Which way should I wander?

[ptySteve]

Departing Kentucky in early April on a 8 month trip to Alaska. Plan to take 2 - 3 months getting there, 3 months in Alaska, and 2 - 3 months for the return trip. Driving my Ram ProMaster campervan conversion.

Trying to determine the most sensible route:
Middle, KY - MS - KN - CO - UT - then north.
South, KY - AR - OK - NM - AZ - UT - then north.
North, KY - IL - IA - the Dakotas - MT -

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I will be traveling on secondary roads (no interstate, unless I'm forced to) and taking my time. I obviously have enough time to "detour" around unexpected bad weather, but have never driven west of the Mississippi so have no idea how far north is too far that time of year.

 

[Stalking Light]

You could also consider farther south; take the Natchez Trace south out of Nashville and then west to Big Bend before heading north. After Utah you could either go north into Wyoming or further west to Death Valley and then north to Kings Canyon. The south entrance into Yellowstone from Grand Teton won't open until Memorial Day.

 

[Alley-Kat]

Absolutely do UTAH, both going and returning, plenty of routes that are different to not duplicate your path with sights that will have your jaw drop around each and every turn.

 

[BobM]

Dont miss hey 12 from Bryce to Capitol reef. Its one amazing road

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Wander The West mobile app

 

[Buckwheat]

I would do the south route then go up the west coast. I would say if youre on the west coast you could make it to south Alaska this time of the year.

 

[Cayuse]

Dont miss hey 12 from Bryce to Capitol reef. Its one amazing road

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Wander The West mobile app

This!
I could probably spend a month or two travelling around southern Utah and the Arizona Strip without getting bored. Hole in the rock road out of Escalante would be worth checking out although you probably won't get all the way out to Egypt with your van.

Last year Glacier had a snow storm on Going to the Sun Highway in late June, the flip side is they could close it by early October for snow if an early storm comes through so you might be tight there going either direction.

 

[ptySteve]

Thanks everyone. Will post again when I hit the road in April. Thinking I might do most of my "planing" on the move - give my location and see what suggestions I get for the next hundred miles or so.

Merry Christmas, travel safe.

 

[Barko1]

Another vote for Utah. Might want to check out the overland Expo mid May South of Flagstaff, Big Bend will be getting warm, so much to see, so many great route possibilities.

 

[ptySteve]

If my wandering gets me near Flagstaff I will certainly stop by for Expo. I've attended the last two (West & East) and had a great time.

 

[BillM]

Ditto,

CO, UT and NV. Also, don't drive the ALCAN the whole way, it's BORING! Try the Cassiar to the ALCAN.