ALCAN | History, Tips, Fast Facts

If you’re thinking of driving to Alaska or doing a DIY Alaska move, you’ll likely find yourself on the historic (and scenic!) Alaska Highway at some point. Since its official opening in 1948, this major route has played a significant role in Alaska’s history and continued development.

In this article, we’ll show you everything you need to know about the Alaska Highway. You’ll get a brief history of the road, a few interesting facts and figures, and our tips for navigating the Alaska Highway safely and easily.

Let’s start with the basics.

What, Exactly, Is the Alaska Highway?

alcan map

The Alaska Highway—which is also called the Alaska-Canada Highway, the Alaskan Highway, or the ALCAN/Alcan—is a road that runs from Dawson Creek, British Columbia (Canada) to Delta Junction, Alaska (U.S.).

In 2023, the Alaska Highway celebrated its 75th anniversary of opening. During the road’s history, a system of Historic Mileposts popped up to allow travelers to track their progress and mark points of interest along the way. These mileposts don’t translate perfectly to the actual rode mileage.

Over the years, construction and re-routing changed the length of the road, and the mileposts were never updated. As a result, if you start from Dawson Creek, you’ll see slight discrepancies between your mileage and the Historic Mileposts. By the time you cross the Alaska-Yukon border, that discrepancy goes up to 40 miles (mile 1182.2/Historical Mile 1222).

I’ve heard the Alaska Highway goes all the way to Fairbanks!

Technically, the Alaska Highway ends at Delta Junction. The road (Alaska Route 2) continues on to Fairbanks, although it’s called Richardson Highway after the intersection with Delta Junction. Drive Richardson Highway another 96 miles and you’ll be in Fairbanks.

Fast Facts About the Alaska Highway

Official Length of the Alaska Highway:

1,387 miles – Dawson Creek to Delta Junction

Historical Milepost at Delta Junction:

1422 – Note the discrepancy we mentioned above!

Extended Length:

Dawson Creek to Fairbanks: 1,483 miles / Historical Mile 1523

Construction Cost:

$140 U.S. million dollars (~$2.3 billion in today’s money). It was the most expensive U.S. construction project of World War II.

Highest Elevation:

4,250 feet at Summit Lake.

Speed Limits:

In Canada, 50-60 mph (80-100 km/h). In Alaska, 55-65 mph (90-105 km/h).

When Was the Alaska Highway Built?

The Alaska Highway was built during World War II. The first civilian cars drove the highway in 1946, although the highway wasn’t officially opened until 1948. If you’re curious how the highway first came to be, we put together a brief history of the Alaska Highway:

A Road to Alaska Is Proposed

In the late 1920s, the International Highway Associations proposed the idea of a road to connect Alaska (still a territory at the time) and the United States. Representatives from the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Seattle, and Fairbanks all supported the proposal. However, little progress was made.

The advent of World War II changed things significantly. The bombing of Pearl Harbor made the threat to U.S. soil clear. In March of 1942, construction began on the Alaska Highway, with the intention of creating a road that would aid the U.S. in its goals of protecting both the territory and the lower 48.

An Engineering Challenge

10,000 soldiers started the construction of the Alaska Highway, leveraging hundreds of steam shovels, blade graders, tractors and trucks—more than 250,000 tons of materials in total. (That’s a moving project we would gladly have helped with!

One of the big challenges the crews encountered were muskegs, a type of bog found in northern climates. Muskegs are notorious for swallowing vehicles, much like quicksand. Often, the trapped vehicles get so entrenched that they need to be pulled out by a tractor.

Needless to say, in building the Alaska Highway, the engineers had their work cut out for them.

The Alaska Highway Officially Opens

When it opened in 1948, the first official civilian traffic to use the Alaska Highway were Greyhound buses taking tourists to Alaska. (There are also reports of homesteaders receiving special permission to use the road a few years earlier.)

Today, the road carries an estimated 300,000 travelers a year. It remains an engineering challenge to maintain. Environmental factors like permafrost, earthquakes, and floods mean the road needs constant upkeep and repair.

Case in point: In 2022, a massive flood broke a beaver dam, which, in turn, backed up the road’s drainage system, leading to a massive washout around mile 558 that took several weeks to repair.

What’s the Current Condition of the Road? Is It Paved?

Yes, the entire Alaska Highway is paved. However, when the road needs to be repaired—or simply maintained—you may be diverted to a gravel road. The MILEPOST travel guide—a must for driving the Alaska Highway—has a pretty detailed breakdown on their website.

Tips for Driving the Alaska Highway

Our teams have driven to and from Alaska in all kinds of equipment—and in all kinds of weather. We asked them for their tips to help you travel the Alaska Highway safely and easily. Here’s what they told us:

#1: Stock Up on Maps

There are areas along the road with no cell coverage, so you don’t want to be entirely dependent on your phone apps.

Start by grabbing a copy of this year’s MILEPOST. Every physical copy also comes with access to the digital edition of the book. If you plan to use the digital version, make sure you fully download it to your phone or tablet before you leave.

In addition to the MILEPOST, make sure you’ve got maps to cover you for the entire route you plan to take, including any scenic detours—just in case.

#2: Get Your Car Checked Out

The Alaska Highway is full of long, desolate stretches of roadway. While that’s a big part of the appeal, it also means that a breakdown could seriously derail your trip. If your car breaks down on the Alaska Highway, you’ll likely be far from the nearest mechanic. If you also don’t have cell service, you might find yourself waiting quite a while for help

Prevent breakdowns before they start by taking your vehicle to your mechanic before the trip. Do any regular maintenance, and ask them to give the car a thorough going-over. You might just save yourself from a major inconvenience during your trip.

#3: Update Your Car’s Emergency Kit

Along these same lines, make sure your car’s emergency kit is up to date. If you have the basics with you—a good set of jumper cables, a spare tire (plus jack and lug wrench), and a set of basic tools—you might be able to execute a quick repair to keep your vehicle moving to the next populated area

If you’re stuck waiting for help, make sure you’ve got supplies sufficient to keep yourself warm and fed—even overnight. A sleeping bag can be a life safer, for example. Check out this list from Edmunds and stock up before the journey.

Driving the ALCAN: The Journey of a Lifetime

For many, driving the Alaska Highway is an unforgettable expedition through gorgeous, unspoiled country. With a little knowledge—and a little preparation—you’ll set yourself up for a trip that’s unforgettable for all the right reasons.

Making a move to Alaska? We’d be happy to help you get your belongings to the Last Frontier so all you have to do is get yourself (and your car!) here. Just reach out to our team for a complimentary quote to get started. We specialize in safe, easy, and affordable Alaska moves—and we can move you anywhere in the state!

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