Alaska

[SYoung]

Has anyone taken your Ollie to Alaska? If so, could you tell me your route?

 

Sherrill

[topgun2]

2 hours ago, SYoung said:

Has anyone taken your Ollie to Alaska?

Use the "search" function here on the Forum.

There is even a "Q & A" summary taken from this year's Annual Owners Rally on this subject.  Good luck with the planning.

Bill

p.s.  I just took a quick look and there are pages of Forum material on this subject.

HERE is the post I was referring to above.

Edited October 7, 2023 by topgun2
added detail

[Jim and Chris Neuman]

Where are you coming from?  Best route depends on where you start and your goals along the way.

Whichever way you go, give yourself time to explore the spectacular country along the way.

 

[aaronorange]

I would recommend the Milepost Travel Planner for starters, here is an Amazon link https://a.co/d/0TgInYp The 2023 copy is the 75th-year addition. We may go next year since we are new Oliver owners. We did live in Alaska for 30 years so it would be a trip back home. We will be following your thread. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

[SYoung]

Thanks ya'll. I ordered the Alaska travel planner. We will be coming from Tennessee, so it looks like going to Bamph first might be a start. Thanks again and happy travels!

[John E Davies]

2 hours ago, SYoung said:

Thanks ya'll. I ordered the Alaska travel planner. We will be coming from Tennessee, so it looks like going to Bamph first might be a start. Thanks again and happy travels!

I recommend going to the Glacier/ Banff/ Jasper areas on the return trip. The scenery is so stunning that it will make Alaska look dreary in comparison. 

The west route Cassiar Hwy up BC is pretty stunning too, way better than the Alaska Highway. But it is a lot twistier and slower and can be extremely dirty if it is wet weather.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[katanapilot]

3 hours ago, John E Davies said:

I recommend going to the Glacier/ Banff/ Jasper areas on the return trip. The scenery is so stunning that it will make Alaska look dreary in comparison. 

The west route Cassiar Hwy up BC is pretty stunning too, way better than the Alaska Highway. But it is a lot twistier and slower and can be extremely dirty if it is wet weather.

John Davies

Spokane WA

I agree with John.  Alaska was beautiful, but the drive from Jasper to Banff was almost beyond words.  Side note - make sure your brakes are in great condition for the drive southbound.

We did the Alaska Highway northbound and Cassiar southbound.  Eight weeks total, 12,000+ miles from Georgia and back.  Incredible trip.

[Steph and Dud B]

There's a couple on YouTube that just took their new Ollie to Alaska: https://youtube.com/@HardAleeAdventures?si=x3xpbvrJ5jftzF4J

[Coastal Aggie]

I made the trip there and back with my LE1 this spring, 7 days from San Antonio to Fairbanks if you're driving with purpose though i wouldn't recommend pushing that hard for most folks, the drive through canada is almost as stunning as alaska so enjoy it. a couple things to keep in mind, many of the campgrounds in BC/Yukon are out of cell signal range so best to either plan fuel stops and breaks the day before or plan on having a non phone based GPS. there are some fuel spots that are listed on google maps that you cant use unless you work for whatever logging/drilling company is operating in that area so try not to wait till youre real low on gas to fill up just in case you accidentally end up at one of those. Bring a tire plug kit, tire shops are few and far between in the western half of Canada. most campgrounds once youre into remote BC and the yukon are first come first served with no way to check availability online beforehand as theyre generally self serve/envelope payment. many are also only open during prime summer travel months. they'll have free firewood but dont count on having hookups aside from a single water spigot if anything to serve the whole campground. A couple of favorite spots for me is laird hot springs on the northern edge of BC and Congdon creek campground in Yukon. ive also seen plenty of folks with campers just staying overnight in the many pullouts on the side of the road do so  at your own risk i dont know the actual rules about that.

[Geronimo John]

Hope you have a great trip.  Some pearls that were found on our forum that we gathered and mostly followed:

• Get mud flaps for the front and rear tires, and another set at the rear of your TV.  
• Protect the front flanks of your trailer as presented in several posts.
• Beware of wet puddles in the roads,  They can be over a foot deep.
• Do not go north much past Fairbanks with your Ollie.  Doing so can be extremely exprnsive in harm to your rig.  

GJ

[PAndrews]

Check out Hard Alee Adventures on Youtube...  https://www.youtube.com/@HardAleeAdventures

 

[SomeDaySoon]

On 10/9/2023 at 8:54 AM, Coastal Aggie said:

I made the trip there and back with my LE1 this spring, 7 days from San Antonio to Fairbanks if you're driving with purpose though i wouldn't recommend pushing that hard for most folks, the drive through canada is almost as stunning as alaska so enjoy it. a couple things to keep in mind, many of the campgrounds in BC/Yukon are out of cell signal range so best to either plan fuel stops and breaks the day before or plan on having a non phone based GPS. there are some fuel spots that are listed on google maps that you cant use unless you work for whatever logging/drilling company is operating in that area so try not to wait till youre real low on gas to fill up just in case you accidentally end up at one of those. Bring a tire plug kit, tire shops are few and far between in the western half of Canada. most campgrounds once youre into remote BC and the yukon are first come first served with no way to check availability online beforehand as theyre generally self serve/envelope payment. many are also only open during prime summer travel months. they'll have free firewood but dont count on having hookups aside from a single water spigot if anything to serve the whole campground. A couple of favorite spots for me is laird hot springs on the northern edge of BC and Congdon creek campground in Yukon. ive also seen plenty of folks with campers just staying overnight in the many pullouts on the side of the road do so  at your own risk i dont know the actual rules about that.

I can add a bit to Coastal Aggie's post regarding campers "just staying overnight in the many pullouts".  Much of the country you will go through on the way to Alaska (and in that great state) is wild and remote.  There are many places where you can random camp on public land and not be breaking any regulations.  On the other hand, when you are inside a state, provincial, territorial, or national park, you will most likely be required to stay in a designated campground.  For example, the route from Banff to Jasper in Alberta, that has been mentioned in this thread, is entirely inside the two national parks.   Random camping at roadside pullouts and picnic areas inside the parks is against the regulations.  The good news is that Parks Canada operates some great campgrounds along that stretch.   

[Galway Girl]

Here you go…a 2023 trip to Alaska.

https://4-ever-hitched.com/alaska-2023

If you have specific questions, we will reply.

Sent from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

[topgun2]

34 minutes ago, Galway Girl said:

Sent from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Good for you guys!

Chilly there - yet?

[SYoung]

Thank ya'll for all the information about Alaska!! These tips are invaluable!! Another question I have is whether diesel gas is available in BC and Alaska.

 

Thanks again Ollie friends

Sherrill

[Galway Girl]

7 hours ago, topgun2 said:

Good for you guys!

Chilly there - yet?

N Rim CG closing water and seasons operation on Sunday.  In 30’s at night and 55 today.   75% of food and ice cream! Store is almost bare. 

[SeaDawg]

4 hours ago, SYoung said:

Thank ya'll for all the information about Alaska!! These tips are invaluable!! Another question I have is whether diesel gas is available in BC and Alaska.

 

Thanks again Ollie friends

Sherrill

You'll find Canadian gas stations similar to us. Some have diesel, others don't. 

Do you run on diesel?

[SYoung]

Yes, we have a diesel truck. Thanks again