Where to go, there are not many options...

There are very few places in North America where you can drive all the way to the Arctic Ocean.

Barrow, Alaska - No roads connect here from the outside world, so this isn't an option.

Prudhoe Bay, Alaska - You can drive close, but the last stretch through oil fields is restricted access. Drive to Deadhorse AK, then tour bus to Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean. This route would be about 5100 miles round trip.


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Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada - 62 miles from the Arctic Ocean.  We need to determine if there is a way to get that last 62 miles on a tour or some other method. I have heard you can get there by dogsled, but that is only in the winter. This route would be about 4500 miles round trip.


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Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada - North of Inuvik, on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, available by ice roads in the winter, and by plane in the summer.

Nanisivik, Canada - An abandoned town, that appears to be not accessible by road.  Further east that we plan to travel.  This doesn't look like a viable option.

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada - Technically on Hudson Bay, and not on the Arctic Ocean.  Also much further east that we wish to travel.

There are a few other locations in Norway and Russia, but these are certainly not an option for this trip.


It looks like Prudhoe Bay, Inuvik, or Tuktoyaktuk are the only options.


Perhaps we should travel from Ferndale WA (Home) to Prudhoe Bay, then to Inuvik, then home again.


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This route would be about 6100 miles. Google maps says it would be 7 days of travel time, but 7 days appears too short looking at the routes and road conditions.


Here is another option that includes Vancouver Island BC, Anchorage AK, and less overlap on the same roads on the way up as on the way back. Estimates at 6700 miles.


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