Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Alaska is the number one bucket list destination for RVers, year after year. It is also the trip most of them never take, because the planning looks overwhelming and the guided caravan brochures cost a fortune.
Jim and Marcia Badhorn did not sign up for a caravan. They planned a 90-day Alaska trip themselves, start to finish, and just got back. In this episode, they walk us through how they did it: how far ahead they started, what actually had to be booked in advance, what they would do differently, and what it really feels like to be out there hundreds of miles from anything without a group in front of you.
Also in this episode, Jennifer and I are camping for the first time all summer after her knee replacement, and we are heading to a mini meetup with about two dozen RVCommunity members in Oakland County, Michigan. We also explain why we are now a two RV household, and what we plan to do with a used Winnebago View that we are not replacing the Brinkley with.
In our Questions of the Week, Jennifer answers a listener who is nervous about her first boondocking trip and does not understand where the water comes from, and I answer Jim in Lubbock, Texas on whether towing a 15,000 pound fifth wheel really burns more DEF.
LINKS
Show notes and full transcript: rvpodcast.com
Free RV Lifestyle newsletter: rvlifestyle.com/newsletter
Join RVCommunity: rvcommunity.com
RVOvernights, 40% off with code RVLDEAL: rvlifestyle.com/rvovernights
Open Roads diesel discount program: myopenroads.com
The Milepost, Alaska trip planner: themilepost.com
Sunshine State RVs, Gainesville, FL: sunshinestatervs.com
00:00 – Intro: The $12.50 Half-Gallon of Milk Surprise
00:48 – Welcome to the RV Podcast: Stories from the Road Edition
01:25 – Channel Update: Mike and Jennifer’s First Camping Trip of the Summer
02:52 – Big News: Meet the New Winnebago View 24R
04:59 – Community Spotlight: Why RVCommunity.com was Created
06:39 – Conversation of the Week: Planning an Alaska RV Trip Solo
08:46 – Interview with Jim and Marcia Badhorn: 91 Days in Alaska
10:32 – The Importance of "The Milepost" Guide
11:56 – Budgeting Time: Why 2+ Months is the Sweet Spot
13:34 – The 3:30 Rule and Driving Pace in Alaska
14:40 – Boondocking at Pulloffs: What to Expect
17:08 – Managing Power: Solar, Lithium, and Generators
18:50 – Route Highlights: Fairbanks, Denali, Seward, and Beyond
21:08 – Debunking Alaska Highway Myths: Frost Heaves and Road Conditions
23:36 – Fishing and Food: Finding the Best Cinnamon Rolls
24:47 – Dealing with Alaska’s Giant Mosquitoes
26:18 – Crossing the Border: Paperwork, Pets, and Forbidden Chicken
28:04 – Wildlife Encounters: Bears, Moose, and "Sasquatch"
31:41 – Summary Advice for Future Alaska Travelers
35:08 – RVOvernights.com: Unique Stays at Wineries and Ranches
36:12 – Question of the Week: Advice for First-Time Boondockers
39:07 – Question of the Week: Diesel Trucks and DEF Consumption
42:21 – Outro and Review Request
► If you want help planning and organizing your own RV trips, we have put all our guides, tools, RV travel apps and checklists together in one place.
You will find it all rvlifestyle.com/plan
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and click the bell icon to be notified of new videos and our YouTube Live special reports from the cool places we visit on our RV adventures.
Please note this channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not simply sharing our opinions and what seems to work for us. You should do your own research and make your own decisions.
Alaska is the number one bucket list destination for RVers, year after year. It is also the trip most of them never take, because the planning looks overwhelming and the guided caravan brochures cost a fortune.
Jim and Marcia Badhorn did not sign up for a caravan. They planned a 90-day Alaska trip themselves, start to finish, and just got back. In this episode, they walk us through how they did it: how far ahead they started, what actually had to be booked in advance, what they would do differently, and what it really feels like to be out there hundreds of miles from anything without a group in front of you.
Also in this episode, Jennifer and I are camping for the first time all summer after her knee replacement, and we are heading to a mini meetup with about two dozen RVCommunity members in Oakland County, Michigan. We also explain why we are now a two RV household, and what we plan to do with a used Winnebago View that we are not replacing the Brinkley with.
In our Questions of the Week, Jennifer answers a listener who is nervous about her first boondocking trip and does not understand where the water comes from, and I answer Jim in Lubbock, Texas on whether towing a 15,000 pound fifth wheel really burns more DEF.
LINKS
Show notes and full transcript: rvpodcast.com
Free RV Lifestyle newsletter: rvlifestyle.com/newsletter
Join RVCommunity: rvcommunity.com
RVOvernights, 40% off with code RVLDEAL: rvlifestyle.com/rvovernights
Open Roads diesel discount program: myopenroads.com
The Milepost, Alaska trip planner: themilepost.com
Sunshine State RVs, Gainesville, FL: sunshinestatervs.com
00:00 – Intro: The $12.50 Half-Gallon of Milk Surprise
00:48 – Welcome to the RV Podcast: Stories from the Road Edition
01:25 – Channel Update: Mike and Jennifer’s First Camping Trip of the Summer
02:52 – Big News: Meet the New Winnebago View 24R
04:59 – Community Spotlight: Why RVCommunity.com was Created
06:39 – Conversation of the Week: Planning an Alaska RV Trip Solo
08:46 – Interview with Jim and Marcia Badhorn: 91 Days in Alaska
10:32 – The Importance of "The Milepost" Guide
11:56 – Budgeting Time: Why 2+ Months is the Sweet Spot
13:34 – The 3:30 Rule and Driving Pace in Alaska
14:40 – Boondocking at Pulloffs: What to Expect
17:08 – Managing Power: Solar, Lithium, and Generators
18:50 – Route Highlights: Fairbanks, Denali, Seward, and Beyond
21:08 – Debunking Alaska Highway Myths: Frost Heaves and Road Conditions
23:36 – Fishing and Food: Finding the Best Cinnamon Rolls
24:47 – Dealing with Alaska’s Giant Mosquitoes
26:18 – Crossing the Border: Paperwork, Pets, and Forbidden Chicken
28:04 – Wildlife Encounters: Bears, Moose, and "Sasquatch"
31:41 – Summary Advice for Future Alaska Travelers
35:08 – RVOvernights.com: Unique Stays at Wineries and Ranches
36:12 – Question of the Week: Advice for First-Time Boondockers
39:07 – Question of the Week: Diesel Trucks and DEF Consumption
42:21 – Outro and Review Request
► If you want help planning and organizing your own RV trips, we have put all our guides, tools, RV travel apps and checklists together in one place.
You will find it all rvlifestyle.com/plan
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and click the bell icon to be notified of new videos and our YouTube Live special reports from the cool places we visit on our RV adventures.
Please note this channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not simply sharing our opinions and what seems to work for us. You should do your own research and make your own decisions.
