Have you ever caught yourself staring at photos of Alaska’s wild landscapes and wondering what it would be like to wake up right in the middle of them? We certainly did. Back in 2012, we decided to stop dreaming about Alaska and start planning your dream Alaska RV vacation.
That first Alaska RV vacation became the beginning of a much bigger love affair with the Last Frontier. We quickly discovered that planning your dream Alaska RV vacation isn’t just about figuring out where you’re going to sleep each night. It’s about leaving enough room in your plans to enjoy everything you find along the way.
And believe us, there’s a lot to discover.
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Table of Contents
Why We Chose an RV for Our Alaska Adventure
Traveling by RV gave us something we really valued in Alaska: freedom.
We weren’t tied to hotel check-in times or a rigid schedule. If we saw a beautiful viewpoint, we could pull over. If wildlife appeared along the road, we could stop and watch. If we found a campground we loved, we could slow down and enjoy it.
That’s the real secret to an Alaska RV vacation. Don’t plan every minute.
Alaska is enormous, and distances that look manageable on a map can take much longer than expected. You’ll want time for those unexpected stops because some of our favorite memories came from places we never planned to visit.
This guide shares what we learned from our first Alaska RV adventure, from choosing our rental and picking up the RV to packing, campground planning, and finding our way around the Last Frontier.
Renting an RV with Great Alaskan Holidays
Alaska is a big destination, and there’s no way you’re going to see everything in a week. If you’re planning an Alaska RV vacation, we’d recommend allowing at least 10 days if you can. Even then, you’ll have to make some choices about what you want to see.
Our first Alaska RV adventure was 10 days long, and we rented a 24-foot Chateau model Winnebago for the three of us. It gave us enough room without feeling like we were driving a huge motorhome through Alaska.
We spent a lot of time researching rental companies before our trip. After reading reviews and testimonials, we decided on Great Alaskan Holidays.
For us, it was the right choice. The RV gave us the comfort and flexibility we wanted while traveling thousands of miles through Alaska. The staff was helpful from the beginning, and our experience with the company was excellent.
One of the biggest advantages of traveling by RV is flexibility. You have your bed, kitchen, bathroom, and supplies with you, so you’re not starting each morning wondering where you’re going to stay that night.
Just remember that you can’t simply camp anywhere you find a pullout or wayside. Camping rules vary depending on the land and location, so always check posted signs and current regulations before staying overnight.
How Long Do You Need for an Alaska RV Trip?
This is one of the first questions you’ll need to answer when planning your dream Alaska RV vacation.
Alaska’s main travel season generally runs from May through September, with June through August being the busiest months. Summer brings long daylight hours and generally better conditions for road trips, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
Our first trip was only 10 days, and it gave us a wonderful introduction to Alaska. But if you have two or three weeks available, even better.
More time means you can slow down, spend longer in each destination, and build some flexibility into your route.
Ten days is enough for a great Alaska adventure. It isn’t enough to see everything.
That’s important to remember when planning your trip. Alaska is not a destination where you want to spend your entire vacation watching the miles tick by on the dashboard.
If you’re looking for help putting together an actual 10-day route, we’ve created a separate guide: How to Plan a 10-Day Alaska Road Trip Itinerary.
Ultimate Planning Tips for Your Alaska RV Vacation
A little preparation goes a long way when you’re traveling Alaska by RV. Here are some of the lessons we learned from our own trip.
1. Check Your RV Insurance
Before you leave, check with your insurance company to understand exactly what your policy covers. Also review the rental company’s insurance requirements.
2. Compare RV Rental Companies
Don’t automatically choose the cheapest option. Read reviews, compare what’s included, and look at the mileage allowance, insurance, equipment, and rental policies.
As we like to say, you get what you pay for.
3. Check RV Size Restrictions
Some roads, campgrounds, and parks have RV length or height restrictions. Check these before building your route.
4. Plan for Fuel Costs
Fuel can be expensive in Alaska, and you’ll be covering a lot of miles. Don’t let the fuel gauge get too low when traveling through remote areas.
5. Don’t Spend Your Entire Trip Driving
This one is important.
Check the distances between destinations before you finalize your route. Anchorage to Denali, for example, isn’t a quick little drive if you’re planning to stop along the way.
Give yourself time to enjoy the journey.
6. Budget for the Real Cost of an RV Trip
An Alaska RV vacation isn’t cheap. In addition to the rental itself, you’ll need to budget for fuel, campgrounds, dump stations, food, activities, and potentially mileage charges.
When comparing rental companies, look carefully at the total cost rather than just the advertised daily rate.
7. Document the RV Before Leaving
This is something we’d recommend to everyone.
During your RV walkthrough, take photos and video of the vehicle. Document existing scratches, dents, damage, and the condition of the equipment.
Having your own record gives you something to refer back to when you return the RV.
8. Reserve Popular Campgrounds Early
Popular campgrounds can fill quickly during the summer. If there’s a particular National Park campground you really want, don’t wait until the last minute.
For example, check current information before making reservations for Denali National Park.
9. Don’t Depend on Cell Service
Cell service and Wi-Fi can be limited once you get away from the larger communities.
Download maps before you leave and carry a paper map or navigation guide as a backup.
10. Expect Road Construction
Summer is construction season in Alaska. Road projects, gravel sections, and delays are part of the experience.
Build some extra time into your schedule rather than assuming every drive will take exactly as long as the map says.
Arriving in Anchorage: Picking Up Our RV
Our Alaska RV adventure started with a flight into Anchorage.
Most flights from the West Coast arrive late in the evening, so we planned ahead for our arrival. Great Alaskan Holidays offered an airport shuttle, and we were picked up shortly after calling the shuttle service.
When making your reservation, check the company’s current arrival and overnight options. If your flight arrives late, an overnight stay can make the beginning of your trip much less stressful.
We appreciated not having to drag our luggage from one hotel or rental location to another after a long travel day.
The staff was helpful from the very beginning. We felt like they went out of their way to make sure everything was ready for us.
RV Orientation: Don’t Rush Through It
We scheduled our RV orientation early in the morning so we could get on the road without wasting a day.
Our orientation began with a video introduction followed by paperwork and an information session. Then we went through the RV itself.
Everything was clean and ready to go. The black and gray tanks were empty, the water tank was full, the batteries were charged, and the propane was ready.
The equipment was also in good condition.
Even if you’re excited to get on the road, pay attention during the orientation. This is the time to ask questions about anything you’re not familiar with.
Take your own photos and video, too.
You’ll appreciate having them later if you need to remember how something works or document the condition of the RV when you picked it up.
What RV Equipment Do You Need?
Rental RVs generally come with the basics, but optional equipment can make your trip more comfortable.
With our rental, we added a few extras, including:
- BBQ
- Camping chairs
- Inverter
- Other optional equipment suited to our trip
Check what’s included with your specific rental because packages and equipment change over time.
We also considered the fuel and mileage options carefully. Alaska involves a lot of driving, so understand exactly what your rental agreement includes before you sign.
Returning the RV
Returning the RV was just as straightforward as picking it up.
We arrived at our scheduled time, unloaded our belongings, and turned over the keys. A staff member inspected the vehicle and let us know everything was ready.
Then we were shuttled back to the airport.
Our deposit was released within 48 hours.
Again, policies can change, so check the current terms with your rental company before your trip.
What to Pack for Your Alaska RV Vacation
Packing for Alaska requires a little more thought than packing for an ordinary summer vacation.
The weather can change quickly, and you can experience very different conditions from one part of the state to another. Yes, it can even snow in Alaska in July.
Since we’re avid anglers, we also had to think carefully about how much additional gear we were bringing and how much weight we were putting in our luggage.
At a minimum, we’d recommend packing:
- Layers
- Rain gear
- Sturdy footwear
- Insect repellent
- Bear spray
- Binoculars
- Personal camping essentials
We have a more detailed RV vacation packing list if you want to see what we recommend taking on the road.
Planning Your Dream Alaska RV Vacation Resources: Don’t Leave Home Without The Milepost
One resource we relied heavily on when planning our dream Alaska RV vacation was The Milepost.
If you’re driving Alaska, we highly recommend having a current copy.
The Milepost is much more than a basic road map. It helps you understand what’s along the highway, including:
- Scenic viewpoints
- Mile markers
- Campgrounds
- Lodging
- Attractions
- Recreation
- Fuel
- Services
- Interesting roadside stops
There’s a lot to see between the major destinations in Alaska, and this is where a resource like The Milepost really shines.
We found it particularly useful because we didn’t want to simply drive from one destination to another. We wanted to know what was waiting along the way.
Our tip: Don’t rely solely on your phone for navigation in Alaska. Download maps ahead of time and keep a physical road guide with you.
Campgrounds, Fuel, and Staying Connected
Campgrounds
Alaska has a mixture of national park, state park, public, and private campgrounds.
We stayed mostly in state and national park campgrounds during our first trip, although private campgrounds are another option.
During the busy summer season, reserve popular sites as early as possible.
Can You Camp at Waysides in Alaska?
One of the things we loved about traveling Alaska by RV was the freedom to stop for the night. You can camp at many of Alaska’s highway waysides and pullouts, making RV travel especially convenient when you’re covering long distances.
During our trips, we’ve found that these roadside camping opportunities can be a lifesaver when you don’t want to push on to the next campground. They’re also a great way to slow down and enjoy the journey instead of spending your entire day trying to reach the next destination.
However, don’t assume every pullout is available for overnight camping. Check the signs and current regulations at each location, since restrictions can vary by highway, land manager, or specific wayside.
For us, this flexibility was one of the biggest advantages of exploring Alaska by RV. You don’t always have to have every night planned months in advance. Sometimes, the best part of the adventure is finding a beautiful place to stop and calling it home for the night.
Fuel
Don’t wait until the tank is nearly empty to start looking for fuel.
There can be long stretches between services, particularly when you’re traveling into more remote areas.
Cell Service
Cell service can disappear quickly once you leave the larger towns.
Download your maps, keep a physical map handy, and let someone know your plans when heading into remote areas.
Spring Adventure Packages and RV Rental Specials
Great Alaskan Holidays has offered special RV packages over the years, including spring relocation adventures.
These can sometimes provide an excellent value because you’re helping move new RVs to Alaska for the summer season.
However, packages, prices, mileage allowances, and dates change, so don’t rely on the specific offer described in our original 2012 article.
Instead, check the company’s current RV rental specials when you’re ready to book.
Planning Your Dream Alaska RV Vacation Route
This is where we learned one of our biggest lessons: don’t try to see everything.
Alaska is simply too big.
Instead, choose the regions and experiences that matter most to you and build your route around them.
For our first trip, we headed south from Anchorage along the Seward Highway, explored the Kenai Peninsula, continued to Seward and Homer, and then headed north toward Denali.
We’ve since explored much more of Alaska, including Valdez and Wrangell-St. Elias.
When building your own route:
- Group destinations geographically.
- Avoid unnecessary backtracking.
- Allow extra time for scenic stops.
- Don’t underestimate driving distances.
- Leave room for weather delays.
- Build in a few flexible days when possible.
- Don’t forget that the journey between destinations can be part of the adventure.
If you want to see how we turned those ideas into an actual route, check out our How to Plan a 10-Day Alaska Road Trip Itinerary.
Places We Visited on Our First Alaska RV Trip
Our first Alaska RV adventure was only 10 days, so we had to make some choices. Here’s a look at some of the places and routes that made the trip memorable.
Seward Highway
The Seward Highway was one of the first highlights of our trip.
We followed it from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm toward Seward, stopping at places like Beluga Point and other scenic waysides along the way.
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula gave us plenty to explore, from Seward to Homer.
We enjoyed the scenery, wildlife, fishing opportunities, and access to incredible places like Exit Glacier.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park was another major stop.
We recommend allowing enough time to experience the park rather than treating it as a quick drive-through destination.
Talkeetna
Talkeetna made a fun stop along the Parks Highway.
We enjoyed walking around the historic downtown, exploring the riverfront, and stopping for lunch.
Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley
We also spent time around Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, including places such as Palmer.
Valdez
Valdez is another destination we’d highly recommend adding if your route allows.
The town provides access to Prince William Sound, glaciers, waterfalls, and incredible mountain scenery.
Don’t Forget the Wildlife
Alaska is famous for its wildlife, and you don’t have to book an expensive excursion to have a chance of seeing it.
Keep your eyes open along the highways for:
- Moose
- Bears
- Caribou
- Bald eagles
- Dall sheep
- Whales
- Sea otters
Some of our best wildlife sightings happened when we weren’t looking for them.
That’s another reason we love traveling by RV. You can pull over safely, grab your camera, and spend some time watching what’s happening around you.
Just remember that wildlife is wild. Give animals plenty of space and follow current wildlife-viewing guidelines.
Final Thoughts: Planning Your Dream Alaska RV Vacation
Looking back, that first Alaska RV adventure in 2012 was about much more than checking destinations off a list.
It taught us how much we enjoy traveling Alaska by road and gave us a better understanding of what goes into planning your dream Alaska RV vacation.
We learned to slow down, leave room for the unexpected, and never underestimate how much there is to see between Point A and Point B.
Renting an RV gave us the freedom to experience Alaska on our own terms. We could stop for a view, pull over when wildlife appeared, spend the night near a beautiful stretch of highway, and wake up ready for whatever came next.
We’ve returned to Alaska since that first trip, and our experiences have only made us appreciate that first RV adventure more. Each trip taught us something new about Planning Your Dream Alaska RV Vacation, from choosing routes and campgrounds to allowing extra time for the unexpected.
If you’re planning your own Alaska RV vacation, we hope our experiences make the process a little easier.
Start with the practical planning advice in this guide, then head over to our How to Plan a 10-Day Alaska Road Trip Itinerary to see how we’d put the route together.
And don’t forget to give yourself time.
Our biggest lesson? Don’t rush Alaska. The journey really is part of the adventure.
Are you planning your own Alaska RV vacation? How long will you be going, and what are you hoping to see? Tell us about your dream Alaska trip in the comments below!
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