What are your thoughts about driving your own LC on the Dalton Highway in Alaska?

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I know this is 18 months old but I was wondering if any of you went on your road trip. I’m planning on it very soon. Any updated info on the road conditions and lodging would be great on the Dalton as well as the Canadian and Dawson highway. I was planning on Deadhorse as a destination but maybe north of Inuvik.

Deadhorse is just a stop. If you have time, continue up and over the Brooks Range for some stunning views from the north side, and critters along the way.

I’ve driven the Dalton several times, but not since 2001. Curious how tame it is now, since they seemed to be paving back then, though not very far north yet.
 
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Deadhorse is just a stop. If you hav me time, continue up and over the Brooks Range for some stunning views from the north side, and critters along the way.

I’ve driven the Dalton several times, but not since 2001. Curious how tame it is now, since they seemed to be paving back then, though not very far north yet.
My first time up was in 2002. Lots of gravel and washboard. Did it again in 2015. Mostly paved. Fast and smooth. Totally different experience. Stayed in Deadhorse for two days with a pilot friend and got to explore a bit. Later that year it flooded/washed out about 30 miles north of the Brooks Range. Fuel in Deadhorse jumped to $10/gallon and rumor has it that storm destroyed a lot of the good parts of the northern stretch of the road. My friend took a new gig recently so my connection to current conditions is gone.
 
The Dalton is a great road and all the advice from Mark is spot on. If i had the chance to do it again, I'd take the Dempster into Tuk instead...
 
I know this is 18 months old but I was wondering if any of you went on your road trip. I’m planning on it very soon. Any updated info on the road conditions and lodging would be great on the Dalton as well as the Canadian and Dawson highway. I was planning on Deadhorse as a destination but maybe north of Inuvik.

I am heading out from Toronto to Tuk and the Dempster Highway in 3 weeks in a stock LX with KO2s and extra fuel. Will let you know how it goes :steer:
 
Someone drove that with a google cam which is now view able on google maps.

Be a great trip!
 
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I am heading out from Toronto to Tuk and the Dempster Highway in 3 weeks in a stock LX with KO2s and extra fuel. Will let you know how it goes :steer:
I live up here in AK and we are heading to Coldfoot next week as my sister in law has a bucket list of visiting every national park and that will get her gates of the arctic. I’ll update all per the conditions end of next week when I’m back in civilization.

@Markuson post from back in Jan was spot on. I’ll say that the road has gotten exponentially better over the last 5-10 years thanks to heavy tour bus traffic. I know a group that just did the run all the way in Tesla’s last month. I also mention that I carry 2 spare tires, belts, coolant, hose repair, and 10-20 gallons of extra fuel, full survival gear, sat messanger, and provisions for at least 3 extra days when I go that way. You could make it with out the extras, but if you needed any of them you would REALLY need them. I know people that have paid $5k+ for a tow back to Fairbanks, $700 for a basic 15” TT tire, $25/gal for fuel...

And to the comments about it being paved. It is paved (but rough) to just past the Brooks range. Then goes to dirt. And we are in a historic heat wave, breaking all time highs by 10 degrees and the entire state is on fire so good luck.
 
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In regard to the Dalton Highway, am I hearing this correctly, that it is now mostly paved? How many percent paved like 80% of the route? That said, is it extraordinarily bumpy or is it jarring? I’m asking because a family member has a bad back. The LX550 absorbs a lot with its suspension but I am worried I may have a divorce in hand and a huge chiropractor bill. Thanks for injecting life into a great thread!
 
In regard to the Dalton Highway, am I hearing this correctly, that it is now mostly paved? How many percent paved like 80% of the route? That said, is it extraordinarily bumpy or is it jarring? I’m asking because a family member has a bad back. The LX550 absorbs a lot with its suspension but I am worried I may have a divorce in hand and a huge chiropractor bill. Thanks for injecting life into a great thread!
It’s paved to just past the brooks range. But again that is Alaska paved which is probably on line with some of the worst roads anywhere in the lower 48. Bumpy and big pot holes but you will only be going 35-45 mph Max on the paved and <35 mph on the gravel/dirt and sometimes 20-25 mph. The brooks range is just over half way from Fairbanks to dead horse. So ~350 miles north of Fairbanks. Where Fairbanks to dead horse is ~500 miles each way. I’ve never been much past the brooks (where i sheep hunt with kids). Keep in mind Its a 14-16 hour drive (drive time not counting stops) from Fairbanks to dead horse each way.

If she has a bad back how is she camping? Would you be camping up there? Lodging is rustic At best.
 
Thanks so much. You don’t understand how helpful your post was. Great detail! She doesn’t sleep. Major insomnia. It’s not her back that keeps her awake either. I’m flying her and our son to Fairbanks while I drive the rig from Chicago to Fairbanks. So the true test is the 8 hrs of driving a day... It seems better than I thought with reduced speed. hope it is safe to stop every couple hours and stretch? I’m thinking not really with the 18 wheelers? Maybe there are some wider areas? Do u recommend mosquito nets for the face second week of August?
 
I am heading out from Toronto to Tuk and the Dempster Highway in 3 weeks in a stock LX with KO2s and extra fuel. Will let you know how it goes :steer:
If the wife bails on the trip I will probably head to Tuk from Chicago. Time frame is same. I’ll have to pm you when I know.
 
My wife and I spent three months and 13,000 miles traveling in Alaska and Canada in our 1985 FJ60. We drove to Deadhorse and spent the night at a great hotel. The dalton is challenging and the paved sections were worse than the dirt. We also drove to Tuktoyaktuk traveling on the Dempster and then the newly opened Inuvik to Tuk highway. A better road but still somewhat punishing,

TCT magazine has published three parts of our trip . The link below with take you to links to all three parts. Hopefully you will enjoy and I welcome your comments .

 
Thanks so much. You don’t understand how helpful your post was. Great detail! She doesn’t sleep. Major insomnia. It’s not her back that keeps her awake either. I’m flying her and our son to Fairbanks while I drive the rig from Chicago to Fairbanks. So the true test is the 8 hrs of driving a day... It seems better than I thought with reduced speed. hope it is safe to stop every couple hours and stretch? I’m thinking not really with the 18 wheelers? Maybe there are some wider areas? Do u recommend mosquito nets for the face second week of August?
It’s wide open for the most part. But only pull out in areas that look stable and established, and not to close to water. There aren’t that many 18 wheelers. Sometimes only 1 every few hours. That time of year most likely will be way more tour busses and RVs at least up to the arctic circle sign. That time of year I would bring mosquito nets for sure and if you don’t need them great. Also no joke, weather there could be in the 20’s and snow or 90 and hot and everything in between. I would bring layers and plan on anything. Most likely 40’s-50’s. Also if you are camping get a nice “sleep eye mask” because it won’t get dark ever. It’s an amazing place, like very few places in the world. Just the vast nothingness is awesome.
 
Just realized I can fly them up to Prudhoe Bay and just endure one way to Fairbanks. From Fairbanks, I’ll do the Top of the world and drive home. It’s coming together thanks to everyone who contributed!
 
Just realized I can fly them up to Prudhoe Bay and just endure one way to Fairbanks. From Fairbanks, I’ll do the Top of the world and drive home. It’s coming together thanks to everyone who contributed!
Fly them on Alaska airlines, The smaller ones can be sketchy...
so are you coming In the Taylor highway past Dawson the through Fairbanks to dead horse? Then back out the same way?
seeing any other parts of AK?
Been here before?
 
I have been to AK before and done Denali NP via railroad and car. Just short on time for this trip since I gotta drive back home. I’m coming into Fairbanks via Rt 2. Upon driving’s back I can take Taylor if it’s worth it. We decided to begin our roadtrip in Fairbanks and have them fly home from Prudhoe via Alaska Air. How many days/nights do you recommend in Deadhorse? Besides the shuttle to the Ocean, anything else to do? Trying to figure how many nights to stay there.
 
I have been to AK before and done Denali NP via railroad and car. Just short on time for this trip since I gotta drive back home. I’m coming into Fairbanks via Rt 2. Upon driving’s back I can take Taylor if it’s worth it. We decided to begin our roadtrip in Fairbanks and have them fly home from Prudhoe via Alaska Air. How many days/nights do you recommend in Deadhorse? Besides the shuttle to the Ocean, anything else to do? Trying to figure how many nights to stay there.

Dead horse is about as exciting as it’s name. The real attraction in doing the Dalton is the drive itself...stopping to pick blueberries...(bears like blueberries too, so be smart)...critter viewing, landscapes...photos...camping.
 
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I have been to AK before and done Denali NP via railroad and car. Just short on time for this trip since I gotta drive back home. I’m coming into Fairbanks via Rt 2. Upon driving’s back I can take Taylor if it’s worth it. We decided to begin our roadtrip in Fairbanks and have them fly home from Prudhoe via Alaska Air. How many days/nights do you recommend in Deadhorse? Besides the shuttle to the Ocean, anything else to do? Trying to figure how many nights to stay there.
What @Markuson said. Very little in Dead Horse other than the bus ride and coldfoot camp, it’s the trip that’s amazing. If I were you from fairbanks I’d after you pick them up I’d spend a night at Chena hot springs, just outside fairbanks, really neat place, visit the ice museaum, get in the hot springs. Then next day drive to Cold Foot and spend the night then to dead horse. Then 1 or 2 nights max in Dead Horse and head back to fairbanks. If you have extra time (it would add about a day) When you head out of AK consider driving down past the Denali park entrance then across the Parks highway then to Gokana past st Elias park back up to Tok where you would hit RT 2 then the Alcan out. I would do that loop over looping over the Taylor.

Again I can’t stress enough how unforgiving and remote the trip will be. Once you get on the haul road plan on being self sufficient. If you visited Talkeetna when on the train last time, talkeetna is Chicago compared to Cold Foot and Dead Horse. You will have 1-2 hour stretches with limited or no cell coverage and none at all between Fairbanks and Dead Horse. So if you don’t have a satellite messenger consider one and I highly recommended the Garmin inReach. We have 4 of the explorer+ One for each family member, we use them all the time when we camp, fish, hike, and hunt. Also don’t forget a water filter, there is no excuse to run out of water, it is everywhere, if you don’t have a filter Life straws are cheep and awesome for emergencies.
 
We stayed the the Aurora hotel in Deadhorse Nice rooms cable TV , superfast Internet available. Free laundry. The food was very good. Everything is included in the room price. Even a sack lunch when you leave.
 
Update. We are back in Fairbanks from the trip to Cold Foot. The road is in Pretty bad shape don’t plan on going much over 30 mph ever, most areas 20-25 mph. Dirt stretches are way better than the Paved stretches. If you are in no hurry you will be ok. We did Fairbanks to Cold foot and back in one day, it took 20 hrs with 3 stops, longest stop was an hour in Coldfoot. Doing the run to Dead horse in 2-3 days will be very reasonable. Past the brooks the road could be better since it’s all dirt, but who knows?
 

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