RV Caravan Tips for Alaska
If you are planning to take an RV to Alaska, consider joining a commercial RV caravan. The caravan reserves your RV camping spots and arranges for your tours, activities and fuel and grocery stops. A caravan tour can be cost-effective when you consider how much of Alaska you see. You gain the camaraderie of people who share your interest in exploring Alaska, and you are not alone if something goes wrong.
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Itinerary, Costs and Services
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When choosing an RV caravan, explore the itinerary, costs and included services thoroughly. Find out which tours and recreational opportunities are included, and which ones you pay for out of pocket. Consider your personal interests, such as seeing wildlife and glaciers, attending cultural events, fishing, kayaking or rafting.
Check out facilities at each stopover and compare. In general, you will not have electrical hookups, water or sewer connections at every Alaska RV caravan camping stopover. The advantage of a caravan is that the tour company arranges for you to have opportunities to take on fresh water, dump holding tanks and hook up to electrical power regularly.
With a caravan, there may be 20 or more RVs participating. You have a leader called a wagon master and a tail gunner to help pick up the rear. Usually, at least one of these caravan staff members has some mechanical know-how and first aid knowledge, as well.
Importance of Preparation
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In Alaska, fuel stations and garages where you can get repairs done can be 100 miles apart. There are areas with no cellular phone coverage. So you should drive on the top of the tank, meaning keep your fuel tank above half full if you can. All fuel grades are commonly available as you travel through Canada and Alaska. Remember that Canada has a metric system of measurement. You buy gas by the liter instead of by the gallon.
You'll want to have an Alaska highway guide and a copy of the most recently published "Milepost." The "Milepost" provides information in a log form, mile by mile, about highways in Canada and Alaska. Your vehicle should be in excellent repair, and you should have basic tools on hand. If there are belts and filters you can replace yourself in your vehicle, you should have those on hand, as well. Your caravan company can advise you about the need for headlight protectors and other vehicle protective gear if it is needed.
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Towed Vehicles
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If your RV is a motor home, you may want to bring a vehicle in tow such as a small car or truck for getting around. Caravan companies generally do not guarantee that you can do this without damage. Additionally, on RV caravans that include a return by ferry boat, you will pay an additional fee for ferrying the tow vehicle plus the RV.
Preferred Travel Season and Distances
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Commercial caravans to Alaska usually depart in June or July. The midnight sun peaks on the summer solstice, June 21, and the weeks surrounding that event give you the longest days.
Caravans usually limit their daily travel to about 200 miles per day. By traveling at an unhurried pace, caravan members are more likely to see the sights along the way and less likely to encounter damage to their vehicles.
Popular Caravans
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Some of the most popular RV caravans in Alaska include these:
Adventure Caravans, Inc.
125 Promise Lane
Livingston, TX 77351
800-872-7897 (U.S. and Canada residents)
936-327-3428 (Mexico and Europe residents)
adventurecaravans.com/Alaskan Discovery RV Tours, Ltd.
645 G Street, Suite 542
Anchorage, AK 99501
800-842-7764
rvalaskatours.com/Tracks to Adventure
2811 Jackson Avenue
El Paso, TX 79930
800-351-6053
trackstoadventure.com/Fantasy RV Tours
6655 W. Sahara Ave., Suite E-102
Las Vegas, NV 89146
800-952-8496
fantasyrvtours.com/
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References
- Photo Credit motorcoach,motorhome,rv image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
