Alaska Highway (AlCan) vs. Cassiar Highway

[FamilyMan]

My son has be assigned to a US Army base in Alaska and I volunteered to help him take his vehicle up from the lower 48. He and I will be driving together, then I will fly back. This will be a great adventure and I am really looking forward to the road trip and seeing so much new (to me) and remote country. The drive from Montana to Anchorage is about 2,400 miles and I hope we will take our time just a bit rather than trying to break the land speed record getting there. My question for anyone who has done it is, after we get as far as Jasper in Alberta, Canada, would you recommend proceeding north to the start of the Alaska Highway and taking that all the way, or should we head northwest on the Cassiar Highway and take that until it intersects the Alaska Highway near Watson Lake, YT, Canada? I'm leaning toward the Cassiar because it has less traffic and is more remote and than even the AlCan, but would like to hear from folks who have done one or the other (or both). Also, what are some recommendations for don't-miss locations along each route?

Thanks
Mark

 

[BigHornRam]

Both routes are neat. Go up one, come back the other. I did a little side trip to Stewart, and Hyder, off the Cassiar, and it was worth it.

 

[FamilyMan]

Flying back after I drop off my son and his vehicle in Anchorage, so driving both isn't an option for us.

 

[MTTW]

I would take the Cassiar if I was choosing 1. The Alcan isn't what it used to be, it has changed tremendously since I was first on it in 1980. The little mom and pop gas station/restaurant/motel outfits are pretty much gone. It is all pavement now, I think there was half gravel in 1980.There is good scenery either way though both ways are worth doing. I am not sure that I would call either route an adventure any more but that might just be me.

 

[Akcabin]

Both good roads, Cassiar is more scenic. Probably more dangerous in the winter but no problems now. Have a nice trip n thanks son for his service

 

[Phaseolus]

I'd drive the Cassiar, we drove both last summer.

 

[Alpine01]

I drove the Cassiar fall of 2024 from Colorado up to Watson Lake where I had a moose hunt. Great drive, highly recommend. Saw moose, deer, caribou, buffalo, and black bears between Grande Prairie and WL. Some long stretches with few gas stations; especially between Fort Nelson and WL. Will be doing that drive again in September for a second moose hunt. Have a great trip.

 

[eshunt]

Cassiar all the way! I've driven both multiple times. Definitely prefer the Cassiar for scenery. Only reason to drive the Alcan is to hit up the Liard Hot Springs and have easier access from the Icefields Parkway. But overall, the Cassiar is a much better drive in my opinion. Not sure if it is paved the entire length yet, but the gravel back in 2002 was no problem at all. As noted above, fuel can be a long ways between stations. Make sure and know your range, and have some extra fuel just in case. Seems like almost every town, no matter how small, has a great diner and place to grab some food and get road reports. Plenty of amazing places to stop and look around, can't remember names of any specific places though. Even at break neck speed and driving 15-18hrs a day, it took me almost 5 days from Northern CA to Anchorage/Homer.

 

[FamilyMan]

Thanks for the insights. Leaving in a few days. Probably taking the Cassiar.

 

[Phaseolus]

Cassiar all the way! I've driven both multiple times. Definitely prefer the Cassiar for scenery. Only reason to drive the Alcan is to hit up the Liard Hot Springs and have easier access from the Icefields Parkway. But overall, the Cassiar is a much better drive in my opinion. Not sure if it is paved the entire length yet, but the gravel back in 2002 was no problem at all. As noted above, fuel can be a long ways between stations. Make sure and know your range, and have some extra fuel just in case. Seems like almost every town, no matter how small, has a great diner and place to grab some food and get road reports. Plenty of amazing places to stop and look around, can't remember names of any specific places though. Even at break neck speed and driving 15-18hrs a day, it took me almost 5 days from Northern CA to Anchorage/Homer.

Cassiar is paved all the way

 

[FamilyMan]

Following up... have been back from the trip for a few days now. Drove the Cassiar route and it did not disappoint. Five days total: 1. Missoula to Jasper (Ice Fields Parkway is beautiful) and on to Valemount to find a reasonably priced hotel (much of Jasper is under reconstruction after the fire last year); 2. Valemount to New Hazelton; 3. New Hazelton to Kitwanga where you turn onto the Cassiar and on north to Nugget City in the Yukon where the Cassiar intersects the AlCan - included a side trip to Stewart/Hyder; 4. Nugget City to Beaver Creek (still in the Yukon, but just barely); 5. Beaver Creek to Anchorage.

I enjoyed the drive very much. We saw a lot of bears and moose right from the roadway, along with a few elk, a cross fox, two porcupine, and a single caribou. For its population, Anchorage doesn't feel like such a big city, although the tweaker population was disturbing. Alaska is beautiful and my son is excited to be there and explore for a few years.

Thanks to each of you who replied to this thread.

 

[Alpine01]

Following up... have been back from the trip for a few days now. Drove the Cassiar route and it did not disappoint. Five days total: 1. Missoula to Jasper (Ice Fields Parkway is beautiful) and on to Valemount to find a reasonably priced hotel (much of Jasper is under reconstruction after the fire last year); 2. Valemount to New Hazelton; 3. New Hazelton to Kitwanga where you turn onto the Cassiar and on north to Nugget City in the Yukon where the Cassiar intersects the AlCan - included a side trip to Stewart/Hyder; 4. Nugget City to Beaver Creek (still in the Yukon, but just barely); 5. Beaver Creek to Anchorage.

I enjoyed the drive very much. We saw a lot of bears and moose right from the roadway, along with a few elk, a cross fox, two porcupine, and a single caribou. For its population, Anchorage doesn't feel like such a big city, although the tweaker population was disturbing. Alaska is beautiful and my son is excited to be there and explore for a few years.

Thanks to each of you who replied to this thread.

Nice! Sounds like you had a great trip. Thanks for the update.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Excellent road trip. Glad you made it.