Are 7 Days Enough to Drive the Klondike Kluane Loop? A Realistic Yukon Road Trip Itinerary
The Klondike Kluane loop is one of the best road trips in the Yukon and the North. If you can time your road trip for early September, I’d strongly recommend it. The fall colors here are genuinely breathtaking but the trade-off is more unpredictable weather. Also one thing to know in advance is that the Little Gold Border crossing closes mid-September, so you’re working with a tighter margin than in summer.
We rented an RV in Whitehorse and covered 1,400 km by driving the Alaska Highway through Haines Junction and Klondike Highway from Dawson City via Top of the World Highway. On this road trip, you’ll learn about the Gold Rush history, visit Kluane National Park, cross two international borders into Alaska and back into Canada and see some of the most remote landscapes in Canada.
This guide covers a realistic 1 week Klondike Kluane itinerary with practical tips on border crossing, which vehicle to rent and mistakes to avoid as a first timer. You can do this road trip clockwise or counter-clockwise, but this guide covers the clockwise route.
Klondike Kluane Road Trip Map
This Road Trip is Best For
The Klondike Kluane drive is ideal for anyone that enjoys remote road trips, is drawn by the Gold Rush history and wants to drive along the Alaska Highway.
This road trip is not for you, if you don’t enjoy long driving days, don’t like to be disconnected from society for a while and don’t have the right vehicle to drive on gravel roads (such as a sedan). If you prefer an itinerary with more activities, consider driving the longer Alaska and Yukon loop.
If You Only Have 5 Days
If you only have 5 days, you’ll spend most of your days driving. This being said, you can still see the main highlights in just five days, such as Whitehorse, Dawson City and Kluane National Park. If anything, with just 5 days, I would recommend driving to Dawson City and skipping the Kluane area.
The area I would personally not skip though is the Top of the World Highway on the border with Alaska.
If You Have 10 Days
10 days in the Yukon are the best to complete the Klondike Kluane route without feeling rushed. This will allow you to stay flexible with your itinerary in case of uncertain weather or road constructions. You’ll also have time for a side trip to Tombstone Territorial Park.
Best Time to Drive the Klondike Kluane Loop
The best time to drive the Klondike Kluane loop is between mid-June and early September. I drove it in the first week of September, when both border crossings were still open, weather was more reliable and the landscape slowly shifted to fall.
The Top of the World Highway border crossing remains open only between late May and early September. Additionally, the only way to get to Dawson City from the west is to take the free ferry across the Yukon River. This only runs between late May and mid October.
June and July will give you almost 24 hours of daylight, but the trade-off are wildfires, which can bring road closures and affect visibility (especially if you’re taking any scenic flight tours).
What to Know about the Border Crossing
When driving the Klondike Kluane route, you’ll cross two different borders with Alaska and Canada. The first one is the Alcan Border, which is along the Alaska Highway and stays open year round. The second one is at Little Gold Creek, which is the northernmost international border crossing in North America. This is only open between end of May and beginning of September, between 9 am and 7 pm Yukon time.
The schedule is weather dependent, so it’s best to check the main website for any updates before you go. If you won’t make it on time to cross the border, it’s best to stop in either Chicken (Alaska) or Dawson City (Yukon) for the night and cross the border the next day.
Which Vehicle to Drive
Since we did the Klondike Kluane drive as part of a longer Alaska and Yukon road trip, we rented an RV in Whitehorse. If you’re considering doing the same, read my guide on what you should know before renting an RV.
If you don’t take any detours, most of the Klondike Kluane road trip is on paved road. So you don’t necessarily need a high-clearance vehicle, but I’d still recommend it. The section from Tok through Chicken to the Top of the World Highway on the Alaska side is on gravel. This means more dust, loose surface and higher chance of a flat. A truck or SUV gives you a better clearance and I personally would recommend renting one over a sedan.
Also, make sure you check the rental agreement for any restrictions. Roads, such as Dempster Highway, which are mainly on gravel, would not be covered by many insurance companies. We rented with Fraserway that covered these type of gravel roads.
1 Week Klondike Kluane Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Whitehorse
Whitehorse is the start and end point of the Klondike Kluane loop. Honestly, Whitehorse isn’t the reason people do this road trip, but it’s a good starting point for many of the adventures in the North.
I would recommend spending at least half a day in Whitehorse, to check out some of the local shops and grab supplies for the road. If you have the time, take the short and easy walk along Miles Canyon or visit SS Klondike National Historic Site to learn more about the local history.
Day 2: Whitehorse to Kluane Lake
Driving Distance: 308 km (191 miles)
Driving Time: 3.5 hours
See it on Google Maps
The stretch between Whitehorse and Kluane Lake runs along the Alaska Highway. Haines Junction is the natural middle point, just under 2 hours drive from Whitehorse. Along the way enjoy the scenery and try see if you can spot Mount Logan, the tallest mountain in Canada.
We decided to take a detour to Kathleen Lake, just south of Haines Junction, for a short break by the lake. If you have the time, you can stop here for fishing or kayaking as well.
We then continued our Yukon road trip to Kluane Lake. Initially we stopped at a viewpoint along the road with access to the beach before driving ahead to Sheep Mountain. This is a great place to spot Dall sheep or take the short hike to Soldier Mountain. If you do this hike, you’ll find yourself in the exact place where the Alaska Highway was officially opened.
Day 3: Kluane Lake to Beaver Creek
Driving Distance: 188 km (117 miles)
Driving Time: 3 hours
See it on Google Maps
The stretch between Kluane Lake and Beaver Creek is quieter and more remote compared to the previous day. There are fewer stops along the way and more open highway views that will lead you to the border with Alaska.
You can stop at Destruction Bay for the day and do some fishing in Kluane Lake or paddling on the calm waters.
Burwash Landing is the next town you’ll come across, where you can stop at the Kluane Museum of Natural History to see wildlife exhibits and the World’s Largest Goldpan.
Make sure you check your fuel before leaving these communities, as the next stretch of road has no service before the border crossing.
There are many rest areas along the way and a few government campgrounds to spend the night. We didn’t reserve in advance but simply stopped when we were ready for the night.
Day 4: Beaver Creek to Tok
Driving Distance: 176 km (110 miles)
Driving Time: 2.5 hours
See it on Google Maps
On this day, you’ll cross the Port Alcan border between Canada and Alaska. Don’t miss the Alaska sign for some photos before approaching the border crossing.
We found crossing the border with Alaska straightforward. When we drove the Klondike Kluane loop in September, there were no other people in line in front of us. After a passport control and a quick check of our RV, we were free to drive away.
One thing I’ll say is that we immediately noticed the road improvements once we entered Alaska. While Yukon’s roads are more unmaintained, Alaska’s roads are generally well paved.
Day 5-6: Tok to Dawson City
Driving Distance: 298 km (185 miles)
Driving Time: 5.5 hours
See it on Google Maps
When you think of the Klondike Kluane road trip, this leg of the drive is what you’ll remember the most. The Taylow Highway from Tok and the Top of the World Highway near Dawson city are some of the most scenic drives in Alaska and the Yukon in fall. At the beginning of September, the landscape turns golden with foliage varying from yellow to orange and red. We were also lucky to experience Denali National Park in fall, with similar fall foliage and open views.
The portion from the Jack Wade Junction to the border is all gravel, with potholes and unmaintained sections. My advice is to drive slow, bring a spare tire and a repair kit in case of need.
Stop in Tok to stock up on groceries and gas before driving on to Chicken. This quirky town doesn’t have real infrastructure beyond a cafe and a gift shop but it’s good to stretch the legs before continuing on.
The border crossing at Little Gold Creek is a lot smaller than Port Alcan and is only opened seasonally until mid September. You can also only cross it between 9 am and 7 pm. So if you arrive outside of these times, you’ll need to wait until the next day to cross the border.
The Top of the World Highway is one of the most beautiful drives in Canada. You’ll have open views in every direction with several pullouts to stop and enjoy the scenery a bit longer.
If you continue driving on this road you’ll reach Dawson City. But before you do so you’ll need to take the free George Black ferry to cross the Yukon River.
Dawson City is one of the most famous towns in the Yukon due to the gold rush. In fact, in the 80s the town became famous when gold was discovered in a nearby creek.
Day Trip to Tombstone Territorial Park
If you have some extra time, plan a trip to Tombstone Territorial Park just south east of Dawson City. To access this area you’ll drive on the Dempster Highway that connects Klondike Highway in the Yukon with Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. If you decide to drive the entire way to the Arctic Ocean, you’ll also cross the Arctic Circle.
The road is not paved and not ideal for an RV in my opinion. Although we were driving quite slowly, other vehicles weren’t really and a truck coming from the opposite direction landed a rock right on our windshield cracking it a bit. This is where getting an RV insurance was essential. It removed all the worries away.
We stopped at the Tombstone campground for the night after enjoying the colourful mountains along the way. If you can I strongly recommend visiting Tombstone Territorial Park in fall.
Day 7: Dawson City to Whitehorse
Driving Distance: 533 km (331 miles)
Driving Time: 6.5 hours
See it on Google Maps
The stretch from Dawson City to Whitehorse runs along the Klondike Highway and is the last stretch of the Klondike Kluane road trip.
The landscape south of Dawson includes some river valley scenery as well as old dredge tailing piles from the gold rush era. Make a stop at Moose Creek Lodge for coffee but note that if you’re doing the Klondike Kluane road trip in September, it may already be closed.
One of the best stops on this stretch is the Five Finger Rapids. You can take the 219 steps down to the viewing trail for better views and you should set aside at least 30 minutes to complete this walk.
Carmacks is the largest town on this stretch, where you can stop for gas, food or a break. But the stop I had been looking forward to the most was Braeburn Lodge, which unfortunately shut down in May 2026. Here we tried their famous cinnamon buns that were as good as I imagined.
Finish up the road trip with a relaxing stop at Takhini Hot Springs, just 30 minutes outside of Whitehorse. They also have a campground where you can spend the night before returning your vehicle the next day.
Common Mistakes to Avoid on a Klondike Kluane Road Trip
Read below my tips on what you should be aware of before going on a Klondike Kluane road trip.
- Check the border schedule before your trip. If you’re traveling in the shoulder season, either in June or September, you risk that the Little Gold Creek border closes earlier than scheduled due to bad weather. Check here for this year’s schedule.
- Don’t arrive at the Little Gold Creek border crossing after it closes for the day. If you won’t make it on the day, stop at either Chicken or Dawson City for the night instead.
- Keep in mind that the only way to get to Dawson City from the Top of the World Highway is by taking the free George Black Ferry, which only runs seasonally. If this is not an option, you won’t be able to complete the loop as planned.
- Make sure the rental agreement covers gravel highways. Some unpaved routes are not covered by car insurances, so it’s best to know this in advance of your booking.
- Gravel sections require more time to drive. Don’t rush it and budget for more time than Google Maps suggests.
- Don’t run low on fuel and fill up whenever you’re below half a tank. You’ll drive through remote areas with very few gas stations along the way.
- Don’t forget to download offline maps. Cell service is spotty and in some sections completely absent.
