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Two-Day Van-Life Crossing on the Top of the World Highway

This is a source-faithful, two-day RV route from Chicken, Alaska, to Dawson City, Yukon. Plan around the remote border's 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. operating window, carry sufficient fuel, potable water, food, and power, and e…

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Travel inspiration behind this plan

LEAVING ALASKA Through the World’s Most Remote Border Crossing Watch on YouTube

Plan notes

Useful context before you go

This is a source-faithful, two-day RV route from Chicken, Alaska, to Dawson City, Yukon. Plan around the remote border's 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. operating window, carry sufficient fuel, potable water, food, and power, and expect limited services. The route includes rough approach roads, a long unpaved section, steep grades, rain exposure, potholes, washboard, and a free short ferry crossing near Dawson City. The journey described uses a camper van with full fresh water, emptied gray and cassette tanks, and a full battery before leaving Chicken. Bring passports and verify current customs rules for food, firewood, weapons, and bear spray before departure. Drive slowly—roughly 25–40 mph was used on gravel—and watch for cones, flags, potholes, frost heaves, and changing road surfaces.

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Itinerary highlights

What is in this plan

Day 1 — Glennallen and Tok to Chicken

Use this as the preparation and approach day. The drive from Glennallen through Tok to Chicken was estimated at roughly four to four and a half hours before stops, with another roughly two hours from Tok to Chicken. Service the RV at Tok before continuing: empty the gray tank and refill potable water. Expect wavy pavement, potholes, frost heaves, and slow progress. Arrive before the Chicken customs operating window becomes a concern, and use the free overnight parking behind the saloon if avail…

  1. GlennallenGlennallen, Alaska, USA

    Use this as the approach route toward Tok and Chicken. The drive was described as roughly four to four and a half hours from Glennallen before stops; allow substantially longer for RV checks and rough pavement. Slow down for wavy surfaces and potholes.

  2. TokTok, Alaska, USA

    Stop here to empty the gray tank and top off potable water before the remote highway section. Treat this as the last major RV service opportunity described before Chicken.

  3. ChickenChicken, Alaska, USA

    Follow the final approach into Chicken slowly. The last miles were described as extremely rough, with deep frost-heave damage and sections where the usable road narrowed dramatically.

  4. Chicken Creek SaloonChicken Creek Saloon, Chicken, Alaska, USA

    Eat at the Chicken Creek Saloon before settling in. The available meal described was reindeer sausage or a limited soup selection, including corn chowder, with a hot dog, chips, soda, and soup totaling about $39 before tip.

  5. Chicken Creek SaloonChicken Creek Saloon, Chicken, Alaska, USA

    Use the free gravel parking area behind Chicken Creek Saloon for an overnight boondocking stop, as described. Level the van carefully before settling in and confirm current permission on arrival.

  6. Chicken Gold DredgeChicken Gold Dredge, Chicken, Alaska, USA

    Walk through this historic gold-mining dredge, which was moved in one piece in 1998 and is on the historical register. The described buckets and conveyor system illustrate how gravel was processed for gold.

Day 2 — Top of the World Highway to Dawson City

Leave Chicken early for the border and Dawson City. The approach includes a 74-mile unpaved section according to the route map, although the travelers found the Top of the World section smoother than expected. Customs was described as about nine miles from the highway junction and open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. After crossing, account for the time-zone change, continue over the Yukon gravel road, and allow for the free five-to-seven-minute ferry before entering Dawson City.

  1. Top of the World Highway JunctionTop of the World Highway and Taylor Highway Junction, Alaska, USA

    Reach this junction early. The Top of the World Highway begins about 29 miles after leaving Chicken, while the Taylor Highway continues toward Eagle. The border was described as roughly nine miles from the Top of the World junction.

  2. Little Gold Creek CustomsLittle Gold Creek Customs, Top of the World Highway, Yukon, Canada

    Prepare passports and customs documents before arriving. The crossing was described as the world's most northern Canadian border crossing. The travelers were asked about passengers, destination, firewood, weapons, and bear spray; verify current rules for food, firewood, and bear spray before departure.

  3. Top of the World HighwayTop of the World Highway, Yukon, Canada

    Drive this section at a controlled speed on gravel. The road was described as mostly smooth, with limited potholes and washboard, but rain, steep grades, and changing surfaces were present. The travelers used roughly 40 mph on the better gravel and emphasized that the route can be easier than its reputation suggests.

  4. George Black FerryGeorge Black Ferry, Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

    Allow time for this free vehicle ferry before entering Dawson City. The crossing was described as approximately five to seven minutes, with around seven or eight vehicles fitting depending on length. Arriving just in time was part of the experience, so avoid cutting the schedule too tightly.

  5. Yukon RiverYukon River Waterfront, Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

    Walk to the river after arriving in Dawson City. The Yukon River was presented as the reason Dawson exists here and as a historic transportation corridor for prospectors, supplies, and stern-wheelers during the Klondike Gold Rush era.

  6. SS KenoSS Keno National Historic Site, Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

    Visit the historic SS Keno sternwheeler on the Dawson waterfront. It connects directly to the river's role in moving people and supplies during the gold-rush period.

  7. Midnight DomeMidnight Dome, Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

    Climb to this overlook above Dawson City for the broad town-and-river perspective described in the route. It was used as the closing viewpoint and a place to mark the end of the Alaska portion of the journey.