Dalton Highway
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Overview
The James W. Dalton Highway, usually referred to as the Dalton Highway (and signed as Alaska Route 11), is a 414-mile (666 km) road in Alaska. It begins at the Elliott Highway, north of Fairbanks, and ends at Deadhorse (an unincorporated community within the CDP of Prudhoe Bay) near the Arctic Ocean and the Prudhoe Bay Oil Fields. Once called the North Slope Haul Road (a name by which it is still sometimes known), it was built as a supply road to support the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System in 1974.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 days
Best TimeHighly recommended during early autumn (late August to mid-September) or deep winter (December to March). Late summer brings breathtaking, fiery red and gold tundra foliage under stable weather. Winter driving is extremely extreme, but the complete lack of light pollution offers world-class, raw aurora viewing.
Getting ThereAlso known as Alaska Route 11. This infamous 414-mile remote industrial highway begins north of Fairbanks and cuts through the Arctic Circle to Prudhoe Bay. Mostly unpaved gravel with flying rocks and heavy trucks; standard car rentals prohibit driving here. You must rent specialized 4WD vehicles or join an expedition bus.
Travel Tips
- The Dalton Highway (AK-11) consists of unpaved, tire-slashing gravel; flying stones shatter glass, and standard rental clauses ban entry.
- Industrial semi-trucks maintain absolute right-of-way; opposing rigs throw up blinding dust screens, slowing and keeping right is law.
- A 240-mile absolute fuel vacuum exists between Coldfoot and Deadhorse; filling main tanks and tracking heavy gas cans is compulsory.
Reviews
Positive
- The ultimate wilderness highway running straight to the Arctic Ocean, crossing the Yukon River and Arctic Circle with infinite tundra impact.
- At the Yukon River Bridge and Arctic Circle Sign mid-way, the state pairs basic clean toilets with campsite rest zones and photo signboards.
- The truck drivers along the route are mostly hardcore yet incredibly helpful, and passing big rigs often stop to offer safety assistance if you break down.
- This is a polar extreme far removed from modern civilization; visitor density is extremely low, letting you enjoy stars and auroras in 100% silence.
Heads up
- Over half the route is unpaved gravel and mud; flying rocks easily smash windshields or blow tires, and standard rental car firms strictly bar entry.
- With hundreds of miles lacking cell coverage and gas stations spaced hours apart, safety margins are low if a severe breakdown occurs.
- There is almost zero decent dining, grocery, or upscale lodging along the way; the few stops like Coldfoot have overpriced, basic food options.
- There are almost no clear multilingual signs; dust clouds from passing big rigs or winter blizzards can drop visibility immediately to zero.