Moose Pass! that's the one I was trying to remember I think I was spending too much time at the bar and kept thinking about Moose Drool when I saw it on tap haha Chicken will probably just be a stop for lunch/drink something like that as I leave Yukon and I think if I can make it my first night in Alaska would be around Glennallen. I'll likely make day trips from Anchorage up to see Mt McKinley and another down into Kenai like I mentioned. I'm always open to suggestions as well but don't know if I'll be able to spend more than day trips away from Anchorage to stay on schedule to get the ferry to/from Juneau afterwards as it only runs certain days and is my only real restriction on time.

Good to know about the fuel stops, I'm so used to spending time around the city and on interstates where every exit nearly has at least one station if not more. The online gas price sites I found are pretty empty for the far north too so that didn't help much. Any suggestions on sites to find prices or even just locations? Not sure if the normal big name stations are common up there like Shell and Exxon or if there are others that are more common even.

Thanks for the insights and help everyone as well, perhaps if all goes well and people are around I can buy a beer for folks in the area!

 

When you head through remote parts Canada expect to pay about 5-5.50 or so dollars a gallon. Talked to a buddy of mine who came up here recently from Tuscon a couple weeks ago and he said thats about the going rate. As for day tripping it out of Anchorage thats a decent idea. If its in your budget too you can take the Alaska railroad down to seward or up to talkeetna its sorta steep (not amtrak prices) but kinda gives you a chance to relax and just site see if you are burned out on driving. As stated before I like Seward and Talkeetna its doable as a day drive too. As for McKinley/Denali thats kinda far for a day trip. I would either take the train or drive up and spend a night or two.

 

You should look up us Washington State JKer's, we'll be glad to take you out on the trails. Good luck

 

I may do that! I'm planning to spend a few days in the area there as I have friends there (used to live in Kirkland/Redmond).

 

Oh I didn't get that far in planning for McKinley yet, didn't know the distance to where it actually is :/ Maybe I'll just have to observe from afar if time doesn't permit or I can schedule another day or two in the area. The Train sounds like a good idea though, I'm sure I'll be craving a chance to just sit and take photos even haha

 

Sweet.... Just pm us, and we'll meet up! My name is Rich

 

I've never done the train, but it's on my list as well, because from all I've heard it's really a fantastic trip.

 

Yea dave its real nice I went with my parents when they came up here to visit. Went from seward spent a night in anchorage, a night in talkeetna and two nights in denali, then came back to anchorage. I dont know if you have a northern lights coupon book or not but they have some good deals although I believe they have to be used before Memorial day.

 

So I've narrowed down my dates now and it looks like I'll be entering Alaska on July 4th and departing on the 17th from Juneau so I have nearly 2 weeks in the state I know I want to stay in Glennallen for a night on the way to Anchorage then planned 3 days there, and then had Tok and Haines as stops for a night each on the way to get the ferry to Juneau where I'll spend 3 days also. I've got about 2-3 days that I'm not sure yet but was thinking I'd stay in Anchorage area though maybe I use them as my days up to Denali/McKinley since I already know I'd like to see it and that might give me enough time to go up and back with one of the days already planned.

Anyway, with a travel path like that (entering near Chicken on the 4th) I wanted to see if anyone had other suggestions for the extra couple days? of course, if anything happens on the trip before entering Alaska I may lose those extra days anyway haha knock on wood that doesn't happen! I even thought about trying to make it to somewhere cool for the 4th but I'd be on my own no matter where I go so a quiet campsite by a river sounds good too haha

 

Well I've got the AEV Fuel Caddy on order, should be here next week. I'm hoping this should ease my mind about travelling in the remote parts Nothing like an extra 50% fuel capacity to make ones mind concentrate on the scenery instead of the fuel gauge! I'll probably also make use of it when I see an expensive area of fuel so I can keep costs down if possible.

On another note, I was originally planning to head towards Anchorage via Glennallen but now I'm wondering if I'd be better spent heading north first and spend that night in Fairbanks instead. That way I can then head to Denali/McKinley on the way to Anchorage rather than backtracking? Almost looks like a loop around that area so maybe I go in from one direction and leave the other. Any tips anyone? I'm not sure where I should head exactly to get the best views of McKinley, looks like Denali is a big park haha

I missed out booking the ferry on the day I want from Juneau to Bellingham :( I'm going to call and see if I can get something worked out but may be able to take the next day, just not as ideal arrival time. Apparently there are more people doing that trip than I expected and I waited too long.