Drive to Alaska

The Alaska Highway Route Overview

A plain overview of the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek through BC and the Yukon to Delta Junction, Tok, Anchorage and Fairbanks.

1,387 miDawson Creek to Delta Junction (2,232 km)
613 miin British Columbia
577 miin the Yukon
200 miAlaska border to Delta Junction

Getting to Mile 0

The highway starts at Dawson Creek, BC. From the West Coast most people come up through Prince George. From Montana and the Midwest most go through Calgary or Edmonton and Grande Prairie.

British Columbia

Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, the Northern Rockies, Muncho Lake and Liard River Hot Springs. This is prime wildlife country, so drive slow and watch for bison and bears on the road.

Yukon

Watson Lake (Sign Post Forest), Teslin, Whitehorse, Haines Junction and Kluane Lake, then Beaver Creek near the border.

Alaska

After the border at Port Alcan, Tok is the main junction. Go west on the Tok Cutoff and Glenn Highway to Anchorage (328 miles from Tok), or stay on the Alaska Highway to Delta Junction and take the Richardson Highway 98 miles to Fairbanks.

The 40 mile mismatch: the road was shortened over the years, but Alaska kept the old historical mileposts. So mileposts jump when you cross the border. Bell's explains it well.
Mitchell's tip We loved Banff and Jasper National Parks. They are worth the detour if you are coming up through Alberta. I went cliff jumping in Jasper, and it was epic.

Road conditions

Expect construction, frost heaves, bumps and gravel. Check the road reports before you leave each morning.

Mitchell's tip On our trip the road was awful. Lots of construction, frost heaves, bumps and gravel. The truck and trailer got filthy. I always tried to have a vehicle ahead of me to watch the road. If they dipped or jumped, I knew to slow down for a bump. I never wanted to be the leader.
The MILEPOST: mile-by-mile road log (affiliate link placeholder)
Sources