Lower 48 to Alaska
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
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From: Fort Worth
Lower 48 to Alaska
All those that have made the journey, we are planning a trip to Alaska. We are in Texas so are open to the entry point in to Canada. With gas stops and hotels in mind, what's the best route to take through Canada? It's kind of hard to figure out where the gas stops would be.
It looks like the largest city options in the US are Fargo, Great Falls or Seattle.
It looks like the largest city options in the US are Fargo, Great Falls or Seattle.
All those that have made the journey, we are planning a trip to Alaska. We are in Texas so are open to the entry point in to Canada. With gas stops and hotels in mind, what's the best route to take through Canada? It's kind of hard to figure out where the gas stops would be.
It looks like the largest city options in the US are Fargo, Great Falls or Seattle.
It looks like the largest city options in the US are Fargo, Great Falls or Seattle.
The most useful tool we had for finding gas and accommodations was a current issue of the Milepost. It was very helpful in planning our trip, as well as being a reference while we were on the road.
Here's a link to the Ride Report on our trip, you can see the route we took along with hundreds of pics.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/tri-g...er-2013-a.html
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: SW Ohio
I've made the trip and would suggest this; Ride to the border and head to Dawson Creek BC. Ride the Alaskan Hwy all the way to Fairbanks, up the Haul Road (Dalton Hwy) to the Arctic Circle and then Deadhorse.
It's all very doable on an HD Touring machine despite what some may say. Carry fuel and get the Milepost as mentioned above. This may be your one and only chance to do this ride, don't sell yourself short and not get the full experience. Take a dip in Liard Hot Springs, put up a sign in the sign forest, meet others on the road to adventure like yourself. There is no bluer blue than Kluane Lake. You do that and you'll NEVER forget it as long as you live. And you'll never let someone get by with saying they rode their motorcycle to Alaska when they took the ferry
There are some that will say it's too difficult because they've never tried and think they couldn't do it themselves; so how could you? Then there are others who've done it but want you to think that it's a long and arduous journey that only they could make and want to discourage others from having the same experience; it makes them less unique. It seems to me you want it, so I say you can do it. Do your research, bring fuel, the right clothing, a sense of adventure and realize that this isn't a trip to Deal's Gap or the Rock Store on Mulholland. You can't plan every inch and there are times when you'll have to improvise. That said, once you do it and come back, every road and every problem you might have is a piece of cake. It's like being 25 in the 3rd grade
It's all very doable on an HD Touring machine despite what some may say. Carry fuel and get the Milepost as mentioned above. This may be your one and only chance to do this ride, don't sell yourself short and not get the full experience. Take a dip in Liard Hot Springs, put up a sign in the sign forest, meet others on the road to adventure like yourself. There is no bluer blue than Kluane Lake. You do that and you'll NEVER forget it as long as you live. And you'll never let someone get by with saying they rode their motorcycle to Alaska when they took the ferry
There are some that will say it's too difficult because they've never tried and think they couldn't do it themselves; so how could you? Then there are others who've done it but want you to think that it's a long and arduous journey that only they could make and want to discourage others from having the same experience; it makes them less unique. It seems to me you want it, so I say you can do it. Do your research, bring fuel, the right clothing, a sense of adventure and realize that this isn't a trip to Deal's Gap or the Rock Store on Mulholland. You can't plan every inch and there are times when you'll have to improvise. That said, once you do it and come back, every road and every problem you might have is a piece of cake. It's like being 25 in the 3rd grade
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Feb 10, 2015 at 06:25 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
You will definitely want to get a current copy of the Milepost.
(cut & pasted)
The MILEPOSTŽ is the "quintessential" travel guide to Alaska and the highways and byways of the North. Since 1949, this "bible of North Country Travel" has offered mile-by-mile logs of all Northern routes, with details on road conditions, ferry travel, lodging, camping, fishing, sightseeing AND SERVICES in Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta and Northwest Territories. Travelers will find trip planning help and answers to frequently asked questions on such topics as wildlife viewing, crossing the border and traveling with pets. Updated annually, The MILEPOSTŽ gives readers over 700 pages of detailed information on everything from the famous Alaska Highway system to cruising Alaska's Inside Passage.
(cut & pasted)
The MILEPOSTŽ is the "quintessential" travel guide to Alaska and the highways and byways of the North. Since 1949, this "bible of North Country Travel" has offered mile-by-mile logs of all Northern routes, with details on road conditions, ferry travel, lodging, camping, fishing, sightseeing AND SERVICES in Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta and Northwest Territories. Travelers will find trip planning help and answers to frequently asked questions on such topics as wildlife viewing, crossing the border and traveling with pets. Updated annually, The MILEPOSTŽ gives readers over 700 pages of detailed information on everything from the famous Alaska Highway system to cruising Alaska's Inside Passage.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 13
From: Fort Worth
Congratulations on your upcoming ride to Alaska. We made the ride summer before last. Definitely the trip of a lifetime.
The most useful tool we had for finding gas and accommodations was a current issue of the Milepost. It was very helpful in planning our trip, as well as being a reference while we were on the road.
Here's a link to the Ride Report on our trip, you can see the route we took along with hundreds of pics.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/tri-g...er-2013-a.html
The most useful tool we had for finding gas and accommodations was a current issue of the Milepost. It was very helpful in planning our trip, as well as being a reference while we were on the road.
Here's a link to the Ride Report on our trip, you can see the route we took along with hundreds of pics.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/tri-g...er-2013-a.html
How much and how did you carry the extra fuel? I think the longest stretch is up to Deadhorse at 240 miles between fuel stations. I've look at fuel cells but this isn't really practical without permanently modding our fuel takes. Something I don't want to do. ETA: Never mind, I see the gas can on one of your pictures.....
Last edited by FinalShot; Feb 10, 2015 at 10:10 AM.
Great reading your post, than you for sharing. I had forgotten about Milepost and it is now on the signup shopping list.
That is actually our plan, well a little more than that. We are going to do the Coast to Coast to Coast Iron Butt Ride, probably in 2016. We will start in Key West and make our way to Deadhorse. The good thing is that we have 30 days completed this ride so it'll give us plenty of time to stop and see the sights along the way and plan on an oil change or two.
How much and how did you carry the extra fuel? I think the longest stretch is up to Deadhorse at 240 miles between fuel stations. I've look at fuel cells but this isn't really practical without permanently modding our fuel takes. Something I don't want to do.
That is actually our plan, well a little more than that. We are going to do the Coast to Coast to Coast Iron Butt Ride, probably in 2016. We will start in Key West and make our way to Deadhorse. The good thing is that we have 30 days completed this ride so it'll give us plenty of time to stop and see the sights along the way and plan on an oil change or two.
How much and how did you carry the extra fuel? I think the longest stretch is up to Deadhorse at 240 miles between fuel stations. I've look at fuel cells but this isn't really practical without permanently modding our fuel takes. Something I don't want to do.
I carried a 2 gallon gas can on the Tour Pak rack.
Heads up...There was one stretch of road in Canada where the Milepost said there were a couple of gas stations...and the gas stations were there, BUT, both of them were closed down. Almost ran out of gas on that stretch. Lesson learned, get gas every chance you can, because stations further down the road may be out or closed down!
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Bellmawr, New Jersey
Pick yourself up a copy of Milepost. There is a pull out map and a dedicated chapter that illustrates the two routes (Eastern and Western) to/from Alaska.
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From: SW Ohio
The can I had on my bike was 7 gallons but I never carried more than 5 and half or so. It sloshed around a bit so I left a little room.
You can get fuel in Fox (I believe thats the last place before the Dalton. The fuel the above poster is talking about is just north of the bridge over the Yukon River (which is downhill going north). The Hot Spot is what it used to be called and is on the west side of the road in a clearing. They have a Honda generator to run an old OPW pump.
I never ran out of fuel and I never carried any on the Alaskan Hwy. I bought that can on the way up in Whitehorse at a store called Canadian Tire. A darn handy place.
You can get fuel in Fox (I believe thats the last place before the Dalton. The fuel the above poster is talking about is just north of the bridge over the Yukon River (which is downhill going north). The Hot Spot is what it used to be called and is on the west side of the road in a clearing. They have a Honda generator to run an old OPW pump.
I never ran out of fuel and I never carried any on the Alaskan Hwy. I bought that can on the way up in Whitehorse at a store called Canadian Tire. A darn handy place.
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Feb 10, 2015 at 10:37 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 642
Likes: 3
From: Bellmawr, New Jersey
You can get fuel at three locations along the Dalton Highway; At the Yukon River Camp on the north side of the Yukon River Bridge (MP 56), at Colfoot Camp (MP 175), and at Deadhorse (MP 414).