Alaska Budget
 

Hoping to ride my old KLR up to Alaskafrom Michigan next summer. A cousin from Lithuania wants to join me so I figured I'd shop fora second KLR that I could sell on returning. My past travels have always been "as cheaply as possible" and I can't say I have a good idea of what it cost me per day. As little as possible, I guess.

Anyway, my cousin needs to plan and save for next summer. He asked me "What are you budgeting for the trip?" WTFDIK? As little as possible, I guess.

I'm smart enough to be able to figure out an estimate of gas costs over the miles anticipated. But how about other costs? if it's raining and miserable, I like to sleep indoors. I may do my breakfast but eat dinner at a local joint most nights.

So if we ride from Michigan and spend, say, five weeks to get to Inuvik or Prudhoe Bay and back, how much cash does he have to have in his shoe to cover costs? How do I make a reasonable estimate?

Thanks!

JohnD:confused1:

John, I went back in 2009 from Western Kentucky, so we aren't too far away from each other. I took $1,500.00 US currency, and $500.00 Canadian currency. I ended up bringing money home. We camped all the way there and back, except for one night that a campground we were going to stop in was flooded. I was gone 37 days. If you don't like raining and miserable, be prepared to budget about half of your trip in motels. I put almost all of my gas on a Credit Card, as well as the oil and filters for servicing. I changed my oil at the WalMart in Dawson Creek on the way up and back. Great bunch of folks working in the service department, they insisted on us using their drain pans and funnels. They wouldn't even let me empty the pans for them.

We cooked every meal except for the three times we splurged along the way. I also travel on the cheap and camp everyday, it's the only way I can afford to take longer trips. I ate a lot of Oatmeal and Ramen noodles along the way, but it's worth it for the scenery you will see.

I'm planning a trip back up there in 2015 with a good friend of mine, so I'm starting to research early.

John,
I just returned from across Canada and up to Prudhoe Bay June - Sep this year starting from Nelson BC, Canada and end there. I took USD 1500 and CAD 3000 and used about USD 1000 on my credit cards.
I spent mostly on budget motel and on average USD10 per day for hot meal daily; i.e I cook my own meal. Go to MacD for special menu product you get 1 coffee and a bun or donut for under USD 2 and go for hot soup with biscuit for under USD 2 at Subway. I also had a flask with hot coffee with me inside the bike's pannier. I never run short of hot coffee during my entire trip. If you want pitch tent at the TESCO parking lot, they are free and the security really dont mind.
Alas, I dont even want to think about camping at Cold Foot or at Prudhoe Bay.
Enjoy your trip North to Alaska. I dont mind doing again. BTW, I am from Malaysia.

Ride Safe:mchappy:

There are lots of ride reports about going to Deadhorse. I went on a KTM 990 in 2009 and a KLR in 2010 and again to Inuvik in 2011 on my 990 all from Seattle.
I strongly recommend the hostel across the river in Dawson City, the dorms at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, the Thompson Eacle Claw motorcycle camp in Tok, Alaska, and the West End campground in Fort Nelson ( they have a bar)
There is no shortage of camping spots but remember there are big mean bears and bigger meaner Mosquitos up there.