Killeen, TX to Fairbanks, AK Part 2. Please read the description for the itinerary and questions. Leaving early to mid October.
Done with two drivers in a midsize pickup with 4WD. Leaving early to mid October. We have tire chains, 2x 5-gallon fuel cans, and a battery starter. We plan on getting a Garmin GPS/communicator. This is a partial move for a military PCS. We are only traveling with two people, we have passports, and no pets or trailers.
Questions
- When would be a good time to put on studded/snow tires? We do not plan on hauling them so could we purchase them up north?
- What equipment should we bring? Our current list is at the top of the description.
- What other sites should we see on the second leg of the trip? We are especially interested in anything related to ecology and archeology, hence why we are seeing the Taos Pueblo, the Pando Aspen Tree, and Antelope Island/the Great Salt Lake in the first leg of the trip. We are not currently looking to change the itinerary for the first leg, only if there are glaring issues.
- What else should we know for the second leg of the trip? Is this realistic?
- Any recommendations for gear?
Thanks for all the advice and recommendations!
Day 1:
Killeen, TX -> Santa Fe, NM (10.5 hours)
Time on Road: >11 hours
Day 2:
Santa Fe, NM -> Taos Pueblo, NM (1.5 hours)
See the pueblo and leave by 10am
Taos Pueblo, NM -> Cortez, CO (4.5 hours)
See Mesa Verde Nat'l Park
Time on Road: ~8 hours
Day 3: Cortez, CO -> Capitol Reef Visitor Center, UT (4.5 hours)
See Capitol Reef Nat'l Park
Capitol Reef -> Loa, UT (1 hour)
See Pando Aspen Tree
Loa -> Salt Lake City, UT (3 hours)
Time on Road: >9 hours
Day 4:
See Antelope Island
Antelope Island -> Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, WY (6 hours)
Drive Through Grand Teton Nat'l Park
-> West Yellowstone, MT (3 hours, exact route TBD)
Time on Road: >9 hours
Day 5:
West Yellowstone -> Yellowstone Nat'l Park (1 hour)
See Yellowstone Nat'l Park
Return to West Yellowstone (1 hour)
Time on Road: ~4 hours
Day 6:
West Yellowstone -> Whitehall, MT (2 hours)
See Lewis and Clark Caverns
Whitehall -> Thompson Falls, MT (4 hours)
Stay with Family
Time on Road: >6 hours
Day 7:
Spend time with family and relax
Day 8: 🇨🇦
Thompson Falls -> Banff, AB (7 hours)
Cross into Canada
Time on Road: 7.5 hours + border crossing time
Day 9:
See Banff Nat'l Park
Time on Road: ~2 hours
Day 10:
Banff -> Jasper, AB (3.5 hours)
See Jasper Nat'l Park
Jasper -> Dawson Creek, BC (6 hours)
Time on Road: >10 hours
Day 11:
Dawson Creek -> Liard Hot Springs Prov. Park, BC (9 hours)
Visit Liard Hot Springs
Time on Road: >9 hours
Day 12:
Liard Hot Springs -> Whitehorse, YT (8 hours)
Time on Road: >8 hours
Day 13: 🇺🇸
Whitehorse -> Tok, AK (8 hours)
Cross into the United States
Time on Road: >8 hours + border crossing time
Day 14:
Tok -> Fairbanks, AK (3.5 hours)
Arrive in Fairbanks
Time on Road: ~4 hours