Realistic driving time to Fairbanks

[3gunyotehtr]

I am tentatively planning on driving to Alaska for caribou in 2027 or 2028. How many days should be planned from Portal, ND to Fairbanks?

 

[406flyfish]

Too many factors to consider.. Plan at last 3-4 nights at the minimum.

 

[Extrapale]

How good are you at long drives? How many drivers?

We made it in 40ish hours of drive time from Portland to Fairbanks. We stopped for about 6 hours 2x to get some sleep. One in Northern BC, and once just North of Delta jct. We could have skipped the 2nd stop, but we needed to be in FB during the day to pick some things up. 2 drivers.

 

[3gunyotehtr]

It would just be myself, but I don't mind long drives. I sleep in the vehicle, so it doesn't take much to pull over and get some sleep. Just weighing the pros and cons of flying verses driving.

 

[TaperPin]

Totally depends on how long you can safely drive. There’s nothing else to do in many places, so I found myself bored if stopping after 10 hours. On the other hand if you are camping at established campgrounds it’s nice to get there early.

The best advice I’ve heard and have passed on whenever it comes up, is the month before your big drive take a lot of long road trips to get used to a long periods of seat time. If you’re planning on driving 14 hour days and can’t pull off a single day at home driving that much it’s not realistic. The funny thing about taking long drives, you’ll wonder why you’ve avoided them so much in the past.

 

[handwerk]

I made that drive a bunch back in the day with sled dogs, always in the winter.
From N.E. Mn. I usually figured about 70 hours of driving, but you would have better roads in the fall and not dealing with 24 dogs.
Do it, it's a stunning drive!

 

[TaperPin]

Unlike driving in the lower 48, you’ll see nothing different all day until close to Alaska. If you like to enjoy the scenery it might even be worth going the more westerly route rather than cut straight up through Alberta.

If you’ve never made the drive it’s fun once. I’d much rather fly and enjoy a few extra days looking around Alaska.

 

[jacob_ski4]

Without knowing details about where you’re hunting, I’d recommend flying. I’ve done the drive a couple times and it’s still cool, but for a hunt focused trip I think it complicates the trip more so than simplifies.

You’re talking an additional 6ish days dedicated to travel you wouldn’t need if you flew, have to worry about meat care/shipping for the return trip, and getting a firearm into Canada almost guarantees a shakedown and unneeded stress.

I didn’t even want to do the conversion math on gas when I drove through Canada this summer at some of those remote stations, so I don’t think you’d save all that much money taking your vehicle vs flying. Plus, if you’re thinking of executing a Haul Rd trip the wear and tear on your vehicle can be significant depending on road conditions, which seemingly vary from week to week. U-Haul isn’t allowing their vehicles on the Haul Rd anymore (people will still do it, with increased risk), but I’d still recommend finding a Turo deal and executing any remote travel with a rented vehicle over the one you need to get back to ND.

Any caribou country north of Fairbanks is going to be stunning, and I doubt anyone leaves feeling shorted on the views if they flew. Tip from a local, don’t confuse good weather with good road conditions. Most people up here would prefer to do the ALCAN/Haul in the winter as the snow/ice covers most of the pot holes destined to ruin your day. Happy to talk more about the trip over DM. Regardless of how you get up here, leaving will be harder after seeing Gods country.