dc2005b

On my recent trip I rented from a local company called GoNorth specifically because they allow travel on gravel roads and I didn't want any problems upon return.

Driving slowly along the Denali and McCarthy Highways turned out to be very memorable parts of my trip which I wouldn't have attempted if I was in a car that was prohibited on those roads, fully recommend doing what you can to experience the back-country roads on your trip!

jackal

Know that the practical effect of the majors' restrictions on gravel highways is limited to them not covering towing charges if the vehicle encounters a mechanical issue. (Well, that and any coverage you buy from them being voided, but I assume you won't be buying coverage.)

None of the companies in Alaska have (to my knowledge) GPS trackers on their cars, and even if they did, there are no punitive fees for traveling on unapproved roads. As long as you bring the car back to them in normal condition, it's mostly a don't-ask-don't-tell thing.

If you're worried about a $1,000 towing bill, buy a top-of-the-line AAA policy (one that covers 100 or more miles of towing) and that will mitigate the risk of having to cover a huge tow bill out of pocket (and help offset a large chunk of it even if you're more than 100 miles away from an approved road).

If you do rent from someone off-airport at FAI, note that Uber and Lyft recently opened operations in Alaska (after the governor signed a bill allowing them back into the state), and both are options in Fairbanks. A ride from their office on University Ave should not be costly at all.

mules

When you are in Seward, take a couple of hours at the Alaska SeaLife Center. It is a nice smaller aquarium and rehabilitation center.

There is a rehab room with windows for the public. Currently in there is an adorable baby walrus that some gold miners found stranded at about 2 weeks old, very skinny and dehydrated . It has been at the center for about a month. Because walrus are very social animals, staff have to be with it 24/7.

Local news update about it:
http://sewardcitynews.com/2017/07/lo...e-baby-walrus/

news story with video
http://www.ktva.com/care-continues-o...lf-seward-395/

Big4Flyer

The rental car companies aren't going to be tracking what roads you drive on or anything, but if you have to get towed or get in an accident and they find out about it, I assume it would just void any insurance coverage or anything you have with them and you would have to cover all the damages. I've taken rental cars on roads that were technically off-limits before, but I'd also be much more cautious and be willing and able to turn around if you get into more than the car can handle.

mules

The rental car company I used had a GPS tracker on the car. They said it was to aid in helping me should the car break down. I knew it meant to check on which roads we went on. I didn't care since I was only using the Seward highway.

jackal

Which company was it?

mules

Midnight Sun. I had a good experience with them and liked supporting a locally owned business.

Chromie25

Thanks everyone for the response. Just got some new ideas while planning this trip - doing a day trip to Barrow while flying between ANC - FAI (i.e. ANC - BRW - FAI). I figure a few hours in Barrow is enough. That would solve the driving issue and I can rent from the major car companies.


Everything is still in the planning stage though (just haven't gotten around to do it, definitely a priority for this weekend!)

RustyC

How are u managing that? I assume it's AS and am sure they have the routes, but is it a paid ticket with a forced connection, or an award? If it's paid, is the routing affecting the cost?

Chromie25

Trying to do it through Asia Miles one-way redemption. It allows a max of 2 stopovers (if I read it correctly). Made the request over the weekend and waiting for their response.
Would be great if I can pull this out, then I can take an early flight from ANC to BRW (flight will make a stop at Prudhoe Bay), and fly to FAI late afternoon.

Chromie25

Couldn't get the redemption (no availability from ANC - BRW) but I'm still thinking of a day trip to Barrow. Has anyone been there? I've read that taxis can be booked by the hour, wondering what's the availability like around 3rd week of Sept. I figure if I arrive at around 11am and take the 7pm flight to FAI (stopping over ANC) I have about 7 hours which should be enough for a tourist.

Gardyloo

You might want to look at Kotzebue as an alternative. Even if you have to pay, OTZ is usually cheaper than BRW, and for my money it's actually more interesting. Or if you had a couple of days, a triangle ANC-OTZ-OME-ANC or v.v. is a blast. Nome is really interesting.

Chromie25

Thanks Gardyloo. I remember you mention that earlier but given my current plans:

9/15 - 18: ANC, Seward
9/18 - 21: FAI (include trips to Denali, North Pole, AK and spending nights Aurora hunting)

I don't have enough time for another side trip, hence I'm trying to slot a BRW stopover on the travel day on Sept 18. I wish I have another 3 - 5 days in Alaska to take in its beauty but my backup at the office will take leave herself so I need to be back in the office by Sept 25 in HKG. I'll keep Nome on my "to do" list though - have always found that place to be fascinating after I've read an article (from my old company's intranet, of all places) about the place. Think my gf will like being in BRW just to dip her toes in the Arctic Ocean (or Beaufort Sea, to be exact) and have the feeling that she's on top (or near top) of the earth.

And noting that you're from SEA, I'll stopover for a quick 2N1D in SEA before heading back to HKG and I've already cramped it with activities

jackal

I don't know anything about booking taxis by the hour, but the majority of BRW is quite walkable, and for the couple things you might want to drive to, a single ride anywhere is only about $6 or so. If you do want to go out of town (drive to the end of the road north or whatever), though, you might want to check into the tour that our group in BRW did (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...23-2017-a.html) with Mike. Might be an efficient use of your time there--you'll see pretty much everything there is to see in about 3 hours, giving you then a few extra hours to check out the museum and grab a bite somewhere. PM me or beckoa for contact info for him.

Quokka

The Elliott Highway up to Livengood (where it connects to the Dalton) is paved. A good part of the Steese is paved. Heck, even a lot of the Dalton is paved these days (from a ways north of the Yukon to around the Wiseman area). Some of the pavement is really, really crappy though.

Rental car companies just don't want to incur the potential costs involved with remote roads and their contracts are written to dump the costs on you if something happens on one of them.

If you are willing/able to take the financial risks, there's nothing to stop you from taking a rental car on any of those roads.

I've driven the Dalton to Coldfoot and points north 18 times in the last 20 years. All the vehicles were rentals from the majors in Anchorage or Fairbanks. The vehicles have been everything from Ford Escorts or Toyota Corollas to SUVs. Only one of the rentals had any type of potential GPS tracking and that was simply because it came with OnStar and satellite radio preinstalled. I took that vehicle beyond Atigun Pass and never heard anything about it.

The worst of the Dalton always seems to be the first ~60 miles from its junction with the Elliott up to the Yukon River bridge. Sections of that part are over unpaved clay type material with no traction when it gets wet or damp. That section can be horrible and bigger risk for damage, injury or death than the rest of the "highway". I've often wondered if the reason they've been paving north of Arctic Circle, but not around the start of the Dalton, was to dissuade people from driving the road by leaving the first part sketchy.

The Dalton is one of my favorite drives in Alaska and I love the area between Coldfoot to Atigun. But would I recommend a first time visitor drive a rental car up the Dalton? Absolutely not. Especially not after the 1st of Sept when the Arctic Interagency Center in Coldfoot and some other things up there usually close for the season.

[If you're going to do much driving in Alaska, buy a copy of the Milepost, research it beforehand and take it with you.]