The 3 Routes for Driving to Alaska in Your Car

So you’re thinking of making the drive up to Alaska? Well, look no further. We drove up to Alaska in our van in 2025 on both the Alaska Highway and the Stewart-Cassiar Highway and have compiled everything you need to know to make this road trip as smooth as can be. This guide details the 3 different routes you can take, what to bring, how much you can expect to spend, and more!

🚗 3 Different Ways to Drive to Alaska

There are three main options for getting to Alaska by car: the Alaska Highway, the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, and the ferry from Bellingham, Washington. Below, we’ve broken down what you need to know about each. Click on an option to jump down to a section with more information.

1. The Alaska Highway: The Alaska Highway is the most popular land route to Alaska. This road stretches about 1,390 miles (2,236 km) from Dawson Creek in Canada’s British Columbia to Delta Junction in Alaska. The ALCAN takes you through some of Canada’s most iconic wilderness, with plenty of wildlife-spotting options and roadside attractions. In total, this drive takes about 7 to 10 days each way, depending on how many stops you take.
   
2. The Stewart-Cassiar Highway: An alternative to the Alaska Highway, the 450-mile (725-km) Stewart-Cassiar Highway (Highway 37) starts from the small town of Kitwanga. It’s quieter and more rugged, with fewer services but incredible natural beauty and wildlife viewing opportunities. Stewart-Cassiar eventually meets up with the Alaska Highway at Watson Lake, Yukon, where you can then continue driving to Alaska on the Alaska Highway.
   
3. Alaska Marine Highway Ferry: If you’re looking for the quickest way to get to Alaska with your car, the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry from Bellingham is your best option. Though the most expensive, it can take you and your vehicle directly to loads of different coastal points on the southern coast of Alaska.

1️⃣ Driving to Alaska via the Alaska Highway

The 1,390-mile (2,236-km) Alaska Highway was originally built during World War II to connect Alaska with the lower 48 states. Today, it’s a bucket-list adventure for road trippers heading to, or coming from, Alaska. We drove the ALCAN ourselves on our return trip from Alaska and loved every second of it! Below, we’ve pulled together the main things you need to know about this route from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction.

If you’re driving up from the US, you’ll first need to cross into Canada and drive up to Dawson Creek. The most common entry points into Canada are the Peace Arch crossing near Seattle or the Sweetgrass crossing from Montana. From there, you’ll head north through British Columbia, making your way towards Dawson Creek, KM 0 of the Alaska Highway. Some routes may take you up Route 97 through Prince George, BC, whereas others may take you through the Icefields Parkway and many of the incredible Canadian National Parks in Alberta. No matter where you enter, Dawson Creek is about a 2 to 3-day drive away from the US-Canadian border.

Once you leave Dawson Creek, most travelers take 7 to 10 days to drive the Alaska Highway, which gives plenty of time for sightseeing and rest. While it’s possible to rush through, you’ll miss gems like natural hot springs, charming small towns, and national parks that deserve a few hours, or even days, to properly enjoy.

Along the way, you’ll pass through some of Canada’s most stunning wilderness. Wildlife sightings are common right beside the road as well, from bears and moose to beavers and eagles. We made sure to keep our camera ready, even when driving!

There are side trips along the Alaska Highway, including one off Yukon 2 or Yukon 8 to Carcross, which features the Carcross Desert, the town of Carcross, and leads travelers to Skagway, Alaska. This small Alaskan town features the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and is located right on the water, for some incredible views.

Another fun side trip is located at Haines Junction, where travelers can travel south to the small Alaskan town of Haines. Although these two small towns are located about an hour and a half away by ferry, they’re located about 7 hours by car. These two towns share a ferry that also travels to Juneau for additional Alaska exploration and amazing tours.

A huge part of the Alaska Highway’s charm comes from the unique campgrounds you stay at each night. This highway offers a mix of established campgrounds, free boondocking spots, and lodges to break up your journey. While many stops serve as simple overnight rest areas, some are so special you might want to linger for several days—like Liard River Hot Springs and Kluane National Park.

2️⃣ Driving to Alaska via the Stewart-Cassiar Highway

The Stewart-Cassiar Highway (Highway 37) is an alternative to the Alaska Highway, stretching about 450 miles (725 km) through northern British Columbia. Known for receiving fewer travelers, this shorter route offers an off-the-beaten-path experience if what you’re seeking is a quieter journey up to Alaska.

We ended up taking this gorgeous highway on the way up, as there were wildfires on the Alaska Highway, which had been our initial plan. Once on the highway, we also took a quick day-trip off the official Stewart-Cassiar to reach the small town of Stewart and even ventured into Alaska for a day to try to see bears at the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site.

The Stewart-Cassiar Highway starts in Kitwanga, British Columbia, if you’re coming from the south and heading towards Alaska. If you’re traveling back down from Alaska, you can pick up the highway at Watson Lake, right off the ALCAN (Alaska Highway). This makes it super convenient to hit both routes in your road trip if you’re planning on heading in and then out of Alaska again.

Less than half the length of the Alaska Highway, 450 miles (725 km), most travelers only need around 3 to 4 days to complete this highway, depending on stops. That being said, keep in mind that this highway doesn’t take you all the way into Alaska, as it ends at Watson Lake in the Yukon. From there, you have roughly 10 more hours of driving on the ALCAN until you reach Alaska.

Camping options along the Stewart-Cassiar Highway range from basic roadside pullouts to established frontcountry campgrounds, similar to the Alaska Highway. Basically, you can travel this highway as low-cost or as comfortably as you’d like. If you’d like to follow our itinerary, which maps out where we stayed each night, hop over to our Stewart-Cassiar Highway Road Trip Guide!

3️⃣ Driving to Alaska via the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry

If you’re looking to skip a week’s drive through Canada, the ferry from Bellingham, Washington, is your best bet. This ferry is operated by the Alaska Marine Highway System and runs between Bellingham and tons of destinations in Southeast Alaska, including Ketchikan, Haines, Skagway, Juneau, and Sitka. Not only does the ferry serve as a method of transportation, but you also get to enjoy gorgeous views of the coast all the way up.

To give you an idea of trip length, the trip from Bellingham to Ketchikan, one of the first main Alaska stops, takes about 38 hours. From Ketchikan, you can connect to other ferries to travel further into Alaska. For a full list of the Alaska Marine Highway ferry routes and running times, refer to this webpage.

Prices vary depending on the season, your destination in Alaska, and the type of vehicle you bring. For example, two adults going from Bellingham to Ketchikan without a car in June costs around $700. Add a normal-sized car onto that, and you’re looking at spending around $1,525. There is also the option to add on a private cabin on the ship, if you’re interested in sleeping in a bed. If you want to save some money, you have the option to pitch a tent on the camping deck!

Tickets can be purchased online from this link or at the Bellingham ferry office. That being said, we recommend booking well in advance, especially during the summer months when demand is high.

🕛 How Long Does it Take to Drive to Alaska?

Driving to Alaska from if you’re starting from near Vancouver typically takes about 10 days. It’s a 3 to 4-day drive from Vancouver to either Dawson Creek (the start of the Alaska Highway) or Kitwanga (the start of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway). From there, the distances to the Alaska border are similar—about 1,620 km (1,007 miles) from Kitwanga and 1,890 km (1,174 miles) from Dawson Creek.

If you want the fastest way to Alaska while bringing your vehicle, the ferry from Bellingham, Washington, is your best option. The ferry trip takes around 38 hours to reach Southeast Alaska, with additional travel time if you’re heading further inland.

💵 How Much Does it Cost to Drive to Alaska?

The cost of a trip to Alaska depends on your route, vehicle type, and travel style. Your main costs when driving are going to be food, fuel, and any accommodations. Below, we’ve outlined the costs to keep in mind when budgeting before setting off.

For a trip driving from the Vancouver area to Alaska with mostly free camping (about 80% of nights), cooking meals in your van, and fueling a typical van, a reasonable budget for two people might be $750 to $1,000 USD for a 10-day trip. This amount does not include renting a vehicle, staying in any fancier hotels, or eating out frequently, which would bump up this price.

☀️ When is the Best Time to Drive to Alaska?

The ideal time to drive to Alaska is generally between June and early September, when the highways are clear of snow, the weather is milder, and daylight lasts well into the evening. Depending on the year, you might have a few weeks of wiggle room, but planning your trip between June and September is going to be the most reliable.

We made the journey in early June and enjoyed cool, crisp mornings with comfortably warm afternoons. Early summer also means fewer crowds, but wildlife activity, especially bears, is just starting to pick up. Although we saw bears in Katmai National Park, which we reached in late July/early August, we were too early for them when we visited Fish Creek Wildlife Refuge along the Stewart-Cassiar Highway in early June.

🗺️ Best Places in Alaska to Visit

Okay, so you’ve made the drive up to Alaska, now what? To plan the rest of your time in Alaska, hop over to our Alaska Travel page, where we have organized all our travel guides to the best national parks, cities, and small towns that Alaska has to offer! We covered most of these in our van, so you don’t have to worry about hopping on a plane and leaving your car behind. Some of the highlights include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Denali National Park
• Anchorage to Denali Road Trip
• Kenai Peninsula Roadtrip
• Homer, Alaska
• Kachemak Bay State Park
• Kenai Fjords National Park
• Seward, Alaska
• Katmai National Park (this National Park is not accessible by car)
• Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

❓FAQ: Driving up to Alaska

Alaska Highway vs Cassiar Highway? Which one is better?

The Alaska Highway and the Stewart-Cassiar Highway both offer stunning routes to Alaska, but with slightly different vibes. The Alaska Highway is longer, more traveled, and generally better serviced with more frequent gas stations and a larger variety of campgrounds and even hot springs. This makes it perfect if what you’re looking for is a classic, convenient road trip with lots of variety.

The Stewart-Cassiar is slightly shorter (including the portion of the ALCAN at the end to fully reach Alaska), more remote, and rougher. This makes it ideal for those seeking solitude and a bit more of a rugged wilderness feel, and are okay with a bit less choice when it comes to where to stay.

All in all, we recommend the Alaska Highway if you’re looking for lots of road stops and convenience, and the Stewart-Cassiar for a quieter, backcountry feel. You can also do what we did and take one route up and the other back down for the best of both worlds.

Do you need to carry extra fuel when driving to Alaska?

In our experience, if you make sure that your tank doesn’t ever dip below half-full, you will be good. This goes for both the Alaska Highway and the Stewart-Cassiar. We made sure to always fill up when we reached 50% and check where our next fuel stop was every day. Following these two rules, you won’t need to worry about carrying extra fuel. We have a 22-gallon tank and typically get about 17-21 miles per gallon.

Can you drive to Alaska without going to Canada?

Yes! You can avoid driving through Canada by taking the ferry from Washington state, or flying, of course. If you want to travel with your vehicle, taking the ferry is your best bet.

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Do you need 4WD to drive to Alaska?

Four-wheel drive isn’t necessary for driving to Alaska if you’re sticking to the main highways like the Alaska Highway or the Stewart-Cassiar. These roads are mostly paved or well-maintained gravel. You can expect to encounter frost heaves, potholes, and bumpy roads, but 4×4 is not required. However, if you plan to explore side roads, backcountry trails, or more remote areas, having 4WD can be a big advantage. Always check current road conditions before venturing off the main route to make sure you don’t get stuck.

How bad is the road to Alaska? Is it all gravel or paved?

Both the Alaska and Stewart-Cassiar Highways are mostly paved and much improved from the past, but still have rough spots. The toughest section we encountered was near Destruction Bay, right near the Alaska-Canada border on the ALCAN, which you’ll have to cross no matter which highway you take. We got through without a flat, but we were definitely grateful for having a spare tire with us!

As a general rule of thumb, drive slowly around potholes and frost heaves (wavy road sections) to avoid damage. Also, expect your driving times to be about 1.5 times longer than Google estimates. This isn’t just because of road construction or conditions, but also because you’ll probably want to stop for wildlife viewing each day for a bit.

Can you take an electric vehicle to Alaska?

We saw loads of electric charging stations on the way to Alaska, both on the Alaska Highway and the Stewart-Cassiar. Although we don’t have personal experience driving an EV up to Alaska, we did see a few EVs on the road. If you have an electric vehicle, you might have to do a bit more research as far as the distances between charging stations, but you don’t have to write these road trips off!

If you’re interested in taking your electric vehicle on the Alaska Ferry, we have seen that only 2 electric vehicles are permitted on each ferry. Make sure to correctly mark what type of vehicle you have when booking to avoid issues later on.

🎒 What to Pack to Drive to Alaska

Below, we’ve listed all the things you might not initially think of when packing for a trip to Alaska. Most of these are vehicle-focused, although we’ve thrown in a few miscellaneous items you might not initially think of. This list does not include any general clothing, camping, or hiking gear.

Car Items

1. Window covers: Window covers are a must-have for privacy if you plan on sleeping in your van during an Alaskan road trip. We use this 8-piece window cover set for our sprinter van.
2. Leveling blocks: Leveling blocks really come in handy if you’re also traveling in Alaska in a van, as they provide a comfortable base on uneven ground. Without them, you might find yourself sleeping on a slant, food sliding off your stoves, or improper drainage in your sinks and showers.
3. Tire Deflator & Compressor: An off-road tire deflator and tire compressor made our van ride much smoother on any gravel roads we travelled through in Alaska or Canada.
4. Tire Repair Kit: A tire repair kit is essential, just in case you hit any bumps on a gravel offshoot of the Stewart-Cassiar. This kit allows you to repair your tire as an interim step before fully replacing it.
5. Spare tire: Along with your repair kit, bring along a spare tire (and know how to change it).
6. Any extra car items: Depending on your specific vehicle, make sure to make a list of any extra special items you might need. One other thing we brought with us to Alaska was an extra alternator belt for our secondary alternator.

Bug-Repellant Items

1. Bug screens: Another layer of protection on van windows is bug screens. The mosquitoes in Alaska and Canada are known to be intense during the summer, so these really helped us stay comfortable.
2. Engine bug net: Your car might even need some bug protection! A bug net that covers the engine grill will help prevent bugs from getting in. We also wish we had bought a grill protection net to cover our front air intake since our van was relatively new.
3. Bug repellent: For your time outside of the van, we recommend bringing along some heavy-duty bug spray, as well as possibly investing in a Thermacell bug shield when sitting outside of your van.

Miscellaneous Items

1. Sleeping masks: Alaska is known to be very bright during the summer months, so a sleeping mask will come in handy when it’s still light out at 10 pm. Elliot has used this one for years and loves it!
2. Rainjacket: A waterproof layer is essential, as Alaskan weather is known to change several times throughout a day. This is Elliot’s favorite rain jacket and Jen’s favorite rain jacket.
3. Bear Spray: You can purchase bear spray and bring it across the border or rent it in major cities like Anchorage. Canada and Alaska are the center of bear country, so it’s a necessary safety precaution.
4. Water Filter: A water filter came in handy for us when we wanted to filter any lake water while camping in Alaska.
5. Starlink: Starlink comes in super handy if you need a reliable internet connection from your RV or van. For more information about how to pick the best Starlink model, check out our related article, The Best Starlink for Van Life! We also invested in an Airalo eSIM during our time in Canada for cell service.

Read Next:

Alaska Highway Roadtrip: Where to Camp, What to See, & More!

📰 Related Articles

• Alaska Highway Roadtrip: Where to Camp, What to See, & More!
• Stewart-Cassiar Highway: The Perfect Canadian Road Trip
• Where to Camp on the Alaska Highway: Road Trip Guide

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