Western US & Alaska Remote Drives: 8 Places to See
Traverse 2,978 km across America's most remote scenic routes spanning the Western United States and Alaska. This route encompasses isolated highways including Nevada's legendary Highway 50, the rugged Dalton Highway through Arctic Alaska, and Utah's technical Burr Trail through canyon country, offering extreme driving conditions and minimal services across wild terrain.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Dalton Highway
- End
- Arctic Circle
- Stops
- 8
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Dalton Highway — A 414-mile mostly-gravel highway built in 1974 for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, stretching from Fairbanks to Deadhorse with extreme Arctic conditions.
- Highway 50 — The Loneliest Road in America, a 287-mile stretch across Nevada's remote basin and range country between Fallon and Ely with minimal services and hypnotic desert landscapes.
- Top of the World Highway - Alaska/Yukon
- Cave Lake — An alpine oasis hidden at 7,300 feet elevation in Nevada's remote interior, offering water and serenity amid desert isolation.
- Fairbanks — Major city in interior Alaska serving as the starting point for the Dalton Highway, a gateway to Arctic wilderness exploration.
- Yukon River — Major river crossed by the Dalton Highway in Alaska, a formidable obstacle on the journey through Arctic wilderness.
- Brooks Range — Major mountain range in northern Alaska traversed by the Dalton Highway, creating dramatic alpine terrain above Arctic Circle.
- Arctic Circle — The geographic line at 66.5°N latitude crossed by the Dalton Highway, marking entry into extreme Arctic climate zones.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Highway 50 in Nevada stretches 287 miles between Fallon and Ely with only three fuel stations; missing one puts you in serious trouble. Plan fuel stops carefully.
- Timing
- Highway 50 summer temperatures reach 110°F, winter brings blizzards that close the road entirely, and spring winds gust to 60 mph sandblasting vehicles. Visit spring or fall.
- Transport
- Dalton Highway stretches 414 miles mostly gravel from Fairbanks to Deadhorse with no fuel, food, or services for 240 miles. Pack extra fuel, survival gear, emergency food, and satellite communication.
- Timing
- Dalton Highway winter temperatures drop to 60 below zero with exposed skin freezing in minutes. Summer brings 24-hour daylight but mosquitoes form clouds. Plan carefully for season.
- Avoid
- Burr Trail switchbacks are steep with 10% grades and hundred-foot drops beside tires. Road becomes primitive and technical requiring high clearance beyond the paved section.
- Timing
- Chain of Craters Road closure signs update regularly as lava flows still destroy and rebuild the pavement. Check current conditions before visiting.
- Timing
- Beartooth Highway closes 8 months per year from October to late May due to snow. Only open late May through September. Summer afternoon thunderstorms turn roads slick and dangerous.
- Avoid
- West Side Road in Death Valley: rangers discourage summer travel. Ground temperatures exceed 200°F. Visit only December through March when survivable. Need one gallon water per person per hour.
- Transport
- Denali Park Road: only first 15 miles paved for private vehicles. Beyond Savage River requires shuttle bus only for remaining 77 miles. Access restricted by lottery system; thousands apply, hundreds win.
- Timing
- Denali Park Road: September offers fall colors and active wildlife preparing for winter, but weather unpredictable with snow possible any month. Snow can fall even in summer.
Video on this route
Untamed Beauty: America's Most Remote Scenic Drives