I'm moving up to Ketchikan for work at the end of April, gonna be there 6 months. I don't really need a vehicle, so I could fly or take the WA-AK ferry. But driving sounds like more fun.

How far is it?

1000 miles

But then you have to go through CANADA

loljk, I have nothing against Canada really. But it might be more hassle with border patrol things.

1,000 miles is easy. I'd say go for it, road trips are fun

Darkjedibob used to drive 1100+ miles to and from Rochester/Florida at every break when he was at school.

Longest drive I've done was like 200 miles. >_>

I enjoyed the drive across canada to Anchorage when I went a few years back, and really, if you have a passport it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to cross the border. Might just be a little time consuming. This goes without saying, but really, but just check what goods are not allowed across the border and don't bring any.

Do it.

That being said, 150 miles is bad enough. Probably wouldn't do it myself.

Our family did that as well usually every Spring (and now Christmas) break from Wisconsin to Orlando. We've also driven to Texas a couple times (that trip although a tad shorter is worse to look at).

Me and a buddy did Milwaukee WI to Naples FL, 1420 miles, in 19 hrs and 55 minutes. That was a rough day after

I would recommend that you leave a few days early, drive & stop & see a few things on the way. You only live once. Make the best of it.

Also make sure you check the route out before hand. There's some pretty big gaps up there; you don't want to tackle a large leg without knowing you have plenty of gas.

Make sure you have a reliable car and AAA that works in Canada also.

I think our version of your AAA is "CAA".

And don't don't don't don't hesitate to pull over and rest a bit if you get drowsy, for your safety and others'. Also wear a ****ing seatbelt

I'd say go for it,

I did a ~700 mile trip on my bike from my parents house in England to Gevena, Switzerland, something I'll remember for a long time to come.

I'd echo the above statement though, take breaks, on my trip back doing the same journey there was a 1-2 hour spell where I was stopping every 30 mins because I was just so tired. Couldn't figure out what caused it (it was mid day in the summer) but I just couldn't keep my eyes open and that's very bad news, it passed by around 5pm in the afternoon.

My brother and My dad did it. went from Nashville tn, all the way to Alaska. I don't remember how far into Alaska they went though. but I know they loved it.

Thats a really good point. Plan ahead, both for gas and where you're gonna be turning. And don't leave it up to a GPS or Google Maps, they might take you on routes a little too deep in the back country. That can be troublesome at best, and it can get pretty dangerous.

I've done the drive from here to Phoenix a few times, it's a little over 1000 miles. I love it, but then again, that's desert driving, not winter driving. If you do, in addition to the suggestions here, I'd say be sure to sleep a LOT before you leave, and have plenty of food and drinks or at least stops on the way. That'll keep you from getting tired too much. I have made the entire drive in one go a few times, but a couple times I did end up getting a little sleepy, and pulling over as soon as that happens is, like they said, smart.

Also keep in mind gas is more expensive in Canada than it is in the US. The reason for this is that gas is taxed to support the socialized medical program to euthanize all grandmothers and unwanted babies.

That's something I always wanted to figure out... What is the gas like right now in the US? It's up to 92-99 cents per litre here.

my friend nikki drove down from alaska to san diego in 2 days. it shouldnt be too bad of a drive for you. the only reason id say drive is because plane tickets to alaska are usually really expensive.

It was 99 cents (CAN) last time I filled up but I think it went up today.

I've driven 1,000 miles straight in 17 hours. It's not that bad.

Yeah, but I recommend making an 18 hour drive take more like 21 hours if possible. A rest now and then helps to make sure you still paying attention after driving hour 18.

I wouldn't drive to Alaska because you have to drive through Canada.

The ass middle of nowhere Canada.

You should walk to Alaska. That would be manly.

What would you be driving?

I'll pitch in $10 if you make it.

It wouldn't really matter.

If it's carbureted theres a strong chance it won't make it. There is probably an elevation change sufficient enough to cause either a too rich or too lean running mixture. Not to mention cold + venturi * elevation change can = stall, engine failure. All sorts of not good. The cold is extremely hard on anything with a carburetor. That is why aircraft heating and cooling systems regulate the temperature of the carburetor inlet air, to provide air at an adequate temperature to facilitate in the best possible vaporization or atomization of a fuel that a naturally aspirated engine can provide. I've never seen a car with carb heat.

Fuel injection can solve a lot of these problems, and to be honest I'm not too familiar with EFI. I know that electronic fuel injection can solve a lot of these problems by measuring the amount of oxygen in the air and timing the opening and closing of the valves in the end of the injectors. However I also know that some systems "learn" to operate under certain situations and try to maximize efficiency for that situation.

If I get in my brother's trans-am and try to drive it like a maniac, it's going to hesitate and not go anywhere. Why? It's not the engine. The previous owner drove it like a wuss. It was like that all the way until he tried to install a transmission himself and ripped the rear main seal.

I'd be very concerned with the weather, the condition of the vehicle, and what exact parts of expansive nothing you have to drive through.

rob, we're more curious about how the car might or might not be awesome enough for the trip, we don't care if it actually makes it.

An awesome vehicle would be one that would make it.

I don't think the conditions will affect the carb as you suggest. I've driven over plenty of passes in blizzard-like conditions with an old beater carbureted vehicle. Plenty of people in canada and alaska have been driving there for years with cars that don't have EFI. No offense, but just because you had a problem with a carb on a car doesn't mean they can't drive through canada. At worst you'll have to know a bit so you can adjust the air-fuel mixture (literally a screw on the side).

I drove from Houston, Texas to Las Vegas over Christmas break. I'm driving from Austin, Texas to Los Angeles next week.

Road trips are fun, do it. One day I want to drive all the way to Brazil.

My wife and I and kid and 100 plus pound dog and cat drove down from Anchorage to Seattle in a '94 Ford Escort Wagon back in March '97. You really don't need much more than a good road atlas and a five gallon gas can just in case. Of course you should also carry all the tools and supplies necessary for basic repairs that tend to only happen at the worst time as well as some emergency equipment that really we should always carry anyway. The weather was pretty bad, very cold and lots of snow until I got far enough down into Canada. There really isn't much to see along the way. If you've seen small towns, gravel roads, a lots of trees before you won't miss much by going another way. Also, disregard the miles involved and plan for the trip to take three days. Even in April you may still hit quite a bit of snow in some parts.

If you don't need a car then maybe the ferry would be a cool way to go. There is somethng to be said for having your own wheels though.

What kind of work will you be doing? As a kid back in the late '80s I worked a couple summers in Bethel. Reenlisted to go to the Airborne Battalion at Ft Richardson (Anchorage) back in '93. Great experiences.

Funny you say that because driving from SF so Alaska has always been something that I want to do.

Longest continuous drive I've ever done was SF to Vegas, 550 miles. It was no problem, took about 9 hours and I stopped just for gas once or twice.

I also drove from SF to Wyoming which is 1000 miles, but stopped in Elko and stayed the night so that doesn't really count.

PS never go to Elko.

Sounds like a hell of an adventure, I'd do it if I could.

On March 12 I'm flying into Seattle, gonna bus to Portland, then drive to SF with a few buddies. I've never been to Portland or SF so I'm greatly looking forward to it

I love road trips. I love driving. I love going places I've never been to. Drive.

go to pier 39 in SF and find the "Blue and Gold Fleet" and do the "Bay Cruise Adventure" (or something like that). they take you out under the Golden gate bridge and circle around alcatraz, it's awesome, trust me.

google it I think you can buy tickets online because sometimes they are pretty busy or sold out.