Alaska Car Hire :: Country Guide Alaska

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The famous Alaska Highway links the Lower 48 states to the 49th. Once this was a rough road for the adventurous, but the modern Alaska Highway is traveled by thousands of people every year, in all sorts of vehicles. The highway is open year-round and all but a few miles are paved. Short delays may be experienced, however, for seasonal repairs and road maintenance. Traveler services are available at frequent intervals, although some businesses close during the winter months.

The adventure begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, where a monument in the center of town marks Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway. The official end of the highway lies 1,422 miles to the north in Delta Junction, Alaska. Travel to Fairbanks or Southwest to the Crossroads in Canada, which provide access to the highway networks of British Columbia and Yukon Territory. Branch highways, such as the Cassiar, Klondike 2, Robert Campbell and the Klondike Loop give travelers the freedom to take personalized side trips. In addition, some of the world's most scenic highways lie across the border in Alaska.

Driving in the Interior and Far North: Beginning 84 miles north of Fairbanks, the Dalton Highway, also known as "the haul road," is a 414-mile gravel road that parallels the northern portion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. At mile 115 you will cross the Arctic Circle - a highlight of any trip to the Far North. Amenities are limited, but the expansive vistas, roaming caribou herds and tundra wildflowers make it a spectacular journey. Be sure to consult the State of Alaska Department of Transportation at (907) 465-7623 for road conditions and public access restrictions before you start your journey north

Driving in Alaska

Drive on the left hand side. The speed limit is 40mph across the island. 20 mph in built up areas.

Must See in Alaska

• Traveling south from Fairbanks: The Richardson Highway parallels the Trans-Alaska Pipeline as it winds through mountain passes. The highway runs 368 miles south to the port city of Valdez and the beautiful Prince William Sound. An alternate route, the Parks Highway, parallels the course of the Alaska Railroad. This highway skirts Denali National Park and Preserve, as well as Denali State Park - offering incredible views of 20,320-foot Mt. McKinley.

• Driving in Southcentral: Continuing south, the Parks Highway travels through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley - an area known for its many lakes and valleys. As you travel east, the Glenn Highway winds past mountains and glaciers as it heads toward the Wrangell Mountains.

• Travel west to reach Anchorage and then the Seward Highway to reach points further south. The Seward Highway's path takes you between the Chugach Mountains and the waters of Turnagain Arm.

• At Portage Glacier, 55 miles from Anchorage, a visitor center offers interpretive exhibits, as well as a boat that takes you for an up close and personal visit with the glacier.

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• At a railway stop near Portage, you can ride the train and take the newly built road and tunnel into Whittier. From there you can hop aboard a state-owned ferry and cruise across Prince William Sound to Valdez. If you choose to travel further south from Portage, the Kenai Peninsula offers a picturesque shoreline drive to Homer or a drive through the mountainous river valleys to reach Seward and Resurrection Bay. Partway to Seward, you'll find the Sterling Highway branching to the west, traversing the Kenai Mountains and following the emerald green waters of the Kenai River as it makes its way to the coast. From here, you can enjoy the breathtaking drive to Homer.

• Driving the Inside Passage: Local residents of this region rely on the state-owned ferry system for transportation, as most of the road systems in the communities of Southeast Alaska are not connected, they serve primarily as local transportation corridors. The ferries and highway systems meet in Bellingham, WA, Prince Rupert, B.C., as well as Haines and Skagway, AK. Ferry travel through the Inside Passage is very popular, so be sure to make reservations well in advance.