RV 7 tips for RVing the alaska highway. Make sure you're prepared before you drive the road north. (2023)

FAQs

How long does it take to drive an RV to Alaska? ›

Reasons to ship your RV to Alaska

For most RVers, figure about 8-10 days of driving. Driving the fabled Alcan Highway is something a lot of RVers want to do at least once.

You may opt to leave your rig at home entirely and rent an RV when you arrive in Alaska. You should be able to find just about any type of RV you like through local companies. Most rentals include dishes and linens. You can find rentals in and about Anchorage.

Alaska is one of the only places in the world where it's legal to pull over anywhere and RV boondock style. Highway pullouts, shoulders, and other areas off the road are prime spots for getting some sleep and prepping for the next day's travel.

Drive no more than 200 miles in one day. Stop every two hours for a stretch break. Arrive at the campground by 2 p.m. Stay at least two nights at the same campground. This is the 2/2/2 rule.

U.S. Coast Guard regulations prohibit access to the car deck while a vessel is underway; therefore, RVs and motorhomes may not be used for dining and sleeping while on an AMHS ferry.

We have seen monthly full time RV living budgets from fellow travelers as low as $1,600 and as high as $5,000. If you really want to go minimal, you can easily live this life for around $1,000 per month by finding a free spot to park your rig for extended periods or by becoming a camp host.

Living in an RV means living a lot smaller with a lot less stuff. You have less room for everything – clothes, toys, tools and more saving you a lot of money. Along with less space, you save on utilities and home-improvement projects if you own your home. Living in an RV can cost as much or as little as you would like.

The RVing 2/2/2 rule is a safe and effective way to plan your travel. It means drive no more than 200 miles a day, stop every 2 hours, and stay 2 nights in each place. Some RVers also put an appendix on the rule encouraging drivers to arrive at an overnight destination by 2:00 p.m.

Alaska Roadside Camping is legal in most areas; here's the scoop. For reasons of safety alone in a state as large as Alaska, pulling off the road when tired is encouraged and completely acceptable too.

What state is best for full time RVers? ›

The Three Best States for Full-time RVer Domiciles

The best states for full-time RVer domiciles generally come down to Texas, Florida or South Dakota. All three states are income tax-free, the government entities will accept mail-forwarding addresses and they are headquarters for mail-forwarding services.

It's illegal to sleep, walk around or even be inside an RV like a travel trailer, fifth wheel or any kind of pull-behind campers while it's moving. However, you can sit inside a Class A, B, and C motorhome that has seat belts, and you can legally use some of the facilities inside while driving.

In general, the top three states for RV living are Texas, Florida, and South Dakota. Besides being somewhat loose with their regulations, these three states are extremely RV friendly. Most importantly, Texas, Florida, and South Dakota are all income tax-free.

By adhering to this simple rule of thumb, you can make traveling easier for your whole family. What is this? First, limit your travel to no more than 300 miles in one day. Second, arrive no later than 3 p.m. Finally, stay at your destination for at least three days.

New South Wales

stating that it's legal to sleep or live in a car provided parking is allowed on that road. So, make sure you don't park in restricted zones. Otherwise, you may get a traffic violation ticket, a fine, or be asked to move your car.

Travel trailers are usually in the range of 12-40 feet and are not difficult to tow. Many come in lightweight models, making them easy to drive with SUVs and other family-friendly tow vehicles.

Where do you shower when traveling with an RV? ›

Whether you are already subscribed to a recreation center or not, most gyms offer daily accesses to their facilities. Between $5 to $20 per person per day, recreation centers often provide hot showers with plenty of pressure to wash your hair after a few days on the road. Some also have spas and saunas!

The good news is that you can use the RV bathroom while the vehicle is in motion. Because the electrical systems are in action while the car is on the road, you can use the bathroom and flush with the water pump as normal.

If water conservation is a priority because you're dry camping, 5 minutes or less in the shower is recommended. If you have water hookups and conserving water isn't necessary, you can technically take a shower for as long as your hot water will last. When RVing, a 10-minute shower is reasonable.

The short answer is that the average lifespan of an RV is around 20 years or 200,000 miles, whichever comes first. But the answer isn't quite that simple. That number can vary depending on the class of your motorhome, how well you take care of it, and a few other factors.

Tanks that are exposed to outside temperatures need some kind of insulation to keep them from freezing. Prolonged temperatures below freezing will eventually freeze a tank, either preventing you from dumping or preventing you from getting the fresh water you need.

Many RVers believe that Class C or Class A motorhomes are the best RVs for full time living because they are comfortable for long travel days. Drive-able RVs also give you more flexibility to chose an everyday vehicle instead of having to drive a heavy duty truck.

So what is it? The 2-2-2 Rule involves going on a date night every two weeks, spending a weekend away every two months and taking a week-long vacation away every two years. The idea behind it is that prioritizing and planning to spend time together strengthens your relationship.

How often should you start your RV? ›

Running the engine allows the oil to lubricate the dry components of the engine, and it helps keep the RV batteries topped off. I also recommend starting and running the generator on a monthly basis. Make sure you run the generator with at least a half-rated load for an hour or two.

The RV Lifestyle has no age limits. As long as you are healthy and have the desire and physical health, don't let your age slow you down!

Never sleep pulled over on the side of a road, whether you're on a busy road or not. Doing so is dangerous and puts you at risk of receiving a traffic ticket. If you're sleeping roadside, make sure to take the key out of the ignition of your car and park in a well-lit spot.

In fact, almost the entire state is open to boondocking. Most of the highways have pull-outs on them where boondocking is permitted, and Alaska 511 is your North Star to navigate these highways and potential road closures. The Last Frontier is by far the most boondocking friendly state in the union.

Alaska Transport Blog

Well, in Alaska idling is legal if you are in your car in the driver's seat or if you have an automatic starter. The maximum time that you are allowed to idle in either circumstance is twenty minutes.

Health Scares and decision fatigue

Managing health care while RVing has always been a challenge, and that's before there was a global pandemic. Some RVers have decided to give up RVing because they want or need access to more stable healthcare.

Most people who work remotely over the phone or internet will be able to file taxes in their domicile state alone, but if you do physical jobs or render services in other states, you will likely be required to file tax paperwork (and make payments) in each of those states.

RV camping is allowed in Alaska state parks and USACE (US Army Corp of Engineers) campground facilities throughout the state. USDA Forest Service areas also offer developed campgrounds suitable for RV camping. USFS campgrounds are usually primitive with only vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings.

How do I prepare for my first RV trip? ›

Inside this four-season camper you'll find a plush leather dinette, a beautiful wood-paneled ceiling, and high-end maple cabinets throughout. You'll also find a generous amount of overhead storage and counter top space inside the camper.

Alaska Roadside Camping is legal in most areas; here's the scoop. For reasons of safety alone in a state as large as Alaska, pulling off the road when tired is encouraged and completely acceptable too.

Park North

The direction you park your RV is very important. You will want to make sure that you park the RV facing North. Most RV's have the least amount of windows on the side with the entrance door, and this side also typically has an awning.

The most important thing to consider when buying an RV is the floorplan. You want a layout that's functional and comfortable for everyone. Account for sleeping space, cooking space, storage, and how you like to camp. Which floorplan fits your travel needs?

Water leaks in your RV slide can cause structural damage and can also cause damage to furnishings or stored items in the RV slide. To protect your RV and your belongings from unwanted moisture, it's best to store your RV with the slides in.

The good news is that you can use the RV bathroom while the vehicle is in motion. Because the electrical systems are in action while the car is on the road, you can use the bathroom and flush with the water pump as normal.

Many new RVers wonder whether it's really necessary to use RV toilet paper. The truth is yes. You do indeed need to use quick-dissolving RV toilet paper. If you don't have tissue that's safe for RV use, you shouldn't flush it into your RV's sewage system.

RV supply in 2022 will increase for both new and used RVs. RV manufacturers are finally catching up on production of RVs. This means RV dealers are once again seeing almost normal numbers of RVs on their lots. There are also a lot of used RVs coming onto the market.

Notably, there was a decrease in camper prices for towables and motorhomes in January and February 2022 because they're cold months that tend to put most travel to a stop. Many COVID buyers are now selling their RVs because they no longer have a need for them now that travel is back to normal.

Will RV prices go down in 2023? ›

Yes, if trends keep moving in a positive direction, prices should go back to what we would call normal. Better yet, with supply and demand from dealerships replenishing inventory it could even bring us some deals. Especially, if units don't move as quickly as they might like.