[wingit3611]

Where is the best place to get gas stop info on the Alcan Hwy. to Alaska?

 

[Phideaux]

@Rollin

 

[bautieri]

I believe the correct answer is: any gas station you see that happens to be open. Top off whenever you have a chance, and carry a gas can.

 

[Bigfoot]

Gas stations get farther apart and fewer the closer you get to Whitehorse.
"Toad River" was pretty dependable for gas and food in both directions.

1. Some gas stations are nothing more than an unmanned self serve pump that declares itself as GAS.
You need a credit card with a chip in it to fully utilize these stations.
You'll set up "an account" and be issued a PIN # that you can use at any other similar stations.

2. Twice my GPS said that gas was available in X amount of miles and when I arrived the station was boarded up.

3. Twice I got to a gas station and they informed me that they were out of gas, but they thought the next station north (50+ miles) might have some.

4. There's a magazine called "The Milepost" that is very helpful for this trip.
It will basically tell you what's available (scenic or services) at every mile marker on the major highways.
I bought it and carried it with me on the trip.
It's about the size of a medium phone book.
LINK
http://www.themilepost.com

5. Between Whitehorse and Alaska I paid $7+/gallon of gas.
It should be much cheaper now.

6. Road construction can be a *****.
Traffic is reduced to one direction at a time for as long as 10-15 miles.
I had to deal with 7 of these each way.
You might have to wait for as long as 40 minutes (bring DEET) for the Pilot vehicle to return that will then escort you through the construction.
Notice the road surface in photo below.
That's the "Good Stuff".

Motorcycles are supposed to go around the other vehicles and be first in line behind the pace vehicle so you don't have to eat the dust kicked up by the semi's.
You will still be filthy dirty by the end of the day.
Expect deep loose gravel.

7. The Best Western Hotel in Whitehorse was so good that I stayed there both directions.
They have a good restaurant/bar and my room had a jacuzzi tub which felt marvelous.

8. Expect very large critters on and alongside of the road.
Moose, Buffalo, Elk and Bear were fairly common.

9. If you fear traveling alone, don't go.
There will be long periods of time where you can't see another vehicle, and you can see a long, long way.
I thought that there would be plenty of traffic, but I was wrong.
Understand that if you break down, a tow can cost $1,000 depending on exactly where you broke down.

10. I loved every minute and mile of it.
8,600 miles in 13 days.
Expect paint chipping and maybe your headlight getting cracked. (Mine did)

HAVE FUN

 

[1stVictory]

I believe the correct answer is: any gas station you see that happens to be open. Top off whenever you have a chance, and carry a gas can.

My suggestion as well. Like a bathroom when you really don't need it. Just stop and use it anyway. But I guess you could always take a whiz in the bush.

 

[Bigfoot]

I believe the correct answer is: any gas station you see that happens to be open. Top off whenever you have a chance, and carry a gas can.

I distinctly remember traveling somewhere in Canada and seeing the sign saying "no gas cans allowed in the tunnel".
I believe that was somewhere in Eastern Canada, but I have a bad case of CRS.

I found that decent lodging was at least as difficult to find as gas.
Lodges are off the road and usually hidden.
Every cross road, driveway and parking lot is gravel, so don't get yourself in a bind.
I did bring a tent and sleeping bag, but never had to use it.
Came close one time but found a place to sleep just after midnight.

If you can average 50 MPH on the Alcan and Alaska highways you're doing great.

 

[Bigfoot]

I did this side trip and it was great and the roads were very good.
Lodging available at either end.
LINK
http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca

 

[wvrider1]

I distinctly remember traveling somewhere in Canada and seeing the sign saying "no gas cans allowed in the tunnel".
I believe that was somewhere in Eastern Canada, but I have a bad case of CRS.

I found that decent lodging was at least as difficult to find as gas.
Lodges are off the road and usually hidden.
Every cross road, driveway and parking lot is gravel, so don't get yourself in a bind.
I did bring a tent and sleeping bag, but never had to use it.
Came close one time but found a place to sleep just after midnight.

If you can average 50 MPH on the Alcan and Alaska highways you're doing great.

Don't think GASoline or propane are allowed through ANY tunnel anywhere. Just years of living around the Harbor Tunnel in B'more

 

[stilcrazee]

Where is the best place to get gas stop info on the Alcan Hwy. to Alaska?

If Rollin' doesn't answer you here, look him up here. Take time to read how he prepared with extra fuel before he needed a gas station.
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/back-to-the-arctic-circle-inuvik.1086309/

There are several other threads on that site from others that made the trip as well.

http://advrider.com/index.php?search/5245281/&q=Alcan+Highway&o=relevance&c[node]=99

 

[1stVictory]

Hey Bigfoot, you're painting Canada like some backwoods hell hole. If you're off the beaten track, sure you may find gas, food and lodging sparse. But you best be on an adventure bike. But getting up to the Alcan hwy will likely be on hwy 43 from Edmonton and surprise, surprise, there's civilization all the way up. Northern BC, Yukon and AK will have you making sure to stop for fuel when you can and I'd suggest phoning ahead for room reservations. But that's just me. If he's camping, then don't have food in your tent. The bears are always hungry!

 

[Bigfoot]

Hey Bigfoot, you're painting Canada like some backwoods hell hole. If you're off the beaten track, sure you may find gas, food and lodging sparse. But you best be on an adventure bike. But getting up to the Alcan hwy will likely be on hwy 43 from Edmonton and surprise, surprise, there's civilization all the way up. Northern BC, Yukon and AK will have you making sure to stop for fuel when you can and I'd suggest phoning ahead for room reservations. But that's just me. If he's camping, then don't have food in your tent. The bears are always hungry!

I love riding in Canada.
I've ridden in 8 Canadian Provinces, from Nova Scotia to the Yukon.

As far as the Alaska highway, this is what it is made of in the northern sections.
Small bits of gravel held together with a little tar, compressed with the help of 18 wheelers.
It has to be that way because of frost heaves.

When an 18 wheeler comes at you at speed, that loose gravel hurts when it bounces off of you and your bike.

If you have a garage queen for a motorcycle, you're going to spend a lot of time crying over chipped paint.

I can't tell you how much I really enjoyed those trips through Canada.

 

[Rollin]

I agree with see gas, buy gas. Having spare gasoline will let you extend your stops.

This is a gas stop on the Alaska Highway, one pump at an old lodge. Worked on the way north, on the way back the pump was broken. It can be miles to the next stop.

Hope you don't need premium.

This can also be a problem when you want to ride late and start early and the gas stations are closed.
Twice I had to start later because I had to wait for a gas station to open.

Another stop. I had to complete on-line training before I could use the pump.

And then there's northern Alaska!!!

A northern Canada fuel stop.

 

[Bigfoot]

Another stop. I had to complete on-line training before I could use the pump.

Ain't that the truth.
The first time I used one of these pumps it took me about 20 minutes to finally figure it out.
The biggest requirement was that I had to have a "chipped" credit card.
(Canada has had chipped credit cards for years)
Luckily I had one.
Otherwise you're SOL.

If I remember correctly, you go into the dark phone booth type little room, read a few pages of fine print on a tiny screen, insert your chipped credit card, establish a line of credit and then you're issued a pin number that you can use at other pumps like this one.
The owner of Toad River Lodge told me that he was going to go with this company too as it provided 24 hours service without an attendant and he was going to be paid 7 cents a gallon for just providing the site for the above ground tank.

It was an adventure.
I love reminiscing.

 

[1stVictory]

Thanks guys. What a wealth of information. Just wondering if you know whether Americans can open a bank account in Canada, apply for a credit card with the security chip and be able to use it at any Canadian pump? Even a preloaded CDN bank credit card would work. I'll have to ask my TD bank branch for the heck of it.

 

[AK_CrossRoads]

Buy a Milepost and get gas at every opportunity. Not all gas stations re-open each summer.

 

[Oldman47]

Thanks guys. What a wealth of information. Just wondering if you know whether Americans can open a bank account in Canada, apply for a credit card with the security chip and be able to use it at any Canadian pump? Even a preloaded CDN bank credit card would work. I'll have to ask my TD bank branch for the heck of it.

Call your own credit card company and ask about a replacement card with a chip. They are all slowly converting over to chipped cards. I was in Europe a couple of years back and had trouble because they are completely switched over to chips. Now I carry a chipped card issued by my bank in the US. Mine from FNBO Direct but almost all of the companies are switching over. BTW, if you want a little, very little, interest on a bank account they have that at FNBO too.