Driving to Alaska isn't that far fetched. Yeah, it is a lot of driving. Yes, gas is expensive. Yup, it takes a long time. But, the reality of taking a road trip to Alaska is straightforward, you drive. There are multiple routes to choose from--I suggest driving the Cassiar Highway--that takes you from a Canadian border crossing to Alaska. So, with several long-format podcasts, lots of road trip snacks, a poor nights of sleeping in sketchy hotels or your car, you can make the drive. It's not that bad, here's what a day in the life of road-tripping to Alaska is really like.
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When we drove to Alaska and back to California, our vehicle of choice was a Dodge 2500 converted van, so life was plush. We had a kitchen, a toilet that we tried not to use, a bed to crash on when we got tired, and storage to keep all of our things. While not everyone will have this set up, this routine is possible by any and all that drive this route during a shoulder season:
7:00-7:45: Wake up just before sunrise, make coffee, and cook breakfast. Take the time here to soak in the view and look for wildlife. I highly suggest a pair of binoculars.
8:00-8:30: Stretch. When you drive this route you will be sitting for a long time, so stretching will be very important for your overall health. Take thirty minutes here and stretch to one of the many YouTube yoga videos.
8:45-1:00: Drive. Drive. Drive. If you don't need to rush, keep a look out your window for little detours you can make, they are everywhere. Enjoy the views that are passing you by and stop for breaks when you need them. Keep ample road trip snacks close by as well.
1:15-2:00: Stop for lunch and fill your gas tank. While these two won't always align, take some time to walk around a town and keep an eye on your tank. Food options are slim when you really get out there. So, I highly suggest grabbing food from a grocery before you embark on your journey.
2:15-5:30: Drive some more. This second leg of driving can become monotonous, so put on the tunes and rock out while you drive. Keep an eye on the edges of the road to avoid any wildlife lurking in the trees, waiting to cross.
6:00-6:30: Start looking for a place to sleep. This could be a boondocking spot or a hotel, that is your choice. We mostly boondocked on our road trip to Alaska and felt safe doing so. The road noise can be loud if you don't find a spot far off the main road.
7:00-10:00: Make yourself dinner, enjoy the sunset, go for a walk, maybe cold plunge, and get some shut-eye. The next day of driving will be full!
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