Road conditions in winter can be excellent, with the highway surface smoothed of potholes with graded snow. ”Highway crews are generally quick to be out on the road plowing after snowfalls along the Alaska Highway,” says Earl.
U.S. citizens flying between another state and Alaska do not need a passport. However, those driving through Canada or traveling on a ferry or cruise ship with stops in Canada are required to carry one. All non U.S. citizens will need a passport and possibly other documents to enter.
Is driving to Alaska dangerous? Nope! You'll find paved, well cared for roads the entire way (unless you make some detours), which makes this trip pretty standard—at least so far as the safety of road conditions.
First of all, the drive to Alaska is much easier than most expect. When most people envision the drive to Alaska they start to turn into doomsday preppers. Most think they'll need 3 spare tires and gas cans strapped to every flat surface of their vehicle.
Anchorage is the best base from which to chase aurora. Many of the prime locations are easily accessed from the city. The shimmering aurora are seen swirling in Anchorage's skies from the middle of August through April.
Where Are The Most Dangerous Cities In Alaska?
| Rank | City | Violent Crimes Per Capita |
|---|
| 1 | Kotzebue | 3,238 |
| 2 | Kenai | 786 |
| 3 | Anchorage | 1,309 |
| 4 | Juneau | 827 |
What are the requirements for bringing dogs, cats, and ferrets into Alaska? These animals require a current rabies vaccination if three months of age or older, and a small animal health certificate issued within 30 days of import.
A typical 7-day Alaska vacation costs around $3000 per person—a little over $400 per day.
| Per Person Double Occupancy | Cruise | Independent Land Tours |
|---|
| Lodging | | $600 - $1200 |
| Transportation | $1200 - $3000 for Lodging, Transportation & Meals | $500 - $800 |
| Meals | | $300 - $500 |
| Excursions | $800 - $1200 (5 excursions) | $1000 - $1500 (7 excursions) |
Yes, believe it or not, Alaska will actually pay you to move there through its established Permanent Fund Dividend Program. This extra bit of cash every year helps Alaskans save for retirement, college and vacations. It's a big reason why people move to and stay in Alaska for life.
Can you drive a car from Alaska to Russia? No, you cannot drive a car from Alaska to Russia because there is no land connecting the two. This also means that there is no road, no immigration offices and no way to legally exit or enter any of the countries.
Hit the RoadThe shortest route from Seattle to Anchorage is 2,265 miles via the Alaska Highway. Allow seven to 10 days to drive from Seattle to Anchorage or Fairbanks, even though the actual driving time is about 48 hours.
Alaska is most certainly American, but it's more than 2,000 miles away from the nearest state, Washington. Getting there with a vehicle requires either driving through Canada or taking a ferry.
It will take between 6 and 10 days to drive from the contiguous United States to Alaska depending on where you start from and based on driving for up to 8 hours per day. The fastest possible drive to the Alaskan Panhandle can be done in 16 hours 30 minutes.
Fairbanks' Aurora Season is from August 21 to April 21 and the aurora will be visible in Fairbanks an average of four out of five nights when the sky is clear and dark enough. Scientifically speaking, the aurora is dancing above year-round, but we can only see it during the Aurora Season when we have dark enough skies.
Anchorage to Fairbanks costs around $244 in Adventure class or $441 in Goldstar class.
If you love deep, dark winter punctuated by the dazzle of holiday activities, December is an exhilarating time to visit Alaska. The days are short, the nights are long, and usually, the landscape has been stunningly transformed by a durable white cover.
The Alaska Railroad operates year-round, connecting Anchorage, Talkeetna and Fairbanks throughout the winter season. The Aurora Winter Trains operates weekends, traveling northbound from Anchorage to Fairbanks on Saturdays and making the return journey Sundays.
Driving to Alaska is a long road trip. There are 3,000 miles between Los Angeles and the border with Alaska. More like 4000 if you shoot for Fairbanks or Anchorage (and you will be – not much point in hitting the border and then returning). So, like I said, it's a long road trip and you should pack accordingly.
10 Best Winter Activities in Anchorage, Alaska
- Chasing the Northern Lights. Few phenomena are as awe-inspiring as the northern lights.
- Flightseeing. Many of Alaska's favorite activities never hibernate.
- Dog Sledding.
- Fat Tire Biking.
- Skating.
- Skiing.
- Winter's Biggest Events.
- Snowmobiling.
Road Conditions: The Alaska Highway is a two-lane, paved road that winds and rolls across the wilderness. Although virtually the entire highway is asphalt paved, motorists may encounter rugged stretches with chuckholes, loose gravel and unexpected bumps otherwise known as frost heaves.
The asphalt surfacing of the Alaska Highway ranges from poor to excellent. Much of the highway is in fair condition, with older patched pavement and a minimum of gravel breaks and chuckholes. Recently upgraded sections of road offer excellent surfacing.
The Dalton Highway is open year-round, roughly 3,700 large trucks travel the road each month, even during the arctic winter. The road is mostly built on top of the icy permafrost. Sudden changes in the weather can make the driving even more dangerous. High risk of avalanches.
Best Time to See the Northern Lights in AlaskaAlaska's northern lights season is between mid-September and late April, peaking in March, though it's a season defined more by its long, dark nights than by solar activity.
20 Things Everyone In Alaska Should Avoid At All Costs
- Farmed seafood. Flickr - Judi Knight.
- Or buying fish in general. Flickr - Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- Even feeding your dogs farmed fish.
- Eating hot dogs.
- Camping without a view.
- Snacking on chips from the lower 48.
- Shopping at big corporate box stores.
- Drinking wine that isn't from Alaska.
Popular SUV options for an Alaskan lifestyle are the Toyota 4Runner, Chevy Tahoe, Jeep Commander, GMC Yukon, and the Chevy Suburban. All of these have good 4-wheel drive options and are still light enough to get you out of the snow when stuck.
RV parks in most Alaskan and Canadian cities are plentiful and easily accessible. Planning an RV trip on the ferry needs special consideration prior to booking a reservation. Sleeping in your RV is against Coast Guard regulations while the ship is underway, so cabins with bunk beds are available on most vessels.
You can drive to Alaska from anywhere in the United States except Hawaii. From the majority of USA, you need to take the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek in British Columbia except California, Oregon and Washington State where the Dease Lake Highway is a better route to Yukon.
How to Get You and Your Belongings to Nome. Nome, Alaska is about 540 air miles, or about a 1-1/2 hour flight, northwest of Anchorage. Driving to Nome is not possible since the community is not part of Alaska's road-system.
