Various questions for a Yukon-Alaska road trip

Hi everyone, I’m finally heading to the Yukon in May-June 2025 and also Alaska. My flight is booked, the truck camper too, but I’m a bit stuck on visas: I’ll arrive in Canada by plane, drive to Alaska by road, and return to Canada by road before flying out again. Is the eTA sufficient? I’d also love to hear from people who’ve done this trip—great tips, places to stay, warnings, or personal experiences! What about bear spray? Where can I find it, and how much does it cost? I’ll be spending a few days in Whitehorse when I arrive on May 8th, and again the weekend of June 20th—any suggestions for accommodation are welcome. I’m Belgian and flying out of Germany.

Hello everyone, I’m finally going to discover the Yukon in May-June 2025 and Alaska as well. My flight is booked, the truck camper too, but I’m a bit stuck on visas: I’ll arrive in Canada by plane, drive to Alaska by road, and return to Canada by road as well, where I’ll fly out from. Is the eTA sufficient? I’m Belgian and flying out of Germany.

I’m not familiar with this area, but don’t forget that in addition to the eTA, you’ll need a US ESTA since Alaska is a US state. 😉

I’m flying into Canada, driving to Alaska, and returning to Canada by road before flying out again. Is an eTA sufficient?

No, since 2022, if you don’t have a U.S. visa (B2, etc.), you also need a valid ESTA to re-enter the U.S., even if you’re not arriving by plane. (Previously, it was a form to fill out at the border or online—the I-94—which only cost $6 instead of the ESTA’s $21.)

Bear spray can be found in many stores (gun shops, fishing supply stores, sporting goods stores, and park visitor centers) and costs around $30 CAD. I don’t remember if it’s the same in the Yukon (we bought ours in Alberta), but some Canadian provinces require ID and a signed declaration when purchasing. At border crossings, you should declare it to the customs officer—again, depending on the state, it may be considered a weapon.

We traveled through the Yukon and Alaska in a camper van, but not during the same time of year (August-September). For reference, here are our travel journals: https://lapinousonroad.com/pages/yukon-alaska.html

Of course I’m taking both 😄, I forgot to specify. I think I read somewhere that the rules were different when traveling by road. Thanks Mitch.

Hi there, It used to be the case a few years ago, but not anymore. Be careful to get visas from the official websites where they cost almost nothing. I’ve been there several times—the last time was in September 2024. I’ve got tons of info if you need any!

How are your preparations going? We’ve got a beautiful start to spring here in the Yukon. The political atmosphere is a bit tense because of the orange kid and his tariffs on s... Canadians have become very cautious at U.S. border crossings, avoiding them as much as possible. Skagway is really feeling the impact. But Europeans are still welcome at Uncle Sam’s, in my opinion. Don’t buy bear spray—take one of mine. Hope I get the chance to meet you when you arrive in Whitehorse