Cost of my 1995 five week 10,431 mile trip to Alaska from Los Angeles (excluding souvenirs and film.) Includes Canadian$ converted at the then exchange rate of C$1=US$0.749)
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Gasoline (205.815gals) Alaska State Parks year pass Other campground fees Restaurant meals & fresh food Food brough from home All day boat tour out of Seward Admission & 2 bus rides at Denali NP (campground extra; backpacking free) Oil Change Car washes (3 Do-it-yourself) Tire repair (one) Bear Bell Laundromat TOTAL |
$290.83 100.00 67.56 85.02 61.00 103.95 49.00
19.97
$795.58 |
Obviously, fuel efficiency is important; if your car gets 25mpg, your gasoline costs will be twice mine.The car washes were not just for looks. Mud can build up under your car encasing the underneath parts in baked on "clay" that can cause overheating of crucial parts (don't ask me what ones, but my knowledgeable parents had a nasty repair bill.)
I also did some free overnight sleeping at rest stops (everyone seems to do that in Alaska.) In Washington and Oregon, along Interstate 5, there are very nice rest stops at which you can sleep in your car and very nice people serve you free coffee, tea, cocoa and cookies.