What They DON’T TELL YOU about RVing to Alaska

We drove our fifth wheel to Alaska to spend our summer in the Last Frontier. In this episode, we’re breaking down our experience and sharing ALL our thoughts—good and bad—so you know what to expect if you decide to make the trip yourself!

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00:00 Burning Questions
01:14 Alaska Trip Planning
07:40 Prepping Your Vehicle for Alaska
09:55 Driving to Alaska
13:42 How Bad are the Roads?
16:22 The Alaska Circuit
19:48 Boondocking in Alaska
23:10 Campgrounds in Alaska
26:09 Alaska Excursions
29:30 Wildlife in Alaska
36:07 Spending Breakdown
48:18 Caravanning
51:18 What We’d Do Differently
53:01 Hauling the Motorcycle
54:40 What’s Next?

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Hey there! We're Joe + Kalyn!

As online entrepreneurs, we thought, "why not work from home... on the road"? So in 2019, we bought and renovated a 2005 Jayco Designer Fifth Wheel, which took us to every state in the lower 48. But the economy hit our business especially hard after the 'vid, spurring us to pivot in new directions and try different strategies, including various RV work camping jobs!

We recently funded the biggest RV trip of our lifetime—Alaska. Subscribe to our RV living channel to find out what's next! We love boondocking in remote locations, adventuring through the national parks, and uncovering hidden gems, all while sharing the reality of full-time RV Life and making you laugh along the way.

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[susanbitner]

One hour of Open Roading? Yes please.

[wildrvlife]

So glad we did this trip with you guys ❤ memories for a lifetime!

[Livin_inRVA]

Trinity for the win!!She’s not blocking you from the camera, she is getting her good side on screen.

[Thomas-eruw]

Once you experience RVing to Alaska and back, Everything else seems boring. I could do that trip every year if I could just get my wife to agree to go that often. You did a good job . Congratulations.

[anthonyshriner]

As an Alaskan, I found a lot of things in this video that I had not realized. Things I hope to do some day. While I’ve been up and down the alcan dozens of times, different routes, I’ve never pulled an Rv. Some day I’ll do it as a tourist, I’ve always wanted to. Most of my travels are as a truck driver. Thanks for all the great information

[alcoa]

Your production is so good I cannot praise you enough! The way you both react and play off each other really seems so genuine and sincere. Kudos to all of your editing skills and efforts! And then to provide us all with nearly an hour of content. Wow, we owe YOU both at least a month supply of peanut butter or bread or something. Safe travels! Excellent job!

[stevebowerman]

It's nice to see a video where your being so honest. I have lived in Alaska my entire life. I am in my mid 70's now and have seen so much over the years. I still drive a truck from Wasilla to Tok three times a week. My biggest peeve are the ones on the roads who do not think they need to go slower on these roads. Like you said Alaska is not concerned about warning people of the potholes and frost heaves. The roads here in my opinion are a disgrace. On average I stop three or four times every summer to help someone who hit a frost heave to fast and broke a spring or shackle on their RV. I rarely eat in the roadside restaurants because of the cost. I never eat in Tok even though the only restaurant there is actually the only one. I will not pay 27.00 dollars for a plate of spaghetti. But if you do come and take your time the information you have given is very, very, good. Keep up the great work.

[firdosvohra]

I’ve watched so many going to Alaska videos and this is by far the most informative one.

[livingroomtv]

You guys knocked this summary video out of the park. Well done!

[KrystylRose]

First comment! LOL! So glad you shared your Alaska trip with the rest of us. I don't see myself making it up there anytime soon, so I get to live vicariously through you two.
I absolutely adore your motorcycle setup. My hubby is considering how to bring ours when we eventually go full time.

[Thesaltymedic]

21’ class C, lifted, 4wd for the win 😊 I don’t want to pay for a lot of camping. Some to dump, fill and recharge is cool.
I’m definitely looking forward to my Alaska trip.

[JoanCrabtree-bygn]

I can't believe how fast your summer in Alaska went by. I am so happy you guys had the opportunity to do the trip you did.

[tronnielacy]

We did it your way as well this year. We also used the Milepost less to plan the trip and more as a day to day guide. We passed you twice on the route and I wish I could have met you guys in person. It was a magical trip with many adventures, beautiful views and memories of lifetime. I also agree to watch video series like yours to plan the trip. Safe travels and thank you for continuing to post interesting and informative content.

[rickfetz]

Great job with the expenses! We went to Alaska last summer and are going back next year. We drove from the Midwest to Alaska and around Alaska for three weeks then left our car at the Anchorage airport for one month then flew back and spent another 3 weeks driving home. We came back on the Alaska Ferry system from Haines to Billingham Wa. The ferry ride took 4 days and was expensive but saved lots of driving and hotels if we had driven back. I would recommend everyone take the ferry at least once. The drive from Haines Junction to Haines is just incredible and Haines is a very nice town also.

[pupcamper]

Y’all are amazing. I enjoyed every minute of that video. Trinity stole the spotlight at the end. ❤

[WilliamMassey-jc]

Thanks for being honest and keeping it real about your trip. Enjoyed this summer with you two.😁

[johnspoentgen]

That was so good! This video should be required viewing for those going to Alaska. Can't wait for what's next!

[tracimoney-honey]

I enjoyed both couples' serirs so much! I hope u tubes blesses you. I still want to rv Alaska! JO my master mechanic husband says to please stop going below 1/8th tank, it puts a huge strain on your fuel system and it will not last 😊

[Dana-.-]

YES to everything you said about traveling to Alaska!!! Our first adventure on the ALCAN was a bunch of black bears, and 1 grizzly between snag junction and destruction bay. I thought they were so common! Our 2nd trip wasn’t nearly as many bears, but mostly grizzly’s when we did see them. They just weren’t moving like the first trip.

We also don’t count food as a traveling expense, since we eat whether we are at home or on the road. I remember the sticker shock of Canadian food prices the first time, and the 2nd trip calculating the conversion to US dollars, and learning the bottom line usually isn’t that much different. I do stock up on our favorite brands that I may not be able to find farther from home. Your cost separations made perfect sense.

Your video is an excellent guide for those who are planning a trip on the ALCAN!

[m.fontane]

We spent the latter part of May and all of June in AK this year. Agree 100% there’s so much hype about “destroying you rig” on the rough roads. Drive carefully and you’re going to be just fine! We drove the Dalton HWY to Prudhoe Bay in our Winnebago EKKO and survived. LOL. Eating out was so much more expensive but we too wanted to enjoy the local foods. Fireweed ice cream in Talkeetna was one of our favorites. I think if we go back to AK again it would be flying in or a cruise. Probably not going to drive from FL to AK again…. Thanks for sharing your experience! Loved watching you two as well as Craig and Victoria’s adventures.