Constructed during World War II, the Alaska Highway is world renown and is a smooth, scenic route into the North which stretches from Watson Lake near the British Columbia border to Beaver Creek at the Alaska border.
This 1,523 mile Canadian-Alaskan highway was roughed out by American Army engineers in just seven months from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to the already completed Richardson Highway at Delta Junction, Alaska.
It was built as a supply route to military forces in Alaska during World War II. The men worked tirelessly in lengthy shifts, sometimes in temperatures of -40° F. A record temperature of -79° F was set during construction. This major effort helped open Alaska to the rest of the world.
The project was then turned over to civilian contractors, who improved the road with paving, rerouting, straightening, etc. It is these improvements which causes the huge difference between actual miles between points and the historical mileposts used as addresses. Even worse, Canada uses the metric system, giving distances in kilometers (the distance from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks is usually given as 1,520 miles).
Distances given west of Dawson Creek are Historical Miles, which are still used as addresses. The popular guidebook "Milepost" gives the historical mileage at the Alaska Border Crossing as 1221.8, and the actual distance to Dawson Creek as 1189.8.
Give your car a good mechanical evaluation before you attempt this trip. Sign up for roadside service such as AAA/CAA, but verify that they will cover the entire cost of towing you long distances. Many services will cover only a few hundred dollars, which is not sufficient.
You should carry enough emergency supplies to last yourself one or two nights. Most of the highway has NO mobile telephone service. The nearest tow truck can be 1000 km (650 mi) away. It is even more important to carry emergency supplies in winter to avoid hypothermia and death. At the very least, bring food, water, blankets, a first-aid kit, and spare tires. Wintertime temperatures can dive as low as -40 C / -40 F. Bug repellent may be very nice to have in the summer.
For winter driving, you need winter or all-weather tires and low-weight oil (5W30 or as recommended by your manufacturer).
Be sure to verify that you have the appropriate entry documents for Canada or the United States, depending on your direction. Note that Canadian immigration can request that you show proof of enough funds to cover your trip and an emergency. A bank/ATM receipt, a few credit cards, traveler's checks, or cash will suffice. They will refuse entry to Canada if you do not demonstrate enough funding for your trip.
Gas (petrol) stations in this part of Canada are frequently not 24 h, especially in winter, and most of them do not have a pay-at-the-pump mechanism. Many stations have very long distances between them. You should keep your tank as full as you can and be prepared to wait for a station to open if you arrive in the middle of the night.
The highway may be in various states of repair. Be prepared to wait long periods as road crews continue to maintain the road. Winter frost is extremely hard on the roads. Do not be surprised to see deep fisures across the highway.
The Alaska Highway, nicknamed the Alcan Highway, is still an adventure road, but the degree of difficulty has eased sharply in recent years as more and more sections have been straightened and paved.
Today, almost all of the two-lane highway is surfaced with asphalt. But it’s no freeway. There still are stretches where the highway is narrow and curvy, where it lacks center lines and ample shoulders. Also, watch out for sudden loose-gravel breaks where the pavement has failed or is under repair. Sometimes the gravel gaps are marked with little, red flags; sometimes they aren’t. And that asphalt paving can ripple like a roller coaster track in places where “frost heaves” are caused by seasonal freezing and thawing of the ground.
Maintainence crews do their best to patch the annual outbreak of frost heaves, but it’s a never-ending, high-cost job. Long dry spells can make the gravel portions of the road dusty, and if it's extremely dry, you may have washboard and roughness problems. Drive with your headlights on at all times as it is easier for oncoming vehicles to see you.
For those travelers with vehicles in good condition and who drive sensibly, the Alaska Highway is a pleasure, not an ordeal.
For sure, the modern Alaska Highway is a far cry from the pioneer road that was cut through the bush during World War II by Army Corps of Engineers units. That was a muddy, twisting, single-lane trail fit only for trucks and bulldozers. Today's highway is mostly smooth going all the way. In Canada, it's paved or packed gravel with a tar base, which makes for a smooth ride. The Alaska Highway is entirely paved in Alaska.
An upgrading process has been under way ever since the road was created, and considering the region’s weather and difficult terrain, today’s Alaska Highway is a wonder of the north.
Horror stories about mud, dust and vertical grades, oft-exaggerated tales told by long-time-back motorists, still worry hesitant travelers.
Peak season for highway travelers is June through August, just as it is with the cruise ships that roam Alaska’s waters. May, although a bit iffy on the weather, is a good time to see wildflowers along the route. Consider early September, when traffic is lighter, mosquitoes are gone and leaves have turned gold.
Be sure your vehicle -- especially tires -- are in top condition. Check tire pressure frequently.
Install plastic headlight covers or a screen to protect headlights from flying gravel. Consider a wire mesh screen across the front to help prevent damage to radiators and paint.
For those who tow trailers, experts recommend a piece of plywood over the front of the trailer to shield against rocks.
If planning to drive on tributary highways — especially those surfaced with gravel — you might want to carry a second spare tire. Don’t depend on those little donut spares to get you through long drives between garages.
Don’t overload your pickup or trailer -- hard going on frost heaves which can break axles and springs.
And don’t drive too late and fall asleep at the wheel. The northland’s generous hours of summer daylight can be deceptive.
