATIONS
http://www.pilotflyingj.com/locations