Driving to the Far North is a road trip you'll never forget! The road is paved but you can still expect some rough areas and plenty of construction where ongoing projects are improving severely deteriorated sections of road. Have patience!

You will likely have the opportunity to view some very interesting wildlife on your drive to Alaska. The region you'll be driving through holds some of the most abundant and diverse wildlife populations on earth.

The Alaska Highway stretches 2,288 km/1,422 miles from Dawson Creek, B.C. ( Mile "0" of the Alaska Highway) to Delta Junction, AK (Mile 1422).

Many rough spots of the road will be marked with red flags or signs, but not all, so keep alert! Drive with your headlights on at all times. Not only will this make it easier for oncoming cars to see you, it's also the law in the Yukon.

Make sure your vehicle is in top mechanical condition. A bug and gravel screen and plastic headlight protectors are good ideas. Automotive services can be found about every 30 or 40 miles along the route (except in winter), and most tire sizes are stocked by roadside services.

Be sure to periodically check the wheel nuts on campers and motor homes (particularly those with dual rear wheels) and maintain proper tire pressure. Towing services are also available at frequent intervals, should you break down.

Late April through late September is the best time to travel the road for pleasure. April and May travelers enjoy melting icicles, spring creeks, waterfalls, budding trees and snow-covered vistas, while June and July are notorious for brilliant wildflowers, hot sunny days and extraordinary swarms of mosquitoes and other insects.

In August and September, the weather is cooler, rain is plentiful, and the forest's berry and mushroom harvests and fall colors are awe-inspiring.

In winter, the area along the Alaska Highway becomes extremely cold and many of the businesses will be closed. As a result, a winter trip should be especially well-planned and outfitted.

In British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska, government-operated campgrounds and picnic-sites are established at various points along the roadside.

There are also a number of privately maintained campgrounds to be found, and most lodges have room for campers, too.

Exchange your U.S. dollars for Canadian dollars at a bank, and vice versa. You will get the current exchange value. This will save you time and aggravation. If you use credit cards, you will also be charged the current exchange value. There are Canadian businesses along the Alaska Highway that will be happy to take your American money, but you will not be getting a fair exchange value.

Please note that proof of citizenship (a birth certificate or passport) is now REQUIRED for travel between Canada and Alaska.

Summer Travelers: Be prepared for mosquitoes! Dress sensibly when pumping gas. (It will also be in your best interest to not swat the mosquitoes while you're driving.)

Our pristine wilderness is a valuable asset and a heritage for all of earth's future people. Please be familiar with and practice Leave No Trace skills.

Driving north to Alaska can take from a few days to several weeks, depending on the route taken and time you spend exploring. You can expect to drive 55 miles per hour on highways, and average between 150 and 500 miles per day, depending on where you will stop and how much time you have to spend.

Major routes through Alberta and British Columbia are paved, with the exception of the Cassiar Highway (BC Highway 37) which has both paved and gravel sections. Keep in mind the variable nature of road conditions. Some sections of road may be in poor condition because of current construction or recent bad weather.

Roads in Alaska range from one-lane dirt and gravel roads to multilane freeways in more populated areas. The maximum speed limit on the Anchorage freeway is 65 mph.

Unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel are both commonly available in Alaska and Canada. Generally gas prices are slightly higher in Canada and Alaska than in the Lower 48. Occasionally you may find gas in Anchorage or elsewhere at the same price or lower. Generally, the more remote the gas station, the higher the price.

Cell phone coverage is unpredictable and sporadic outside the cities due to mountainous terrain. Adding to the unpredictability is your cell phone provider’s roaming agreements, which may black out certain areas.

The high season for travel in the north is from June through August, usually the warmest months. Rain is heaviest in August and September. Snow is always a possibility, especially in September as winter is drawing near.

One advantage of summer travel to the north is the long hours of daylight. There are 19 hours and 21 minutes of daylight in Anchorage during the Summer Solstice (June 21) and more than 21 hours of daylight in Fairbanks.

Because most people travel to Alaska in the summer, filling up hotels, motels, campgrounds, and ferries, you may consider an early spring (April or May) or fall (late August into October) trip. There’s usually more room at the lodges and campgrounds and on the ferries during these shoulder seasons. The weather can also be quite beautiful in the early Spring and Fall. Keep in mind that some tours and lodges operate seasonally.

Once you get here, Alaska's beautiful highways will lead you to some remote and adventurous destinations..

Most of Alaska's coastal communities have their own road systems, which do not connect by land. Coastal Alaska towns are connected by a state operated ferry system.

Ferries along the Inside Passage route transport passenger and vehicle traffic along the north coast of British Columbia and through Southeastern Alaska.

By using the Alaska Marine Highway System one way to transport yourself and your vehicle between Bellingham or Prince Rupert and Skagway or Haines, you can eliminate between 700 and 1,700 miles of highway driving (depending on your itinerary).