Alaska trip in a cab-over-camper

[PTomlinson]

Well the good news is diesel is less expensive than gas in the Yukon. The bad news, it is still pretty expensive. A month ago when I drove the highway it was:



Vancouver $. 949 /litre ($3. 59 CDN per US gallon)

Cache Creek $. 959 /litre ($3. 63/US gallon)

Prince George $. 949 /litre ($3. 59/US gallon)

Fort St John $. 989 /litre ($3. 74/US gallon)

Fort Nelson $1. 179 /litre ($4. 46/US gallon)

Watson Lake $1. 119 /litre ($4. 24/US gallon)

Whitehorse $. 999 /litre ($3. 78/US gallon)

Dawson City $1. 249 /litre ($4. 73/US gallon)



I didn't pick and choose when I stopped for fuel, so I could have probably got some better prices, but not much. Of course the prices have gone up in the last month, in Whitehorse it is currently $1. 079 or $4. 084 per US gallon, so if it went up 8 cents per litre here I imagine it is a safe bet that it went up at least that much elsewhere along the highway. Oh and gas, well it is $1. 199 ($4. 538) at most stations around town for regular.



Paul

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks Paul, very steep in Dawson City, maybe we'll skip that part of the trip. How much is diesel in Fairbanks, Anchorage and other parts of Alaska? I was planning on driving from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, maybe we'll skip that leg.

 

[DBF]

I don't know what the current price is in Fairbanks, but in general it has the lowest price in interior Alaska. That's because the only refinery in Alaska is outside Fairbanks.



You can look up current prices on this site:

http://www.alaskagasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D



I wouldn't skip anything beautiful up there just to save a few bucks, when you're already putting out a bundle. Save when you get back.



DBF

 

[viper700]

That hill coming out of Dawson City heading towards towards Tok is at least 12 miles till you top out. I made the trip from Tok to Dawson city on Snowmachine 6 years in March. Never have done it in the summer, but we might this year. They call that run on snowmachine the "Trek over the Top", they have a real good website and lots of pictures of the Trekers and Dawson city. If you look at the pictures and see people in 6x bright green tee shirts over their snowsuits I was one of them. We were known as the Green people, also AKA the "Stephan Lake Loonies". This was not my choice in identities as I wanted the name to be "Treker" not "Loonie", but the ladies in the group were in control. Each year I went it was always -40 degrees on Sunday morning when we left to head back to Tok. But it would warm up to -20 by the time we got to the top of that 12 mile hill, and when we got to Chicken for our fuel stop we had a heat wave of -15. It was always an interesting 200 mile trip each way. Each year there would be 3 trips and almost 200 people each trip, it was the social event of the year. This last year as I was in Yuma my friend went as usual and with minus temps and high winds almost every one had frost bite on their faces, bad trip. You will not have this trouble in the summer but beware of the mosquitos as there are so many and so big they have N numbers on there sides and require Air traffic control. The hill is long but a good road just lower gear and speed after all you have a 3500 Dodge Diesel and it will do it with out any problem. The scenery is fantastic, you can almost see to the end of the world but not quite.

 

[Mr.Goat]

Grizzly



I hate to see you skip portions of your trip due to high fuel costs. Especially after all this exhaustive research. And all the typing all us folks have all done. So your not allowed at this point to leave anything out. . !!! Skip both trips to Vegas and put the cat on a diet if you have to, but you and Mrs. Grizzly go and enjoy yourselves as you can't take it with you. Pete

 

[Grizzly]

Grizzly



I hate to see you skip portions of your trip due to high fuel costs. Especially after all this exhaustive research. And all the typing all us folks have all done. So your not allowed at this point to leave anything out. . !!! Skip both trips to Vegas and put the cat on a diet if you have to, but you and Mrs. Grizzly go and enjoy yourselves as you can't take it with you. Pete

We're not going to skip any part of our trip. You and DBF are correct, It's not worth trying to save a few bucks now. Besides, it's only our kids inheritance. It's no telling when we will make the trip again. Who knows, Mrs Grizzly may really like it, and I'm sure she will, and we may do it every other year. Las Vegas is out and we don't have a cat. Maybe we will hook up with you and DBF and do it together in 08. Now there's an idea. Mrs. Grizzly and Grizzly

 

[DBF]

Maybe we will hook up with you and DBF and do it together in 08. Now there's an idea. Mrs. Grizzly and Grizzly

That's a possibility. I think we're going to skip going up there in 2007, so by 2008 we'll probably be ready again.



DBF

 

[Mr.Goat]

Grizzly

Sounds like a plan, my new rear bumper should be finished by then. Seriously I'd be interested. . !!! ttlu Pete

 

[Grizzly]

That's a possibility. I think we're going to skip going up there in 2007, so by 2008 we'll probably be ready again.



DBF

DBF and Mr. Goat, we're on. What time of the year do you both prefer to leave? I got to see your bumper Pete, send pictures when it's finished. Thanks for the link for diesel in Alaska DBF. In tracking the price of diesel in Alaska, I see it is cheaper in Fairbanks then in Albuquerque. Grizzly

 

[Mr.Goat]

Grizzly

So when would I prefer to leave, well I suppose that would be dependant on how long were going for. Mid June to mid Sept would be nice. But you'll probably be tired of hearing my stories over that length of time. Of course with new adventures come new stories.

Seriously I'am not to hard to get along with just tell me where and when to meet you guys and I'll be there. Now the pressure is on, that only gives me two years to find a Mrs. Goat to ride right seat and navigate... !!!

If DBF is coming out of Florida he has a long haul. He can probably pick you up on the way by. I'am 8 days of hard driving from home here to Whitehorse. Maybe we should all meet at your place for breakfast and head out from there. I'll bring the back bacon. !! ttlu Pete

 

[Grizzly]

Grizzly

So when would I prefer to leave, well I suppose that would be dependant on how long were going for. Mid June to mid Sept would be nice. But you'll probably be tired of hearing my stories over that length of time. Of course with new adventures come new stories.

Seriously I'am not to hard to get along with just tell me where and when to meet you guys and I'll be there. Now the pressure is on, that only gives me two years to find a Mrs. Goat to ride right seat and navigate... !!!

If DBF is coming out of Florida he has a long haul. He can probably pick you up on the way by. I'am 8 days of hard driving from home here to Whitehorse. Maybe we should all meet at your place for breakfast and head out from there. I'll bring the back bacon. !! ttlu Pete

How many days of hard driving are you from Albuquerque to meet for breakfast? DBF is a also a long ways, maybe three days.

Don't worry about finding Mrs. Goat. You will find her where you least expect too. Maybe in Alaska.

 

[DMcGalliard]

Cash or credit cards in Canada?

We are leaving for Alaska soon and I have enjoyed this thread, but I have not seen a discussion of what is better in Canada, cash , convert, or credit card. How much cash can you carry into Canada? Then back into USA? Not that we have big bundle, but we have some. I will appreciate comments.



Dave Mc Oo.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I am under the impression that you get the best exchange rate when you use a credit card.



Hope you have a GREAT time.



Someday, I'll be making that trip!

 

[Grizzly]

We are leaving for Alaska soon and I have enjoyed this thread, but I have not seen a discussion of what is better in Canada, cash , convert, or credit card. How much cash can you carry into Canada? Then back into USA? Not that we have big bundle, but we have some. I will appreciate comments.



Dave Mc Oo.

Foil is correct. Using your credit card gives you the best exchange rate. Canadian money is also good. The least desirable money to use is US currency, because you will not get the best exchange rate. First thing I do when entering Canada is convert some cash into Canadian and rely on my Visa card.

Have a good trip and keep us posted. What are your trip highlights?

 

[PTomlinson]

I try to carry a VISA, Mastercard, and at least $200 local cash when traveling. That way if one of the credit cards stops working you can use the other. This actually happened to me in March when I was driving the highway. VISA thought it strange for the credit card to be used all the way up I-5 and the Alaska Highway so they shut it down so I had to call in to get it re-enabled. A pain in the neck. The reason I carry at least $200 in cash is that there are times that credit cards don't work (rare) and that is a couple of fill ups. American Express is not as widely accepted as it is down south.



Everyone will gladly take your US money, but the exchange rates will range from reasonable to absolutely brutal depending on where you are. If you do pay with US money use the smallest bills that you have because the cashiers have to give you back Canadian change, which seems to irk some people. No place other than a bank can give you back American money. I worked at a RV park one summer and boy did some people get upset when I handed them back Canadian money.



Oh and one warning, the Canadian dollar is doing really well right now. It is at it's highest rate since 1977, each US dollar will get you $1. 1068 Canadian. Good for me when I go south, not so good for you guys traveling north.



Paul

 

[JPope]

"... The reason I carry at least $200 in cash is that there are times that credit cards don't work (rare) and that is a couple of fill ups... . "



This seems to be rapidly changing with the recent upwards changes in fuel pricing :{

 

[Grizzly]

I try to carry a VISA, Mastercard, and at least $200 local cash when traveling. That way if one of the credit cards stops working you can use the other. This actually happened to me in March when I was driving the highway. VISA thought it strange for the credit card to be used all the way up I-5 and the Alaska Highway so they shut it down so I had to call in to get it re-enabled. A pain in the neck. The reason I carry at least $200 in cash is that there are times that credit cards don't work (rare) and that is a couple of fill ups. American Express is not as widely accepted as it is down south.



Everyone will gladly take your US money, but the exchange rates will range from reasonable to absolutely brutal depending on where you are. If you do pay with US money use the smallest bills that you have because the cashiers have to give you back Canadian change, which seems to irk some people. No place other than a bank can give you back American money. I worked at a RV park one summer and boy did some people get upset when I handed them back Canadian money.



Oh and one warning, the Canadian dollar is doing really well right now. It is at it's highest rate since 1977, each US dollar will get you $1. 1068 Canadian. Good for me when I go south, not so good for you guys traveling north.



Paul

Paul, do you have a web site for the current rate of exchange? Thanks

 

[PTomlinson]

CBC

The exchange rate is about half way down on the right hand side of the page.



This is the link that I usually use. There are others, but I know this one off the top of my head.

 

[Mr.Goat]

My usual method is to carry enough cash in the currency of the country in which I'am visiting to pay for items that I don't wish to use Visa for. Taking cash advances against your Visa is not the most economical way to obtain cash. For example if I'am in the Uk for several weeks or a month I'll take some in pound sterling and the rest of my cash needs in travelers cheques to avoid taking cash advances against visa. But the visa card deffinately gets the major portion of the exercise on any trip

Fuel, hotel, car rentals and other major stuff I always put on the card. Groceries, etc I always use cash.

Another good way for you folks to obtain Canadian cash is to exchange your US funds at the bank in Canada. You will get the latest exchange rate. I use this method when in your country. My . 02 Canadian for what it's worth, and lately it's been worth more. . !! Pete

 

[Grizzly]

We're home from Alaska. Wow, what a great trip. We did everything and saw more then we could have imagined. If you ever thought of going to Alaska, my advice is, go.