Page 31 - RV Alaska

DRIVING TIME (IN HOURS)
Anchorage Fairbanks
Anchorage, AK - 7.0
Cooper Landing, AK 1.5 9.0
Dawson City, YT 10.5 8.0
Delta Junction, AK 6.5 1.5
Denali Park, AK 5.0 2.0
Fairbanks, AK 7.0 -
Glennallen, AK 4.0 5.0
Haines, AK 15.5 13.0
Homer, AK 4.5 11.0
Kenai, AK 3.0 10.0
McCarthy, AK 7.5 8.5
Seward, AK 2.5 10.0
Skagway, AK 16.5 14.0
Talkeetna, AK 2.5 5.5
Tok, AK 6.5 4.0
Valdez, AK 6.0 7.5
Wasilla, AK 1.0 6.0
Whitehorse, YT 15.0 12.0
Whittier, AK 1.5 9.0
Highway Routes in Alaska
Alaska's highways are generally referred to by their names instead of the route number. Most highways are paved but
Denali Highway and Dalton Highway have gravel sections. For current highway conditions, check www.511.alaska.gov.
Parks Highway
North of Anchorage to Fairbanks ê 358 miles
The Parks Highway, also called the George
Parks Highway, is a wide, well-maintained route
that is open year-round. It begins 35 miles
north of Anchorage at the junction with the
Glenn Highway. The highway, which parallels
the Alaska Railroad, is the main route between
Anchorage and Fairbanks. It travels over rugged
terrain and crosses over 40 bridges.
Views of Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) can
be seen at several spots along the highway,
particularly Willow and the Denali Viewpoint at
mile 135 from Anchorage.
Talkeetna is a historic village nestled at the base
of Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley) with panoramic
views of the Alaska Range. The town is located at
the end of the paved 14-mile-long Talkeetna Spur
Road. The turn off to Talkeetna is at at mile 99.
The entrance to Denali National Park is along
the Parks Highway, about 240 miles north of
Anchorage.
Richardson Highway
Valdez to Fairbanks ê 366 miles
The Richardson Highway is paved and offers
scenic views of mountain ranges, canyons,
glaciers and waterfalls. The Trans-Alaska
Pipeline, which runs from Prudhoe Bay to
Valdez, can be seen from the highway.
Originally called the Valdez to Eagle Trail, the
Richardson Highway was the first major road
built in Alaska, in 1910.
Near Valdez, the Richardson Highway is
surrounded by sheer canyon walls containing
waterfalls and interesting rock formations
where it passes through Keystone Canyon.
See page 32 for more information about this
section of the highway.
The Edgerton Highway and Wrangell St.
Elias National Park can be accessed by the
Richardson Highway.
Anchorage to Glennallen ê 189 miles
The Glenn Highway is the main access to
Anchorage from the Alaska Highway. The road
surface is in good condition and generally well
maintained.
The highest point of the highway is the Eureka
Summit at 3,332 feet.
The 139-mile section of the Glenn Highway
between Anchorage and the Eureka Summit is
designated a National Scenic Byway. This section
hugs the south end of the Matanuska-Susitna
(Mat-Su) valley and parallels the path of the
Matanuska Glacier. The pullout for Matanuska
Glacier is at mile 91.7 and there are several more
pullouts further down the highway.
The junction of the Glenn Highway and
Richardson Highway is at mile 189. Turn south
on the Richardson Highway to visit Valdez and
north if you’re headed to Tok or Delta Junction.
Tok Cutoff
Gakona Junction to Tok ê 125 miles
This road is paved and well-maintained while
offering scenic backcountry views.
The junction with Nabesna Road is at mile 60.
The Slana Ranger Station has visitor
information at the start of this 42-mile gravel
road into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
The Mentasta Summit (2,434 feet) is at mile 78.
Sterling Highway
Tern Lake Junction to Homer ê 142 miles
The Sterling highway leads to some of the
best fishing spots in Alaska and explores the
popular Kenai Peninsula, known as “Alaska’s
Playground.”
For a glimpse of Russian America history in
an old-world setting, visit the quaint town of
Ninilchik.
The route ends at Homer Spit which extends
4.5 miles into Kachemak Bay on a narrow strip
of land.
Visit rvalaskacampgrounds.com for mile-by-mile highway information
Paxson to Cantwell ê 134 miles
The Denali Highway is a very scenic route,
with limited services available along the
way. Plan four to five hours of driving time
for this 134-mile-long road, which includes
110 miles of gravel. Add more time for
photographing wildlife and landscapes;
maybe plan to overnight along the way.
The Denali Highway was constructed in 1957
as the only route to Denali National Park and
Preserve. When the Parks Highway between
Fairbanks and Anchorage opened in 1972,
the Denali Highway became a seasonal route
that closes in winter. When the highway is
open, conditions vary greatly depending on
the weather. There are sections of rough
washboard and places with sharp rocks.
Maclaren Summit (4,086 feet) is the second
highest highway pass in Alaska. Only Atigun
Pass (4,800 feet) on the Dalton Highway is
higher.
The Tangle Lakes area, 21 miles from Paxson,
is popular with fishermen.
Dalton Highway
Fairbanks to Deadhorse ê 415 miles
The Dalton Highway begins 84 miles north
of Fairbanks and is accessed via the Elliott
Highway. The Dalton is still a haul road so
expect to meet many transport trucks. The
road is mostly gravel and conditions can vary
greatly depending on weather.
Most visitors want to cross the Arctic Circle,
which is at mile 115. Atigun Pass (4,800 feet) at
mile 245, is the highest highway pass in Alaska.
Some visitors prefer to take one of the
commercial tours rather than drive this
challenging route. Others prefer to rent
a vehicle rather than drive their own. If
you choose to rent, be sure your rental is
permitted on the Dalton when making the
booking.
Deadhorse is the only place along the route
with cell phone coverage.
Anchorage to Seward ê 127 miles
This paved highway is a National Scenic Byway
and runs along Turnagain Arm, through the
scenic Kenai Peninsula, Chugach National
Forest and Kenai Mountains.
South of Anchorage the highway hugs the
shore of Turnagain Arm. Here the scenery is
dramatic with flats on one side and towering
mountains on the other.
Bird Creek, at mile 101, is a great stop for
photography, fishing and spotting marine
wildlife.
Exit Glacier is the only part of Kenai Fjords
National Park that can be reached by road.
The turn-off is about 4 miles north of Seward.
Seward Highway
Glenn Highway
Denali Highway
Photo: State of Alaska/Reinhard Pantke
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