How To Have An Alaskan Road Trip (Even In The Dead Of Winter)

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Why A Winter Alaskan Road Trip Is Magical

Tips To Keep Safe Driving In Alaska In The Winter

Go On A Pre-Planned Winter Alaska Driving Tour

Space may be the final frontier, but it is not yet the last frontier. Explore Alaska during the winter and have the road trip of a lifetime. Driving in Alaska at the best of times requires foreplanning but driving in the winter brings a whole raft of extra complications and hazards. Alaska can be fun to explore in the winter, provided that visitors are well-prepared and respect the environment they are exploring.

The ultimate road trip in Alaska is arguably the dicey Dalton Highway - the only Alaskan road running up to the Arctic Ocean. Most of the Alaskan Hinterland is not accessible by road, and one major drawback of a winter road trip is that even more of the roads are impassible. This means the road trip needs to be planned around the highways and the roads that remain open.

Why A Winter Alaskan Road Trip Is Magical

Most of Alaska's main highways are well-maintained and open during the winter - so driving conditions are normally reasonably good if one sticks to those roads.

Alaska is amazing to explore in all four seasons of the year - including fall and winter. The white snow-blanketed landscapes of the Alaskan winter are magical. It is, in many ways, America's last frontier and doubly so in the winter months.

The timeless winterscapes and the northern lights of the Alaskan winter are sights that stay with visitors forever.

Plan one's trip around some of the popular winter Alaskan festivals like the Fur Rondy and the Iditarod Trail sled dog race.

Tips To Keep Safe Driving In Alaska In The Winter

Weather is always one of the largest dangers of driving in the winter in Alaska. Always check the National Weather Service for warnings, advisories, etc., on arh.noaa.gov. The winter weather all too often catches people unprepared, and sometimes people can get caught out and perish in the winter storms.

Not all the Alaskan roads are maintained during the winter - even parts of some major highways. These roads can become impassable in the winter.

Highways Not Maintained In The Winter:

Denali Highway
Taylor Highway
Top-of-the World Highway
McCarthy Road (Except For limited plowing occurs to access the airport)
Nome area
Eureka-Rampart Road (MP 0 to MP 3)

Make sure one's vehicle is well maintained and properly equipped for the winter. Carry extra provisions like flares, blankets, a shovel, food, and other survival necessities.

As this is Alaska, expect wildlife crossing and keep an eye out for moose, caribou, and other animals on the roads. 511.Alaska.gov even has caribou notices.

When driving away from the main cities (notably Anchorage), it is good practice not to let the gas fall below half a tank. If one is in a remote region and passing a gas station - always top up.

It can also be prudent to let people know where one is going so that they can notify emergency services if one doesn't arrive. Remember that cell coverage is spotty along the highway system in Alaska. Learn more about best safety practices in Alaska on 511.Alaska.gov. Many tips are common sense; they are also very good to know and could be the difference between life and death.

Go On A Pre-Planned Winter Alaska Driving Tour

Take the stress out of planning a winter Alaska driving adventure by joining in with a pre-planned winter 4-wheel drive tour. The tour is designed for independent travelers. The eight-day Alaska Winter Driving Tour is listed on Alaskatours.com.

The tour goes from Fairbanks to Anchorage, stopping at Chena Hot Springs, the Arctic Circle, and the Denali National Park. Guests get to gaze up at the night sky and watch the dancing Northern Lights - one of nature's most spectacular displays.

This tour is something of an Alaskan winter safari. Activities during the driving tour include skiing, snowboarding, soaking in hot springs outdoors, snowshoeing, crossing the Arctic Circle, watching the northern lights, and even flightseeing over Denali.