For a few months now I've been kicking around the idea of driving to Alaska one year in late spring/early summer. Since I live in Georgia, the online map services direct me to go to North Dakota and then cut across Canada. Being from the "lower 48", do I need anything special (legally) to drive in Canada for such a long time and/or distance? From my hometown to Anchorage AK is about 4600 miles one way,and I'd say about half of that distance would be through Canada. It should take about 90 hours of driving to get from here to Anchorage.

Thanks,
Jon
1989 F-150 XL- 4x4, 302, M50D
1995 Bronco Eddie Bauer- 351W, E40D

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Dec-01 AT 09:39 PM (EST)]There are TWO schools of thought regarding this subject.
Is the object of your travel mainly to just get to Alaska in a timely efficient manner?
Do you actually want to take in different cultures ranging across our great land.
If just getting to Alaska is your main thought,I suggest saying in the states and travel via I 94 until you get to Butte Montana then start heading North on I 15 to Sweetgrass then to Calgary > Edmonton > and further north to the Alaska highway.
The Trans-Canada highway is a joke to travel on.
It is a complete 180* from your interstate highway's.

In some stretches across Saskatchewan (Farm Land) the road narrows to
ONE lane each direction ,which includes all our coast to coast truck traffic,never mind farm associated vehicles.Very Time Consuming.

Once getting to Sweetgrass<> Kingsways Border crossing.
It is almost 4-lane all the way to Edmonton (Gateway to the North)

Canada is a LOT cheaper for you in terms of the Money value. So Fuel would be Comparable.

Our Trans-Canada highway * goes through * towns & cities, compared to around them. The RCMP(Police) are always on the look-out for speeders.
You won't make any time getting through Canada iif that was the object.


If you want more IN-Depth Information about Canada and travelling ,E-Mail me privately to avoid long posts here.
Unless other people want the low down too.



Dennis


TWO Million Miles and Increasing.


First Came the Chicken,
Then Came the Egg,
Or Was It the Other Way Around?

78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

Thanks for the quick and detailed reply...

See, that's why I love this web site...I mean, where else can you get this kind of info????


Jon
1989 F-150 XL- 4x4, 302, M50D
1995 Bronco Eddie Bauer- 351W, E40D

 

To drive in Canada you should go to your insurance agent and get a Canadian Insurance card. It is of no cost but the Canadian authorities will not accept your US card as proof of insurance if you are asked to show proof. Also you may be asked for proof of US citizenship at the border. Your driver's license is not proof (remember the Afghan terroist had driver's license). AAA recomends you either have a copy of your birth certificate or your Social Security card.

 

You don't need anything important to cross the border but if you have a visa or something it might make it a lot easier. Like that guy said before I-15 goes from the Mexican border through the Sweetgrass Mt/Coutts AB border to Lethbridge ablerta then you travel west a ways for about 30-45 minutes then you turn north to go to Calgary then once you go through Calgary (Deerfoot Trail is the quickest) You go to Edmonton. (thats as much as I know) As for insurance all you probably need is travelers insurance. And just so you know the Trans Canada isn't a joke. Its just in Saskatchewan that the highway is bad.


82' Flareside with 400 horse under the hood

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-Dec-01 AT 08:50&nbsp;PM (EST)]Aww, man. You guys just reminded me of something...

About ten years ago, before my (recently deceased) Mom became house-bound, she drove across Canada from Pennsylvania by way of Montreal (we have relatives there) with a friend in an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and all the way up to Alaska. She took a lot of pictures, taking time and seeing all of the sights along the way. And while I was on a cruise she sent me a T-shirt from her trip with a polar bear and the word "ALASKA" in some kind of sparkly printed silver stuff...

I still have that shirt, and it always makes me think about an adventurous older lady traveling across the north to get stuff to put in her paintings....

I guess what I mean to say here is that IF SHE COULD DO IT-
Man, enjoy your trip! I hope you have a great time, see things you never imagined, and meet all kinds of people!

AMEN


http://www.clubfte.com/users/greywolf/i40a.jpg

 

I live in Anchorage and drove up the Alaska Highway (AlCan) in '98. Unfortunately, I will be moving back down to the lower 48 this next fall (Active Duty Air Force). Some things I would recommend for the trip are:
- A copy of the "Milepost"... A must have that can be bought for about $30 at any bookstore - lots of invaluable info for the trip.
- I brought camping gear and enough food/water for any emergency breakdowns/overnight stays (fortunately not needed).
- Spare tire(s), bearings, and hubs for any trailer. "If you burn up a bearing, the nearest parts store will be 150+ miles away; it will be closed for the weekend; and on Monday they will have to order the part." (Murphy)
- Think about changing your belts and keeping the old ones for quick roadside spares.
- Tools.
- If you have a gas hog, fill up some gas cans and have them available for some of the longer stretches. I found several stations closed/out of gas. During the summer months, most places are open.
- Exchange some US dollars to make things a little cheaper. Most stops will take US dollars, but will not give you as favorable an exchange rate as the US bank prior to crossing the border.
- Canadian law prohibits all pistols and any semi-auto actions long guns. This includes your pistol gripped Mossberg pump shotgun for bear protection. Single shot, bolt action, lever action, and pumps are the only allowed types. For every gun they will charge you $50 - expect delays & hassles. Check with Canadian Customs prior to making the trip... After 9-11, the rules may have changed.

It's a beautiful drive through remote country with 100+ mile stretches between towns. The people are friendly and the roads are mostly paved with lots to see enroute.

Edmo

 

Welcome to Canada. Bring a photo ID, It makes it a lot easier to cross the border and leave your guns a home. The wusses in govt. don't like the idea of people haveing guns and being able to protect themselves. I agree on the idea of I 15 and Calgary/Edmonton. It is 4lane almost all the way to Grand Prairie. That will take you about 500 miles north of the border on 4 lane. Maybe you should look up million on your way thru.

bountyhunter

 

Thanks everyone. I'm really psyched about going. It probably won't happen next spring (because of school) but I literally can't wait to go...I appreciate the travel tips. I'll take I-15 when I go. I never liked the idea of only going half way across the US before I entered Canada (not that I have anything against it), but I want to see as much of both countries as I can while I have the oppotunity. I'll be sure to checkout "Mileposts" the book that Edmo suggested. I think I'll just leave the firearms at home this time, hopefully I won't be in the situation to regret that decision. If I am, I can always use the grille guard right? (p.s--how much do bear weigh again?? I'm already use to hitting deer and the occasoinal cow...but never took out a bear yet) I'll check with my insurance agent about what I need for the trip. I'll also be sure to take a few extra full jerry cans of gas. I'm trying to build a Bronco especially for this trip. (It'll have a fresh EFI 300-6, a fresh E40D, both axles completely rebilt, new 31" Michelins, and a 45 gallon gas tank from JC Whitney--among a whole mess of other things...)

Thanks again everybody!!

Jon
1989 F-150 XL- 4x4, 302, M50D
1995 Bronco Eddie Bauer- 351W, E40D

 

Stock up on camp gear, and DON'T FEED THE BIG BLACK FURRY THINGS!

 

oldblue18, if you go to website Alcanseek.com you will find a forum
that will answer most any question you could possibly think of
concerning travel to or thru both Canada and Alaska.

 

If you do go and take I-15 and have problems getting through the border let me know, I go through the border every day.(my e-mail is mustange70(No Email Addresses In Posts!))


82' Flareside with 400 horse under the hood

 

Hey Ole Blue, I found this just for you.

I had it DEEPLY archived apparently.
Enjoy and get back to me what you think about it.

http://travel.state.gov/tips_canada.html




Dennis



It's Almost Time Everyone.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=314&.jpg


78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

:-staun


I am literally speechless....it's like Christmas has started early.
That one page answered every question that I have come up with in the last 3 months. I've learned things that I didn't know I didn't know! You are truly the man.

I can't begin thank you enough. Just send me a bill....


Jon
1989 F-150 XL- 4x4, 302, M50D
1995 Bronco Eddie Bauer- 351W, E40D

 

Gas prices in Canada now are averaging about $1.50 U.S. for a U.S. gallon (converted currency and imperial to U.S. gallon). Have fun.