Alaska Highway and Yukon RV Caravans

The Alaska Highway is a drive many RVers keep on a bucket list. It is not technically difficult, but it is long, remote in places and unforgiving of poor preparation. Guided caravans reduce the risk by providing a leader who has done the trip, a rear-guard driver and a plan for fuel and campsites.

The classic route starts at Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, BC and runs through northern BC and the Yukon to Alaska. Most caravans combine it with a loop through the Yukon (Whitehorse, Dawson City), and into Alaska for Fairbanks, Denali and the Kenai. Many tours start in the western U.S. and cross into Canada in BC or Alberta. Some run as a 60-day or longer round trip, so check the length against your schedule.

• Plan for roughly 160 to 240 km (100–150 miles) between fuel stops in some stretches, and keep the tank in the top half. Fuel prices are higher in remote areas.
• Services are spaced further apart than in southern Canada. Ask how the operator handles fuel stops and what happens if a station is closed.
• Cell coverage is patchy. Ask how the group communicates when phones do not work.

• The highway is paved, but frost heaves, loose gravel in repair zones and construction are common. Slow down in rough sections.
• Protect your windshield and headlights from stone damage and consider mud flaps and a rock guard on a towed vehicle.
• Carry a full-size spare tire and know how to change it.
• Check road reports before departing: 511 for the Yukon and Alaska, and DriveBC for northern British Columbia.
• Weather changes quickly. Summer evenings are long, so window shades can help you sleep.

A trip to Alaska crosses the Canada–US border at least twice, and often more. Your tour will tell you where. Carry passports, registration and insurance, and read the current rules for food, firearms, pets and cannabis before you go. Canadian travellers also need to confirm their health and auto coverage in the U.S. See crossing the border and our ferries and borders guide.

• The northern route typically begins thawing in late May and turns cold again in September, so most caravans run from June through August.
• Mosquitoes can be intense in early summer. Bring repellent and screens.
• Long daylight in June and July makes long drive days easier.

• How many nights are in Canada versus Alaska, and which Canadian places are overnight stops?
• What is the longest drive day, and where do we fuel on the remote sections?
• What does the tail gunner do if my RV breaks down hours from the next town?
• Does the tour require a particular spare, a mechanical inspection or satellite communication?
• What is the roadside assistance or towing coverage on this route, and who pays for a tow of 300 km?
• Is the price in U.S. dollars, and what is excluded?

Planning an independent trip instead? Route ideas and itineraries you book yourself are on RV Camping Canada.