How to Camp With an RV in Alaska

Alaska is the largest and least densely populated state in America. It is also a place with expansive, untamed wildernesses that draw throngs of campers every year. However, it also means RV campers need to plan every stop at an Alaskan campground. If you forget something, the nearest population center might be hours away.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Insect screens
Bug repellent
Electric bug lamp (optional)

Step 1

Inspect the caulking around your RV's windows, doors, skylights and vents. Alaskan weather dictates this fundamental maintenance chore. The rainy season in Alaska begins in mid-summer, so the length of time when it is not wet or chilly is very brief.

Step 2

Install insect screens over all of the windows in your RV that can be opened. Bring mosquito repellent and possibly an electric bug lamp to hang on the outside of the RV as well. Biting insects in Alaska are legion between May and September.

Step 3

Inspect your campsite before you pull your RV into it. The weather in Alaska is hard on paved and gravel roads, so depressions and potholes can sometimes be a problem. If the campsite is not level, lay timber boards where you intend to park the RV's tires to level things out.

Step 4

Set tire blocks under the RV's tires after you park.

Step 5

Connect your cables and hoses to the campground's electrical, water and sewage hook-ups, if these facilities are available. Switch on the water pump in the RV.

Step 6

Keep all food stored inside the RV when you are not actually engaged in cooking out over a grill or campfire. Alaska is bear country, and proper food storage is an elementary safety step.

Step 7

Dispose of all waste and refuse at an RV dump station. Most RV campgrounds and major national or state parks have an RV dump facility, but if you intend to camp in smaller or more isolated places you will need to make a stop at a public dump station.

Resources

Alaskan RV Dump Stations

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...