A Bucket List RV Trip: The Alaska Highway
An RV trip along the historic Alaska Highway is a true bucket list experience. Spanning 1,343 kilometres, this iconic roadway winds through the rugged wilderness of BC’s north, encompassing boreal forest, alpine peaks, hot springs, and welcoming roadside communities.
Know Before You Go
This is a wilderness route. Expect stretches of road where there is no cell reception and limited services. Make sure to gas up every chance you can get and stock plenty of supplies; be sure to check Know Before You Go and DriveBC for up to date information.
Gas, diesel and food is available in a number of communities, roadhouses and lodges along the Alaska Highway. The first half of the route from Dawson Creek to Fort Nelson features plenty of refuelling opportunities. From Mile 197 onwards, gas stations become more scarce. Fill up at Bucking Horse River Lodge, in Fort Nelson, and at Tetsa River Lodge and RV Park, Toad River Lodge and the Northern Rockies Lodge on Muncho Lake. The longest stretch without fuel service is between Muncho Lake and Contact Creek Lodge on the BC-Yukon border.
Wildlife are frequently spotted along the road—keep watch while driving.
Visitor Centres can help with current road conditions, wayfinding and other advice. Find them in Dawson Creek, Taylor, Fort St. John, and Fort Nelson.
Flying in to Prince George, BC or Whitehorse, YT? Check out these RV Rentals: Fraser Way RV, and Go North RV Rental in Whitehorse
PRINCE GEORGE
Most Northern BC adventures start at the gateway to the north, Prince George, where you’ll find everything you need to stock up for the road trip of a lifetime. It’s also agreat place to spend a couple days exploring the local sites, like the Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park or Cottonwood Island Nature Park, the nearby Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park or to explore the many biking and hiking trails, or sample some local brew at Trench Brewing or Crossroads Brewing and Distellery.. Prince George is also home to the most northern winery in BC, Northern Lights Estate Winery. As you enter the Pine Pass, detour down Highway 39 and visit Mackenzie where the road less travelled, isn’t always a road! With Morfee Lake just minutes from town, you’ll find the Morfee Lake Campground, and don’t forget to check out the World’s Largest Tree Crusher.
Dawson Creek
This is it: the real start of our storied route. No RV trip along the Alaska Highway is complete without snapping a photo at the iconic “Mile 0” post in Dawson Creek. Next, pop into the Visitor Centre for intel on rest stops, road conditions and places to refuel.
Park the RV for the night at the Mile 0 RV Park, and explore the historic Walter Wright Pioneer Village. Tour the Northern Alberta Railway Station Museum and the local art gallery, which is housed in a renovated grain elevator annex. South of Dawson Creek, don’t miss the Pouce Coupe museum.
With plenty of driving ahead, take the time to stretch your legs. Wander the well-marked interpretive paths of the Loeppky Park Demonstration Forest. Or head to the waterfowl refuge at McQueen’s Slough to walk a series of elevated boardwalks above the marshland.
Grab fresh produce for the road at the Dawson Creek Farmers’ Market, and enjoy a meal and pint of local craft beer at the newly-opened Post & Row Local Taphouse.
There are plenty of RV campgrounds in Dawson Creek where you can post up for the night.
Kiskatinaw Bridge and Taylor
From Dawson Creek, head north. At Mile 20, see the first curved wooden bridge ever built in Canada. The Kiskatinaw Bridge is one of the last remnants of original construction found on the Alaska Highway that you can still drive on.
Mile 36 brings you to Taylor where you’ll cross the mighty Peace River. Hit the links at Lone Wolf Golf Club then explore the Peace Island Park, a popular campground located on the banks of the Peace River. Serviced RV sites are available here if you’re looking to stay the night.
Stop in at the Caffeination Station before making your way to Fort St. John.
Fort St. John
Fort St. John is the largest town on the Alaska Highway. Get a dose of culture at the North Peace Cultural Centre, home to The Peace Art Gallery and The Indigenous Artist Market. The North Peace Museum covers a wide swath of the area’s history from dinosaur footprints to Indigenous peoples. Take a historical spin around downtown on the self-guided Pioneer Pathway Walking Tour.
Keep caffeinated at Cool Beans and sample local beers at Beard’s Brewing or Mighty Peace Brewery. Hungry? Whole Wheat & Honey is a local favourite for breakfast and lunch.
The 15-kilometres of paved paths in the Community Trail System is a great place for a midday stroll. North of the city, nature lovers can explore the trails and waterways of Charlie Lake and Pink Mountain provincial parks. Don’t miss the Peace River Lookout Point for sprawling views of the valley below.
Hunker down for the night at Northern Lights RV Park & Cabins or Farmington Fairways Golf Course & RV Park.
Fort Nelson
Continue your journey north to the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum, which started with an antique car collection. Today, it’s chock full of antiques, trinkets, taxidermy, and more.
North of town, Parker Ecological Preserve is a great place for a leisurely paddle. The park is day-use only, but full serviced RV sites and facilities like laundry, wi-fi and showers can be found at nearby campgrounds Triple G Hideaway and the Bluebell Inn & RV Park.
Stone Mountain Provincial Park
Don’t miss the gooey, sticky cinnamon buns at Tetsa River Lodge, a must-visit stop along the Alaska Highway.
En route to Muncho Lake, explore Stone Mountain Provincial Park. The park offers breathtaking views and hiking and biking trails suitable for all levels. Hike the beginner-friendly Summit Lake Trail, which loops through sweet-smelling pine forest. Or tackle the longer, more moderate Summit Ridge trail to see a full panoramic view of the Northern Rockies.
Keep an eye out for Stone’s sheep and mountain goats, frequently spotted balancing on cliffs and roaming the area’s valleys.
The campground at Summit Lake has 35 vehicle accessible sites and basic amenities. But even if you don’t spend the night, it’s a great spot for a midday picnic spot.
Muncho Lake Provincial Park
The real star of Muncho Lake Provincial Park is the lake’s stunning emerald green waters. Northern Rockies Lodge, situated right on its shores, offers boat rentals, guided fishing excursions, flightseeing tours, and lakefront RV sites.
Be extra vigilant for wildlife along this stretch of highway. The granite-grey coat of Stone’s sheep can easily blend into the surrounding landscape. Moose, caribou, mountain goats—and of course bison—are also frequently spotted in the area.
Before leaving the park, fuel up and stock up on supplies and don’t miss the unique limestone ripples of Folded Mountain.
Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
One stop on the Alaska Highway you can’t miss? Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park. Soak any stiff driving muscles in the warm waters of Canada’s largest natural hot spring surrounded by lush boreal forest. A wide, flat boardwalk and change rooms make accessing the pools easy.
This park offers vehicle-accessible camping on a reservable and first-come, first-served basis. Be warned: they fill up quickly in summer, so plan your visit accordingly.
Continue north to Coal River Lodge & RV Park located at the confluence of the Coal and Liard Rivers. This is your last spot for supplies and gas before you reach the BC-Yukon border. Stop in at the on-site restaurant and chow down on a hearty bison burger.
Before you make the last push north, rest up at the full-service RV park. On-site facilities include firepits, picnic tables, showers, and laundry. Farther north, stop at Allen’s Lookout for spectacular views of the Liard River.
BC-Yukon Border and Watson Lake
Historic Mile 627 marks the official BC-Yukon border. In Watson Lake, don’t miss the Sign Post Forest, a collection of more than 60,000 mileage posts indicating the direction and distance to previous visitors’ hometowns.
From here, continue north to the Yukon or Alaska or take the junction to the Stewart-Cassiar Highway (Highway 37) and complete the brag-worthy Great Northern Circle Route.