Hey there, adventurer! So you are thinking about traveling Alaska in an RV, and you have a whole lot of questions. We’ve got you covered!

First, let us introduce ourselves quick. We are Cora Rose and José Luis. We live full-time in our school bus-turned-epic RV, and we have been traveling throughout Alaska for two years! We also have a hankering for adventure and finding epic places to park our home-on-wheels. Needless to say, we know a thing or two about traveling Alaska in an RV.

We firmly believe traveling Alaska by RV is one of the best ways to experience the state. We also know that for a lot of folks, the idea is a little daunting. There are lots of questions. The same questions we had before we arrived! So we made this guide to help make your journey comfortable, informed, and inspired.

First Question…What’s it Like to Travel Alaska in an RV?

That is a loaded question! In short, it is incredible. Truly incredible. If we weren’t on a mission to travel Alaska to Argentina, we would just park our old bus and stay right here in Alaska.

Picture your cozy home on wheels navigating the rugged Alaskan terrain, from the iconic Seward Highway to remote backcountry spots. The flexibility of having your accommodation with you means you can decide to stay longer at a breathtaking vista or change your route on a whim. With each turn, the landscape transforms – from towering mountains to vast glaciers – and your RV becomes the perfect basecamp for soaking it all in.

Alaskan road trips in an RV unlock a level of freedom that’s hard to beat. Picture waking up to a crisp mountain morning, brewing your coffee, and hitting the road with no fixed itinerary. The options are limitless – from the coastal charm of towns like Seward to the rugged beauty of Denali National Park, your RV becomes a mobile basecamp for the ultimate adventure. The Alaskan highways, with their winding paths and dramatic vistas, showcase the state’s diverse landscapes, and having your home on wheels means you’re always ready to embrace the next breathtaking stretch of road. In Alaska, road tripping in an RV is not just a mode of transportation; it’s the very essence of a remarkable journey, where the road itself is as much a part of the adventure as the destinations you discover along the way.

If you need a little more convincing…watch this episode.

Now that we have you convinced it is a great idea to turn your Alaskan adventure into an Alaskan adventure on wheels…let’s dive in the hows, whys, and what ifs.

STEP 1: THE RV

Where can I rent an RV in Alaska?

Renting an RV here is very easy. A quick Google Search will lead you to the many companies that rent out RVs, trailers, camper vans, you name it! Outdoorsy is a great place to start. It is like Vrbo for RVs, camper vans, and even the occasional school bus! Another great company is RV Share. In short, opportunities to rent an RV in Alaska are boundless.

If I rent an RV in Alaska, should I rent it out of Anchorage or Fairbanks?

We would recommend renting out of Anchorage, especially if you have a short time window. From Anchorage you have options. If you have 3-4 days only, we recommend doing a short trip to the Turnagain Arm and the Kenai Peninsula. If you have a little longer, you can do a roadtrip to Valdez. If you have a week or more, you could even do a full loop from Anchorage to Glennallen, to Fairbanks, and back to Anchorage (make sure you stop in Talkeetna). If you rent your RV in Fairbanks, you don’t have as many options for truly epic roadtrips on a shorter schedule. But from Anchorage you do!

Can I drive my own RV to Alaska? What is the Alaska Highway (ALCAN) Like?

If you have your own RV and are wondering whether you should drive the Alaska Highway (also known as the ALCAN), we have one resounding answer for you….YES! The trip is absolutely epic and we recommend it a million times over. The road is well-maintained, beautiful, and full of adventure and history.

We did the trip in September 2022 and produced two episodes about the journey. If you have any qualms or fears about driving the road, watch this episode. It will put your mind at ease and also give you lots of ideas of places to stop along the way!

STEP 2: HOW TO FIND RV CAMPGROUNDS IN ALASKA

This is probably one of the biggest questions on your mind. Once again, we’ve got you covered! In Alaska, you have three options for parking your home-on-wheels. Paid campgrounds, unpaid campgrounds, and wild camping sites.

Before we dive in, we recommend you download two apps to your phone right now. The first is iOverlander. The second is The Dyrt.

How to Find Paid Campgrounds in Alaska

Paid campgrounds provide amenities such as water, electricity, and dump stations. The Dyrt is your go-to for finding and reserving paid campgrounds and cabins.

Word to the Wise: most paid campgrounds close from September/October to April/May. If you plan on traveling in September/October or later, and you rely on electrical hookups…good luck! It’s tough to find anyone open. If you have solar, do not expect your solar to serve you long at that time of year. It is often rainy and the days are short, so even if you have a great solar battery bank, you will struggle. Believe us! The only place we know of that stays open year-round, with electrical (no water) is Susitna Landing in Willow.

How to Find Unpaid Campgrounds in Alaska

Alaska does have a selection of free campgrounds, though not many. To find free campgrounds on The Dyrt, you need a Pro subscription. If you plan to do a hybrid of paid and unpaid camping spots, a Pro subscription to The Dyrt might be worth it. Especially if you like to keep it simple and deal with only one app.

If you are up for bouncing between two apps, then we recommend you become acquainted with our favorite app of the Art We There Yet journey….iOverlander!

We have been living in our RV for four years, and have paid for camping only a handful of times. Our secret weapon is iOverlander. The app will tell you where to find free campgrounds. They will be marked as an “Established Campground” or “Wild Camping”. Read the description to see if there is a fee.

If you are open to unpaid campgrounds, then you are probably open to the idea of wild camping. And that, dear friends, is where we shine.

What is wild camping?

A wild campsite is anywhere a vehicle is allowed (by law and by the local community) to park or camp for free, for a designated amount of time. Wild camping is almost non-existent in the East Coast of the United States. There just isn’t a lot of public land, and it’s not part of the culture. In the West of the United States (especially the Southwest)? Different story! Wild camping is our jam, and luckily there are a lot of places to wild camp in Alaska!

How do I find wild camping sites in Alaska?

Here is where iOverlander shines. Download the app, open the map view, and navigate to your location. You will find pins dotting the map. Those pins will tell you where to find wild camping sites, established campgrounds, unofficial parking (Walmarts, Cabela’s), dump stations, propane fill stations, laundromats…you get the picture! iOverlander is kind of like the nomad’s Bible. It’s free, it’s the real deal, and it’ll lead you to camping nirvana. Download it – trust us, it’s like having a treasure map for RVers.

How is iOverlander free? It is a volunteer-run nonprofit. Almost all the information on the platform is provided by users, which is actually great! Users provide reviews and photos of most camping spots, helping you decide whether it’s a good fit for you (and your rig)!

Our Top 13 Wild Camping Spots in Alaska

If wild camping is your thing, then check out our crazy detailed guide on our top 13 wild camping spots in Alaska! This guide took us oogles of time to make, so we hope you find it useful and inspirational!

STEP 4: LOGISTICS OF RV TRAVEL IN ALASKA

Navigating the logistics of RV travel in Alaska is remarkably smooth, thanks to the state’s well-established infrastructure catering to RV enthusiasts. Dump stations, water fill-up points, propane refill stations, and laundromats are strategically scattered across the state, making it convenient for travelers to access essential services while on the road. The iOverlander app will help you find all of these services.

• Dump Stations
  All paid campgrounds will have dump stations. There are also dump stations located strategically throughout the state. iOverlander will tell you exactly where all of them are! And remember, RV etiquette is non-negotiable – never dump your waste where it shouldn’t go. That’s the golden rule.
• Water
  Stay hydrated, RV buddy! Campgrounds with dump stations usually have water, too – kill two birds with one stone. If you are wild camping, use iOverlander to find water fill-up spots. Keep in mind, most paid campgrounds will allow visitors to use the dump and water fill-up for a fee.
• Propane
  In Alaska, propane fill stations are well-distributed across the populated areas, ensuring that your supply remains uninterrupted. Cities, towns, and even some remote regions feature facilities for propane refills. iOverlander will let you know where they are. Go inside and tell the cashier you need to refill your RV tank, and they will send someone out to fill you up! If your RV uses canisters, it’s even easier. Just go to any gas station and trade it out!
• Internet
  Staying connected? Cell service is pretty well available across the most trafficked parts of the highway system. We have Visible, which gives us unlimited hotspot on our phones. But for the areas where cell service is null, we turn to Starlink. Starlink is awesome, but still just getting going here in Alaska. You have to have a good patch of south-facing sky for it to work reliably. This can be an issue in mountainous areas. Between our phones, Starlink, and cafes and/or public libraries, we make it work!
• Laundry
  Once again, iOverlander has you covered on this one! If you want to go to the coolest laundromat we have ever seen (and we’ve seen a lot of them), go to the laundromat in Girdwood. It is a trip!
• Roadside Assistance
  If you are renting, your company should provide some form of roadside assistance. If you own your RV, you probably already have a roadside assistance plan. We have AAA Premiere. We have used it twice for tows, and they have come through for us!

STEP 5: GEAR UP!

What Gear Do I Need for RV Travel in Alaska?

Gear up for your epic Alaskan adventure with these must-haves:

• Traction Boards: In case you get stuck when the road gets a bit muddy.
• Leveling Blocks: Because nobody wants to sleep on a slope.
• RV Power Adapter (Dogbone): Not as cute as an actual dog, but vital for a smooth power connection.

Can I RV Travel in Alaska in the Winter?

Eh…we’ve seen people do it! But we don’t recommend it. First, if you rely on solar for your electricity – good luck! If you rely on electrical hookups for your electricity – extra good luck! Except for Susitna Landing in Willow, we don’t know of any other RV campground that is open for the winter.

How do we do it then? How have we lived two winters in Alaska now? Ah-ha, well we discovered the wonderful world of house-sitting. A lot of folks go south for the winter, and they need someone to take care of their home. Usually, house-sitters pay only for the utilities and snow removal. Snow removal is a big job, by the way. Expect a lot of hours to go to shoveling snow! It’s a great win-win. The homeowner knows their home is watched and cared for through the winter, and the RV-living nomad has a place to park their rig and stay for the beautiful Alaskan winter.

STEP 6: HAVE FUN!

Now all that’s left to do is grab the wheel, hit the road, and let Alaska blow your mind. Unleash the adventure – Alaska has been waiting for you!