Check Bookings and Schedules Before Finding Your Seat

How to get there: I boarded the bus for Fairbanks, Alaska, in Vancouver because I wanted to see the scenery north of Vancouver. But there are a number of departure points from the United States or Canada, provided one can get to Dawson Creek in British Columbia, the start of the Alaska Highway.

Greyhound Lines of Canada (not affiliated with Greyhound in the United States) covers the first 1,600 miles of the journey from Vancouver. Its coaches depart for Prince George from the bus station in downtown Vancouver daily except Sunday at 8:30 a.m. However, travelers can buy a through ticket all the way to Whitehorse, the principal city in the Yukon Territory. Service on the Vancouver-Whitehorse leg is provided year-round.

From Whitehorse, the carrier is Alaskon Express, operated by Gray Line of Alaska. If you are making same-day connections, there is a seven-hour layover in Whitehorse. The one-way cost from Vancouver to Fairbanks is about $257 U.S., depending on the exchange rate.

When to go: Connecting bus service to Alaska from Whitehorse in the Yukon is available only in the summer months. This summer, the bus departs Tuesdays and Fridays until Sept. 14. The long summer days in the north make it possible to sightsee from the bus almost around the clock.

The temperature generally is warm during the day in summer, but nights can get chilly. Travelers may also need a sweater or light jacket when the bus stops in a mountain village, as it often does. I experienced heavy rain only on the first day out from Vancouver, apparently one more in a succession of stormy days that had swollen rivers already full from melted snow. The remaining four days were sunny and very pleasant.

Accommodations: All of the villages and cities where you must change buses have motels close to the bus station if you choose to stop en route. The communities with the most facilities are Prince George, Dawson Creek and Whitehorse.

There is an obligatory overnight layover in Beaver Creek in the Yukon. Make reservations in advance because the three motels there often fill up. All three have restaurants.

--Westmark Inn Beaver Creek: A deluxe motel at deluxe prices. Double room is about $110 U.S. For more information, call (403) 862-7501.

--Ida’s Motel & Cafe: A local hangout with a good restaurant, a popular bar and 14 modest rooms. Double room is about $45 U.S. My full dinner of barbecued pork ribs, salad, dessert, beer and tip came to about $18. (403) 862-7223.

--Marvin’s Roost: An even more modest motel. Most rooms have a shared bath. Double room is about $38 U.S. (403) 862-7516.

Public or private campgrounds are available in every community, and there’s usually one close to the bus stop.

Between Vancouver and Fairbanks, the towns through which the bus passes are small enough that you can easily walk almost anywhere.

For more information: For bus service from points in Canada to Whitehorse, contact Greyhound Lines of Canada at (604) 662-3222. For service from Whitehorse onward to destinations in Alaska, call Alaskon Express, (800) 544-2206.