Chicago, Ill to Fairbanks, Alaska -- best way to get there?

Question

Would it be cheaper to drive or fly.
I figured about $1000 to drive and that would probably be sleeping cheaply, like in the car half the time, if that is allowed in Canada?
Though even that much money is not available yet.
What do flights cost? More or less? Just an idea.
Are there any different driving rules of the road in Canada than in the US?
Or would a boat be the best route?
It all boils down to cost, mostly.
Just want to get some ideas for a future trip, thanks.

Answer 1

If money is an issue....consider the high price of gas now and tourist season has just begun. Motels and cafes have all upped their prices. If time is an issue....be warned that it is now road repair time so expect lots of slow going and many stops. You will also be behind lots of RVs, too. If neither time nor money is an issue I say drive the AlCan as it is a wonderful way to see Canada and Alaska! Also, if you drive, be sure to have your papers in order when crossing the border.

Answer 2

you may be able to fly cheaper (the last time I looked, flights started at around $450 out of New York), but then you miss out on the fun of the Alcan, and the scenery along the way. Driving, you need to add in the cost for a new windshield or relevant insurance - you're gonig to get at least one crack (the roads are pebbly and passing trucks constantly kick pebbles up at you).

If you fly, you're stuck in Fairbanks, which is an okay enough town, but to reach the real Alaska you'll need some sort of transportation.

Answer 3

I have lived in Fairbanks and driven the alcan many times. One time I contacted a Chevy car deal in the Seattle area and they paid my gas to drive to drive a pickup to a dealer in Fairbanks. It's a four night drive out of Seattle that means five hard days driving. (about 2500miles)You should drive to see all the beautiful sights but having driven it so many times I fly now if I want to go.it's much cheaper. You should go by all means.

Answer 4

I think you can easily get an air ticket for less than $1000. There's no direct service from Chicago (CHI) to Fairbanks (FAI), but the following airlines offer connecting services:

Alaska Airlines (AS) through Anchorage (ANC), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO) or Seattle (SEA)
Delta Air Lines (DL) through Salt Lake City (SLC)
Northwest Airlines (NW) through Detroit (DTT) or Minneapolis (MSP)

By road, assuming that you drive ten hours daily, you need 6 days to make the trip. This is how you can get from Chicago to Fairbanks by road:

Leave Chicago through Highway 90 toward Rockford and then Madison.
Close to Tomah WI, you should follow Highway 94 toward Eau Claire and St Paul. Highways 90 and 94 would have merged earlier close to Portage to the north of Madison.
Close to Woodbury and Maplewood at the outskirts of St Paul, turn to Highway 694 to avoid central St Paul and Minneapolis.
Shortly after Brooklyn Center and before Maple Grove, you return again to Highway 94 which you should take toward St Cloud and Fargo.
When you get to Exit 256 close to Jamestown, you should turn north to Route 52 which should take you all the way to Canada through Minot.
You will enter the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Route 52 will become Provincial Route 39 which you should go on through Estevan until shortly after Milestone where you should turn north on Route 6 toward Regina.
At the outskirts of Regina take the shortcut from Route 6 to Route 11 by using the Trans-Canada Highway to avoid central Regina.
Drive on Route 11 toward Saskatoon.
At Saskatoon, turn to the Trans-Canada Highway heading west toward North Battleford, Lloydminster and Edmonton.
Shortly after leaving Edmonton, take the exit to Route 43 toward Grand Prairie. Continue on Route 43 which should take you to British Columbia.
Once you enter BC, Route 43 would become Route 2 which should take you to Dawson Creek.
From there, take Route 97 toward Fort St John, Fort Nelson and Watson Lake.
Once you enter Yukon Territory, Route 97 would become Route 1 taking you to Teslin, Whitehorse, Haines Junction and eventually into Alaska.
Once you enter Alaska, the route would become Route 2 and this would take you all the way to Fairbanks.