The Great Alaska Roadtrip of 2023
In the summer of 2023, Nellie and Nash are braving the northern frontier of Canada and Alaska. We welcome you to join us for all or just a portion of the trip.
Meet up with us at the gorgeous Jasper National Park in May 2023, or catch us along the road. We’ll take out time traveling through Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon Territories to arrive in Alaska.
From June through September, we’ll explore Alaska, visiting Haines, Anchorage, Homer, Seward, Denali National Park, and Fairbanks. In late September, we’ll make our way back down and end in Vancouver in October.
Let’s go adventuring together!
May 14 to 28
The Journey Begins In Jasper, Alberta, Canada
Covering over 14,335 square miles, Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and one of the best places in Canada to see a variety of ungulates or hoofed animals. Also, here is the Jasper Skytram is one of the longest free-cable tramways in the world.
May 28 to June 4
Dawson Creek, BC, Canada
Dawson Creek is known for being mile zero of the world-famous Alaska Highway. An engineering marvel of World War II, the Alaska Highway stretches nearly 1,400 miles to Fairbanks, traveling just over 600 miles in Canada before entering Alaska at Port Alcan.
June 4 to June 11
Travel week to Haines, Alaska
Because the distances in Alaska are so extensive, we’re taking this week to meander with a purpose to Haines, Alaska a “must see” destination.
Along the way, we’ll stop in Fort Nelson, which was the original Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway; Watson Lake, home of the famous Sign Post Forest; and Whitehorse, home to more than 75% of the Yukon population.
June 11 to June 23
Haines, Alaska
Next, we visit beautiful Haines, Alaska, for 12 days. Haines is the home to the world’s first museum dedicated to the preservation and display of historically significant hammers. Yes, hammers. The museum houses more than 7,000 notable hammers dating as far back as ancient Egyptian times.
If hammers aren’t your thing, Haines is also home to the Port Chilkoot Distillery and the American Bald Eagle Foundation Museum. The region is also situated near the gorgeous Chilkat River and Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Area.
We’ll be parking our rig at right on the shores of the Lynn Canal, North America’s longest fjord.
June 23 to 25
Kluane Lake, Yukon and Tok, Alaska
This weekend we travel from Haines to Anchorage, stopping in both Kluane Lake, Yukon, and Tok, Alaska.
Kluane Lake is officially 50 miles long but shrinking. In 2016 the Slims River, its main water source suddenly disappeared. For now, however, it’s still massive, the largest lake situated entirely in Yukon.
Tok (rhymes with “poke”) began as a construction camp on the Alcan Highway in 1942. Tok is the only town in Alaska that the highway traveler must pass through twice – upon arrival and upon departure (we’ll revisit on our way back to the lower 48).
June 25 to July 23
Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska, we made it! After traveling the many miles to get here, we’ll spend 28 days enjoying Anchorage. With a population of nearly 300,000 people, you’ll find roughly 40% of the state’s population. It has more espresso stands per person than anywhere in the US. It’s as far west as Honolulu, Hawaii, and farther north than Olso, Stockholm, Helsinki and St. Petersburg, Russia. It receives up to 22 hours of daylight during the summer months and fewer than 5 hours of daylight in the middle of winter. Clearly, this is a place worth getting to know!
July 23 to Aug. 6
Homer, Alaska
In Homer we will spend 14 nights in this eclectic city. Located on spectacular Kenai Peninsula, it’s distinguished by the Homer Spit, a long, narrow gravel bar that extends into the bay. The Homer Spit features shops, art galleries, restaurants, beaches, and the Homer Harbor. Homer is often referred to as the “cosmic hamlet by the sea” because of the eclectic vibe of the locals. It’s 10-20 degrees cooler here, in Homer, than mainland Alaska, so be sure to bring extra layers!
August 6 to 20
Seward, Alaska
Fourteen days of Fjords is in our future at Kenai! Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the most popular of Alaska’s national parks. Created in 1980 to protect some of the most miraculous wilderness in Alaska, the park encompasses over 600,000 acres outside of Seward. Over 60% of the park is covered in snow and ice, and along the edge of the park is the 936-square-mile Harding Icefield. Wildlife is abundant inside the park, both on land and in the sea. Over 190 species of birds call Kenai Fjords home.
Seward has officially been the “Mural Capital of Alaska” since 2008. It’s home to 12 large murals painted by local artists, depicting nearby natural sites, events, and historical achievements. It’s a short drive to Exit Glacier, one of the state’s most accessible roadside glaciers.
August 20 to 27
Denali National Park
In Denali, we’ll spend seven days exploring the glaciers of this breathtaking park. Glaciers cover one million acres of Denali – one-sixth of the park. The Kahiltna glacier is the longest glacier not only in the park but in the entire Alaska Range! It spans 44 miles down the southwestern side of Denali.
Denali is also home to abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears! Visitors can see 169 species of birds and over 1,500 species of plants. The wood frog is the only amphibian that naturally resides in Denali National Park. The wood frog freezes itself into a cryogenic state in wintertime, then thaws in the spring as if winter never happened.
Aug. 27 to Sept. 24
Fairbanks, Alaska
We will spend 28 days (three weeks) in one of Alaska’s oldest cities making it our home for most of September.
Fairbanks was founded on August 26, 1901, when riverboat captain E.T. Barnette established a trading post on the banks of the Chena River. By 1911, Fairbanks was Alaska Territory’s largest city. Fairbanks has seen its fair share of booms – first when gold was discovered nearby, second when the Alaska Railroad was built, and third when oil was discovered on Alaska’s North Slope in 1968.
In Fairbanks, you can visit the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, do Reindeer Yoga, or visit the Trans Alaska Pipeline Visitor Center. Fairbanks is also our best opportunity to view the Aurora Borealis.
Sept. 24 to 30
Travel Week Through Tok to Prince George
After maximizing our time in Alaska, it’s time to beat the approaching winter and head south. This week is a long travel week to travel over 1,600 miles to reach Prince George. We’ll be stopping overnight at five different locations along the way and doing plenty of yoga to keep our muscles limber for the long drives.
Of course, you are welcome to take your time heading south. Meaning that this portion of the adventure will be the start of the good-byes.
Sept. 30 - Oct. 7
Prince George, BC, Canada
Prince George is the largest city in northern British Columbia, and we’ll be spending one week here. This city sits on the lands of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, whose name means “people where the rivers come together” in the Carrier language. The city’s logo reflects this meaning.
Prince George is home to numerous outdoor activities, including biking and hiking through its extensive trail system. In addition to parks and trails, Prince George boasts art galleries and studios, museums, theaters, and a mixed professional and semi-professional orchestra.
October 7 to 8
Williams Lake, BC, Canada
We’ll be stopping overnight at Williams Lake on our way to Vancouver. Williams Lake is known as the “Hub City of the Cariboo” and is the largest city in the region. Its distinctive western-frontier personality is apparent throughout town.
October 8 to 29
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Our journey ends with 21 days in the gorgeous “City of Glass” Vancouver. Vancouver boasts more parks than any other city in the world, the largest of which – Stanley Park – takes up half of the downtown peninsula. The seawall around Stanley park is nearly 14 miles long – the longest uninterrupted walkway in the world. Stanley park is 10% larger than New York City’s Central Park.
Vancouver is known for its unique urban development plan called “Vancouverism,” referring to high-rise buildings separated by low-level structures, parks, public spaces, and a sustainable public transportation system. Local city officials have created a plan to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world. The plan includes reducing CO2 emissions, reducing waste, increasing green jobs, constructing greener buildings, reducing traffic, increasing local food growth, improving air quality, and reducing water consumption.