It is now over 2 weeks since we've been back and we've been meaning to complete this summary for our own benefit. It still isn't complete, but it is as far as it might get.
Here's a summary of the trip:
(crossed out locations are the original plans we had before leaving Aurora. The not crossed out locations are where we actually stayed).
Date | Location | Blog Link | What we did/places we saw |
Multiple | Day 0 | Planned, planned some more and packed | |
5/10/2024 | Aurora, IL to Bondurant, IA | Day 1 | Saw Rick and Lisa |
5/11/2024 | Bondurant, IA to Forest City, IA to Medina, ND | Day 2 | Picked up the RV Visited Drekker Brewing Company Saw the Worlds Largest Buffalo Stayed in Medina City Campground |
5/12/2024 | Day 3 | Explored the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) Hiked in the North Unit of TRNP Saw buffalo and prairie dogs Stayed in Juniper Campground in TRNP | |
5/13/2024 | Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Montana to Cut Bank, MT | Day 4 | Met friendly folks at various stops Passed lots of oil wells Saw a very large penguin |
5/14/2024 | Day 5 | Crossed into Canada Saw the beautiful mountains and lakes of Waterton Lakes National Park Saw big horn sheep and tons of deer Hiked the Lineham hike and the Bertha Falls hike Saw the first oil well in Western Canada Ate at the Thirsty Bear Kitchen & Bar | |
5/15/2024 | Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta to Banff National Park, Alberta | Day 6 | Warmed up at Radium Hot Springs Saw lots of logging trucks and cut trees waiting to be processed Saw black bear and big horn sheep Drove through Kootenay National Park Took the bus into Banff Visited Banff Avenue Brewing Company and Three Bears Brewing Confirmed we needed to change our travel route due to fires |
5/16/2024 | Banff, Alberta, Canada | Day 7 | Stayed in Tunnel Mountain Village II campground Hiked to the Hoodoos Overlook Saw elk and deer Drove the Lake Minnewanka loop and hiked Johnson Lake |
5/17/2024 | Banff, Alberta, Canada to Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada | Day 8 | Drove the Icefield Parkway from Banff to Jasper Hiked the Lake Agnes Hike at a snowy Lake Louise Saw the North Saskatchewan River Visited Athabasca Falls Refilled our tanks at the Jasper Brewing Company Stayed in Whistler Campground in Jasper NP |
5/18/2024 | Jasper NP, Alberta, Canada to Kitwanga, British Columbia, Canada | Day 9 | Spotted our first bears of the trip, plus moose Drove the Yellowhead highway in Canada Saw the Worlds Largest Fly Fishing Rod Stayed at the Kitwanga RV Park |
5/19/2024 | Day 10 | Drove the Cassiar Highway Hung our sign at the Watson Lake Sign Post Forest Saw about a dozen bears, including cubs Lynda mastered using the Milepost book Learned what frost heaves on the road are Entered the Yukon Province Stayed at the Nugget City RV Park | |
5/20/2024 | Watson Lake, YK, Canada to north of Destruction Bay, Yukon, Canada | Day 11 | Drove on the Alaska Highway Stopped in Whitehorse for lunch and visited the SS Klondike Tasted a couple beers at Yukon Brewing in Whitehorse Saw the Worlds Largest Wind Vane Camped at Lake Creek Campground |
5/21/2024 | North of Destruction Bay, YK to Fairbanks, Alaska | Day 12 | Bounced around on crazy sections of the Alaska Highway Entered the USA Saw moose and a baby moose Visited North Pole, AK and chatted with some New Zealanders Whetted our whistles at HooDoo Brewing Company in Fairbanks Camped at Tanana Valley Campground |
5/22/2024 | Day 13 | Took a short and creepy hike in Nenana Drove the Parks Highway from Fairbanks to Denali Succumbed to the pressure to stop at 49th State Brewing Hiked Horseshoe Lake Loop and the McKinley Station and Triple Lakes Trails Camped at Riley Creek Campground in Denali National Park | |
5/23/2024 | Denali National Park, AK | Day 14 | Saw two moose at the Denali Visitor Center Hiked the Mt. Healy Overlook hike Took the Tundra Wilderness Bus Tour into Denali NP Saw porcupine, caribou, a grizzly bear, a red fox, ptarmigan, Dall sheep and grouse Ate dinner at the Prospectors Pizzeria Lynda spied an awesome rainbow Thought we saw Denali. We didn't Camped at the Savage River Campground in Denali |
5/24/2024 | Denali National Park, AK | Day 15 | Saw Denali for the first time Hiked Rock Creek Trail and the Triple Lakes Trail Brit joined us after a flight and ride on the Alaska Railroad |
5/25/2024 | Denali National Park, AK to Girdwood (Bird Creek), AK | Day 16 | Toured the Sled Dog Kennels in Denali Saw more moose Saw Denali as we drove south towards Anchorage Stayed at Bird Creek Motel and RV Park Met up with Dad and Carol Tasted Ravens Ring Brewing Company and enjoyed the Mammoth Food Truck Hiked part of the Turnagain Arm Trail |
5/26/2024 | Bird Creek, AK to Homer, AK | Day 17 | Drove the Sterling Highway to Homer Hiked the Upper Kenai River Trail Stopped at the Kenai National Wildlife Visitor Center Hiked the Nature and Centennial Trails Enjoyed a beer at the Homer Brewing Company Saw a moose up close in Homer and an otter at Homer Spit Grabbed dinner at Home Slice on Homer Spit Camped on the Homer Spit |
5/27/2024 | Homer, AK to Seward, AK | Day 18 | Visited stores on the Homer Spit boardwalk Saw our first Bald Eagle of the trip Drove the Sterling Highway and Seward Highway to get to Seward Hiked to the Glacier Overlook at Kenai Fjords National Park Had dinner at the Seward Brewing Company Camped at the Seward Municipality Campground |
5/28/2024 | Seward, AK | Day 19 | Took a National Park Tour through the Kenai Fjords company Saw mountain goats, humpback whales, killer whales, puffins, bald eagles, sea otters and sea lions Saw the Holgate Glacier and got up close to the Aialik Glacier Ate at the Highliner Restaurant in Seward |
5/29/2024 | Seward, AK to Girdwood, AK | Day 20 | Returned the RV Hiked the Bee Tree Loop Saw another moose Went to Girdwood Brewing Stayed at our VRBO in Girdwood, AK |
5/30/2024 | Girdwood, AK | Day 21 | Went to Whittier through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel Hiked Horsetail Falls Trail in Whittier and a 5K Nordic Loop at the Alyeska Skip Resort Saw the Portage Glacier Stopped at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center Went to Magnetic North Brewing Company Dropped Brit off at the Anchorage airport for her trip home |
5/31/2024 | Girdwood, AK | Day 22 | Hiked the Byron Glacier Trail, despite seeing a black bear nearby Saw several moose in Girdwood Hiked at Potter Marsh |
6/1/2024 | Girdwood, AK to Anchorage, AK to Aurora, IL | Day 23 | Visited the Alaska Candy Store, looking for the worlds largest chocolate fall Hiked at Point Woronzof Point and Earthquake Park Learned a lot at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center Lynda and dad ate reindeer in downtown Anchorage Visited Ship Creek and Brewerks breweries Departed Anchorage and returned home |
Some totals:
Number of moose seen | 10+ moose |
Number of bear seen | 15+ bear |
Other notable animals see | Orca, Grey whales, puffins, sea lions, sea otters, caribou, mountain sheep |
Number of hikes taken | 25+ hikes |
Lynda's favorite hike | Mt. Healy Overlook, Denali |
Dave's favorite hike | Upper Kenai River Trail |
Number of miles driven in RV | 4880 miles |
Most miles in a day | 535 miles |
Least miles in a day | 0 miles |
Lynda's favorite day of driving | |
Dave's favorite day of driving | Day 10, Cassiar Highway |
Number of campgrounds used | 15 campgrounds |
Lynda's favorite campground | |
Dave's favorite campground | |
Number of breweries visited | 15 breweries |
Lynda's favorite beer | Alaskaveeza, 49th State Brewing Company |
Dave's favorite beer | All Along the Briny, Brewerks |
Favorite brewery sticker |
Here is our packing list and what we used and didn't use. We didn't spend much timing cleaning it up, but it covers the facts.
Items | Did we use (Yes; No; No, but good to have) | Notes |
work stuff | ||
watch charger | Yes | |
phone charger | Yes | |
solar charger? | No | |
laptop | Yes | Used for blogging and work |
extra monitor | Yes | Used minimally; probably not needed |
laptop and monitor cords | Yes | |
Way to connect laptop or tablet to TV - HDMI or Coax | No | Didn't watch TV |
passports and global reentry | Yes | |
Lynda's kindle and remotes | Yes | |
Dave's tablet | Yes | |
ipass | Yes | Used only in Illinois in rental car |
binder | Yes | This contained our notes, reservations, etc. Good place to store papers too |
notebook | Yes | Wrote gas purchases, notes |
pen | Yes | |
car lighter adapter plug? | Yes | Mostly we didn't need this since the RV had USB outlets |
aux cord | No | Didn't need because RV had USBC to Car Play |
bungee cords | Yes | We only needed 2-3 and took too many |
velcro ties | No | |
camper/hiking stuff | ||
Milepost book | Yes | |
Camping chairs (our old ones and leave there) | No | We didn't use because we don't like sitting by fires |
Inverter? - 12V to 120; 450W | Yes | Used a few times to charge devices (laptop) while driving |
Propane Grill ? Or sandwich griddle | Yes | We used an old camping grill and donated it in Anchorage |
speaker | Yes | We used it a few times |
whistle | No | |
Table? Folding one | No | Didn't use because we didn't sit by fires |
tripod | Yes | |
small tarp | No | We didn't take one |
paracord | No, but good to have | |
outside lantern | No, but good to have | |
flashlight/charger | Yes | Very handy to have a good flashlight |
headlights/charger | No | |
duct tape | No, but good to have | |
zip ties | No, but good to have | |
car pillow/cushion | Yes | Back pillow for driving |
cards/games | Yes | |
Sign for sign post forest | Yes | |
Hardware & tool for sign | Yes | |
head netting? | No, but good to have | We didn't use, but mosquitos were ferocious |
beach towels? | Yes | We used at Radium Hot Springs |
umbrellas | No, but good to have | Rainjackets are a good substitute |
large binoculars | Yes | |
small binoculars | Yes | |
waist pack | Yes | |
first aid kit -bandages, ace bandage, moleskin | Yes | |
bug spray | No, but good to have | |
bear spray | Yes | |
Sunscreen | Yes | We didn't actually use it because it was mostly cloudy and we had long sleeves on most of the time. |
sea sickness wrist pads | No | |
extra empty suitcase | Yes | Needed this to get stuff home |
hiking poles? | Yes | |
multi-tool | No, but good to have | A regular knife might have been better |
Screwdriver | Yes | Used this to help pry off dump cap |
bathroom/bedroom | ||
Extra sheets or blanket? | Yes | Used when Brit joined us for 2nd bed |
extra pillow | Yes | |
meds - zyrtec, aspirin,ibuprofen, benadryl, neosporin, tums? | Yes | |
Toilet Paper - 6-9 rolls | Yes | Probably needed just 3 rolls |
shower caddy? | Yes | Used when we used campground showers |
shampoo, conditioner, soap | Yes | |
contact stuff | No, but good to have | |
hand soap | Yes | |
electric toothbrush | Yes | |
hamper | Yes | Collapsable hamper. Can in very handy |
laundry soap (sheets?) | Yes | The sheets worked great. |
fabric softener sheets | Yes | |
vitamins | Yes | |
kleenex | Yes | |
extra towels | No | |
clothing | ||
warm hat | Yes | |
warm gloves | Yes | |
base layer | Yes | |
hiking boots | Yes | |
shower shoes | Yes | |
water shoes | No, but good to have | |
plastic disposable gloves | Yes | |
gloves for sewer hoses | No | We used disposable gloves for sewer work |
leather gloves | Yes | |
camp shoes/crocs | Yes | Used all the time in the RV |
sunglasses | Yes | |
swimsuit | Yes | |
rain coat | Yes | |
sun hat | Yes | |
hiking pants | Yes | |
light shirts - not cotton | Yes | Packed 6 or 7 short sleeved shirts. Didn't need that many |
long sleeve shirts not cotton | Yes | |
ponchos | No, but good to have | |
socks and sock liners | Yes | |
pjs | Yes | |
watch | Yes | |
slippers | Yes | |
tote bag? | Yes | |
kitchen stuff | ||
fire blanket | No, but good to have | RV also had fire extinguisher |
Water bottles | Yes | |
plastic table cloths plus clips | No, but good to have | The tables we used were all clean enough |
scissors | Yes | |
tape | No, but good to have | |
plastic silverware | Yes | |
paper plates | Yes | |
paper bowls | Yes | |
napkins | Yes | |
paper towels | Yes | We brought 2 rolls; probably only needed 1 |
dish soap | Yes | |
Trash Bags -kitchen size (5) | No | Garbage cans in RV were small; didn't need these |
reusuable shopping bags? | Yes | For shopping in Canada |
plastic walmart bags? | Yes | We had about 20. VERY handy |
Ziplocs | Yes | |
matches | No, but good to have | |
lighter? | Yes | Used to light grill and stove |
Coffee Pot | Yes | |
Toaster | Yes | |
tea kettle | Yes | Probably didn't need since we had the microwave; used a couple times |
Box for recyclables | Yes | We used a soda box |
old pan | No | The RV came with a pan. We didn't use a pan over fire |
toaster | Yes | |
tupperware | Yes | We took a couple contains left over from carryout |
sanitizing wipes | Yes | We had a large container; didn’t' need that many |
cook stove fuel | Yes | Brought Two 1 lb tanks. Only needed 1. |
seasoning salt | Yes | |
chicken seasoning | Yes | |
sunflower seeds and cup | Yes | |
coffee | Yes | |
tea bags | Yes | |
protein bars | Yes | Brought 20; Only needed about 8 |
3 gal h20 | Yes | We bought water at Walmart after picking up RV |
peanut butter | Yes | |
grilling utensils | Yes | Just needed a spatula |
al foil | Yes | |
plastic wrap | Yes |
Expense Summary
This lists covers most of our expenses for the trip. For most of the trip there were two people. Near the end Brittney joined us and we met Dad and Carol joined us. We stopped at a few more breweries than some people might, which resulted in higher expenses. This does not include the tickets for our boat excursion and it includes our VRBO in Girdwood after we dropped off the RV.
What | Date Paid | Amount | |
RV + Car | Rental Car to Ankeny | 5/10/2024 | $82.32 |
Rental Car Gas | 5/10/2024 | $32.89 | |
RV Rental & Fees | 2/16/2024 | $2,600.34 | |
CDW Fees | 2/16/2024 | $809.10 | |
RV Mileage Overage | 5/30/2024 | $248.51 | |
Propane - Pincher Creek | 5/15/2024 | $8.82 | |
Propane - Jasper | 5/17/2024 | $10.96 | |
Propane - Ester | 5/18/2024 | $11.97 | |
Propane - final fill-up | 5/29/2024 | $22.46 | |
Dumping, Water, etc. | |||
RV & Transportation Total | $3,827.37 | ||
Lodging | Medina, ND - City Campground | $20.00 | |
Theodore Roosevelt NP Juniper Campground | $14.00 | ||
Cut Bank, MT - Glacier RV Park | 5/13/2024 | $49.95 | |
Waterton Campground - 1 night | 2/19/2024 | $35.29 | |
Banff Campground - 2 nights | 2/18/2024 | $62.04 | |
Jasper Campground - 1 night | 2/18/2024 | $40.12 | |
Kitwanga, BC - 1 night | 5/18/2024 | $34.75 | |
Watson Lake - Nugget City RV Park | 5/19/2024 | $50.00 | |
Lake Creek, YK | 5/20/2024 | $20.00 | |
Tanana Campground, Fairbanks | 5/21/2024 | $45.06 | |
Denali - Riley Creek | 5/22/2024 | $38.50 | |
Denali Campground - 2 nights | 2/29/2024 | $77.00 | |
Bird Creek Campground | 4/21/2024 | $39.20 | |
Homer Spit Campground | 3/2/2024 | $48.53 | |
Seward Campground 2- nights | 4/21/2024 | $125.00 | |
VRBO in Girdwood | 4/21/2024 | $552.30 | |
VRBO in Girdwood | 5/15/2024 | $379.70 | |
Lodging Total | $1,631.44 | ||
Other | Cash | 5/5/2024 | $120.00 |
Flights Home | 2/12/2024 | $505.00 | |
National Park Pass | 5/12/2024 | $80.00 | |
Waterton Lake - Entrance Fee | 5/14/2024 | $16.11 | |
Radium Springs | 5/15/2024 | $25.68 | |
Laundry in Banff | 5/16/2024 | $7.50 | |
Parking in Banff | 5/16/2024 | $9.20 | |
Jasper - Entrance Fee | 5/17/2024 | $16.19 | |
Fairbanks Laundry | 5/21/2024 | $19.00 | |
Denali Tour | 5/22/2024 | $258.00 | |
Carwash in Fairbanks | 5/22/2024 | $10.00 | |
Denali Tour Tip | 5/23/2024 | $10.00 | |
Shirt at Homer Brewing | 5/26/2024 | $26.00 | |
Ornament in Homer | 5/17/2024 | $10.79 | |
Walmart, Anchorage - Souvenirs | 5/30/2024 | $34.56 | |
Whittier Tunnel | 5/30/2024 | $13.00 | |
Tea in Anchorage | 6/1/2024 | $20.00 | |
Coffee in Anchorage | 6/1/2024 | $7.25 | |
Sweatshirt in Anchorage | 6/1/2024 | $24.99 | |
Gifts at Alaska Wild Berry | 6/1/2024 | $27.31 | |
Other Total | $1,240.58 | ||
Food and Entertainment | Drekker, Fargo, ND | $19.86 | |
McDonalds, central MT | $9.00 | ||
Village Grill, Cut Bank, MT | $34.50 | ||
Thirsty Bear, Waterton Lake, AB, Canada | 5/14/2024 | $46.22 | |
Banff Ave Brewing | 5/15/2024 | $39.18 | |
Three Bears Brewing, Banff | 5/15/2024 | $19.69 | |
Coffee in Banff during laundry | 5/16/2024 | $4.89 | |
RX Mart - Soda | 5/16/2024 | $4.07 | |
Jasper Brewing Company | 5/17/2024 | $44.79 | |
McDonalds, Prince George, BC | 5/18/2024 | $8.71 | |
RV Nugget - beer and two cookies | 5/19/2024 | $15.00 | |
Yukon Brewing | 5/20/2024 | $10.00 | |
Hoodoo Brewing, Fairbanks | 5/21/2024 | $47.40 | |
Ester - soda and coffee | 5/22/2024 | $7.00 | |
Healy - 49th State Brewing | 5/22/2024 | $60.00 | |
Prospector's Pizza | 5/23/2024 | $44.86 | |
Food Truck, Anchorage | 5/25/2024 | $45.00 | |
Ravens Ring Brewery | 5/25/2024 | $49.80 | |
Homer Brewing Company | 5/26/2024 | $34.80 | |
Homeslice Pizza, Homer | 5/26/2024 | $103.54 | |
Seward Brewing Company - Dinner | 5/27/2024 | $72.72 | |
Highliner, Seward | 5/28/2024 | $81.00 | |
Girdwood Brewing Company | 5/29/2024 | $27.60 | |
Coffee in Seward | 5/28/2024 | $13.86 | |
Brewerks, Anchorage | 6/1/2024 | $43.12 | |
Ship Creek, Anchorage | 6/1/2024 | $19.90 | |
Food & Entertainment Total | $906.51 | ||
Supplies | Walmart, Fargo | $67.41 | |
Albertsons | 5/13/2024 | $23.45 | |
Albertsons | 5/14/2024 | $7.98 | |
IGA - Groceries | 5/16/2024 | $40.33 | |
Jasper Park Liquor - Local Beer | 5/17/2024 | $14.67 | |
Walmart, Whitehorse | 5/20/2024 | $43.15 | |
Carrs, Safeway, Girdwood | 5/29/2024 | $8.78 | |
Supplies Total | $205.77 | ||
Gas | Gas 1 | 5/11/2024 | $65.45 |
Gas - Jamestown | 5/11/2024 | $111.59 | |
Gas - by TRNP | 5/12/2024 | $125.29 | |
Gas - MT | 5/13/2024 | $74.17 | |
Shelby, MT | 5/13/2024 | $129.49 | |
Pincher Creek | 5/15/2024 | $73.36 | |
Banff | 5/16/2024 | $110.38 | |
Lake Louis | 5/17/2024 | $66.59 | |
Jasper | 5/17/2024 | $58.52 | |
Prince George, BC | 5/18/2024 | $125.88 | |
Smithers, BC | 5/18/2024 | $113.30 | |
Dease Lake | 5/19/2024 | $182.40 | |
Whitehorse | 5/20/2024 | $220.62 | |
Tok, AK | 5/21/2024 | $197.54 | |
Wasilla, AK (or somewhere in the area) | 5/25/2024 | $175.00 | |
Gas - Solnado | 5/27/2024 | $144.21 | |
Gas - final fill-up | 5/29/2024 | $91.13 | |
Gas Total | $2,064.92 | ||
Total | $9,876.59 |
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-0-prologue.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-1-aurora-to-bondurant.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-2-bondurant-ia-to-forest-city-ia-to.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-3-medina-nd-to-theodore-roosevelt.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-4-theodore-roosevelt-national-park.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-5-cut-bank-nd-to-waterton-park-ab.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-6-waterton-park-ab-canada-to-radium.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-7-banff-all-day-no-travel-thursday.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-8-banff-to-jasper-iceway-parkway.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-9-jasper-alberta-to-kitwanga.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-10-kitwanga-british-columbia-to.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-11-watson-lake-yukon-to-lake-creek.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-12-lake-creek-campground-yk-north.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-13-fairbanks-ak-to-denali-national.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-14-denali-national-park-ak-thursday.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-15-denali-national-park-ak-friday.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-16-denali-national-park-ak-to.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-17-girdwood-ak-to-homer-ak-sunday.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-18-homer-ak-to-seward-ak-monday.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-19-seward-ak-kenai-fjords-national.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-20-seward-ak-to-girdwood-ak-and-rv.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/05/day-21-girdwood-ak-whittier-ak-thursday.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/06/day-22-girdwood-ak-friday-53124.html
https://sidwellalaskanrvtrip2024.blogspot.com/2024/06/day-23-girdwood-ak-to-to-anchorage-ak.html