# From the US, how far north in Canada can I drive a regular car in the summer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 11, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090 "2008-07-11T04:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/21 "2008-07-11T17:04:27Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] According the the wikipedia entry on Inuvik, it’s the most northerly place in Canada you can drive in the summer, in the winter you can drive a bit farther north on the ice road. > **[Inuvik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuvik)** > > Inuvik\[a\] is the only town in the Inuvik Region, and the third largest community in Canada's Northwest Territories. Located in the Beaufort Delta Region, it serves as the region's administrative and service centre. Inuvik is home to federal, territorial, and Indigenous government offices, along with a regional hospital and airport. > Inuvik is located on the northern edge of a boreal forest just before it begins to transition to tundra. It is on the east side of the enormous Mackenzie River del... In Alaska you can take the Dalton highway from Fairbanks to Deadhorse. I can’t tell from wikipedia whether Deadhorse is farther north than Inuvik. > **[Dalton Highway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalton_Highway)** > > 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 197... > **[Deadhorse, Alaska](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadhorse%2C_Alaska)** > > Deadhorse is an unincorporated community located within the census-designated place of Prudhoe Bay in the North Slope Borough of Alaska, United States, along the North Slope near the Arctic Ocean. The town consists mainly of facilities for the workers and companies that operate at the nearby Prudhoe Bay Oil Field. Deadhorse is accessible via the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks, 495 miles (797 km) south, or Deadhorse Airport. Limited accommodation is also available for tourists. > The permanent po... [/QUOTE] Yes, Deadhorse is further north than Inuvik. I’ve driven there also and it’s a MUCH worse road than the Dempster. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/22 "2008-07-11T18:27:59Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] I don’t actually know if you can drive directly there from YellowKnife, but you can drive directly the from Whitehorse and stop in Dawson City on the way which is a smallish town with all the supplies you could need on the way. [/QUOTE] You have to go South from YK and West. Sort of counter-productive. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/23 "2008-07-11T18:54:38Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] I don’t actually know if you can drive directly there from YellowKnife, but you can drive directly the from Whitehorse and stop in Dawson City on the way which is a smallish town with all the supplies you could need on the way. While there if you’re deeply interested you can do unusual things with a frozen toe (with no foot) if you’re into that sort of thing. And it’s actual pavement all the way from there to Inuvik. Just very bumpy pavement. (Dawson is about 5 hours north of Whitehorse and another 4 to Inuvik.) Totally doable in a day. Or you can stay at one of the 20 or so hotels you’ll find on this site:[http://www.dawsoncity.ca/](http://www.dawsoncity.ca/) [/QUOTE] You can’t drive to Inuvik from Yellowknife without backtracking to the Alcan Highway and heading up through Dawson City. There is fuel and lodging along the way, particularly at Eagle Plains, which is about halfway between Dawson City and Inuvik, and at Ft. McPherson just before you ferry across the Peel River. Unless the Dempster Highway has been paved in the last year, I believe you are mistaken. It’s gravel all the way. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/24 "2008-07-11T18:58:23Z")
In the summer? If there is no road, can you drive on the rail road bed? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/25 "2008-07-11T19:37:49Z")
Just for giggles I looked up the stats. From Key West, FL to Deadhorse, AK it would be: 5627.61 miles Time: 112 hrs 5 mins or 4 days 16 hours 5 minutes. Driving an SUV that gets 16mpg, at $4.15/gal it would cost you $1460 one way or $2920 round trip in fuel alone. You would have to fill up over 36 times during your round trip. So take two weeks vacation from work, spend more than one week of it in the car, and have $3 grand in fuel before we talk about hotels. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/26 "2008-07-11T20:06:07Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] Just for giggles I looked up the stats. From Key West, FL to Deadhorse, AK it would be: 5627.61 miles Time: 112 hrs 5 mins or 4 days 16 hours 5 minutes. Driving an SUV that gets 16mpg, at $4.15/gal it would cost you $1460 one way or $2920 round trip in fuel alone. You would have to fill up over 36 times during your round trip. So take two weeks vacation from work, spend more than one week of it in the car, and have $3 grand in fuel before we talk about hotels. [/QUOTE] News flash: you can’t make it from Florida to Deadhorse in 4+ days. No way, no how. It’s a three-day drive just from Seattle to Anchorage. It’s another two days (minimum) from Anchorage to Deadhorse. Unless you’re driving 24/7. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/27 "2008-07-11T20:14:16Z")
Southern people believe that they can drive 65 on Northern roads. While this is true in some places, most Northern highways are riddled with frost heaves and potholes and wildlife. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/28 "2008-07-11T20:17:26Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] News flash: you can’t make it from Florida to Deadhorse in 4+ days. No way, no how. It’s a three-day drive just from Seattle to Anchorage. It’s another two days (minimum) from Anchorage to Deadhorse. Unless you’re driving 24/7. [/QUOTE] He’s quoting Google Maps (or equivalent) travel time. Not how many days you’d need to make it, but how many hours you’d be actually driving. No clue what speed Google assumes you’d make on the sketchier chunks of road. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/29 "2008-07-11T21:18:18Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Unless the Dempster Highway has been paved in the last year, I believe you are mistaken. It’s gravel all the way. [/QUOTE] Sorry - I’m talking about the Whitehorse-Dawson-Inuvik route - it’s pavement from Whitehorse to Dawson and then packed gravel to Inuvik. Here are some pictures of the road: [http://www.youryukon.com/gallery/v/Yukon+Territory/Dempster+Highway/](http://www.youryukon.com/gallery/v/Yukon+Territory/Dempster+Highway/) ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/30 "2008-07-11T21:41:52Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Can You Drive from Winnipeg to Churchill? In the summer? If there is no road, can you drive on the rail road bed? [/QUOTE] No. Gillam MB is the closest community to Churchill with direct road connections to the south. There are no provisions for vehicle operation on or near rail right-of-way. Churchill sees naval vessels, aircraft, dog sleds, trains and tundra buggies arriving. But nothing that needs a road to get there. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/31 "2008-07-11T23:56:12Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Southern people believe that they can drive 65 on Northern roads. While this is true in some places, most Northern highways are riddled with frost heaves and potholes and wildlife. [/QUOTE] Yeah, and the Dalton has those big trucks you have to dodge, and large rocks to avoid. Not a fun road. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/32 "2008-07-12T01:39:40Z")
And roadwork. For three or four years running, summer = road work from Hay River all the way up to YK. They straightened the road from Rae to YK, so it’s lost all of its cachet. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/33 "2008-07-12T04:05:14Z")
Jim and I are planning to drive to Yellowknife or Whitehorse (or both) next year. I’m reading this thread with great interest. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/34 "2008-07-12T04:27:28Z")
Just be warned, “All-Season” tires is a moose-sized lie. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/35 "2008-07-12T14:10:49Z")
I don’t know about that, Bryan Ekers. I never once have had snow tires on any vehicle I’ve owned, neither have my parents, or my sister and her husband. I think snow tires are more common out East than they are on the Prairies or in the North. Our snow is very dry and packs easily, which is very different from the snow we get in (IME) Southern Ontario (Kingston) and here, Baltimore. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/36 "2008-07-12T14:50:41Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Jim and I are planning to drive to Yellowknife or Whitehorse (or both) next year. I’m reading this thread with great interest. [/QUOTE] Just looking at my trusty Milepost Magazine. The Yellowknife road is paved, but you basically have 200 miles of no gas stations, so take that into consideration. Looks like good fishing and berry picking, though. Whitehorse is a piece of cake from Calgary. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/37 "2008-07-12T18:12:53Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Just be warned, “All-Season” tires is a moose-sized lie. [/QUOTE] Sorry, I should have been more clear - we’re planning to go to Whitehorse/Yellowknife IN SUMMER. We’re not, you know, crazy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/38 "2008-07-12T19:02:09Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] I don’t know about that, Bryan Ekers. I never once have had snow tires on any vehicle I’ve owned, neither have my parents, or my sister and her husband. I think snow tires are more common out East than they are on the Prairies or in the North. Our snow is very dry and packs easily, which is very different from the snow we get in (IME) Southern Ontario (Kingston) and here, Baltimore. [/QUOTE] While Kingston does get some fine powdery snow from storms moving in from the north, much more often it gets wet, thick lake effect snow from westerly winds moving across the Great Lakes. Being at the northeast corner of Lake Ontario, it gets hammered with such storms – perhaps not as heavily as the Snow Belt of North Central and Northern New York, dead east of the lake, but still hit hard. (Adding to the New York effect is the fact that the eastern shore of the lake is backed by, first, the Tug Hill Plateau and second, the Western Adirondacks, so that not only do you get saturated-air-moving-onto-land precipitation, but also the air-forced-upwards-by-rising-terrain precipitation, resulting in the heaviest snowfalls east of the Rockies. Kingston is normally on the northern edge of these storms, resulting in significant lake effect snowfalls, though not as severe as what the eastern shore in New York gets. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/39 "2008-07-12T19:43:38Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Sorry, I should have been more clear - we’re planning to go to Whitehorse/Yellowknife IN SUMMER. We’re not, you know, crazy. 😃 [/QUOTE] I gathered; that was just general advice thrown out in conjunction with earlier posters talking about driving the ice roads in winter and whatnot. Southern Ontarians might get by with all-seasons, but it’d be nuts to try that in or anywhere north of Montreal, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090/40 "2008-07-12T19:51:25Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Sorry, I should have been more clear - we’re planning to go to Whitehorse/Yellowknife IN SUMMER. We’re not, you know, crazy. 😃 [/QUOTE] Anyone who has encountered arctic mosquitos in the summer might argue which season is the craziest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-us-how-far-north-in-canada-can-i-drive-a-regular-car-in-the-summer/456090.md?page=3)