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Wilderness drive · Yukon
Klondike Highway: Skagway to Dawson City
The gold-rush route, from a coastal port over the pass to the Klondike.
Overview
The Klondike Highway retraces the stampeders' route from tidewater at Skagway over the White Pass and north to Dawson City. It is the most historically loaded drive in the North and one of the most beautiful.
The South Klondike Highway climbs from Skagway through the White Pass to Carcross, past Emerald Lake and the Carcross Desert to Whitehorse. The North Klondike Highway then runs some 530 km to Dawson City through Braeburn, Carmacks and Pelly Crossing. Roughly 700 km total as an estimate.
Dawson City still has wooden boardwalks and unpaved streets, and the Dempster Highway begins just east of town if you want to keep going north. Border formalities apply between Skagway (Alaska) and Yukon, and border-station hours are seasonal — confirm current crossing hours and documentation requirements before you drive.
Distances and driving times on this page are planning estimates measured door to door without stops. Confirm ferry sailings, seasonal road openings, park access, fuel availability and weather with the operator or provincial highway service before you leave.
Distance
≈ 700 km
Estimate, Skagway → Dawson City
Border
Alaska / Yukon
Seasonal station hours
Connects to
Dempster Hwy
Junction east of Dawson
Pace
5 days
One long northern leg
The route
From start to finish
An approximate path through 6 key waypoints along the drive.
Driving times
Leg by leg
710 km across 5 legs. Times exclude stops, ferries, and weather contingencies.
| # | From → To | Distance | Driving time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Skagway → Carcross | 105 km | 1h 45m | White Pass and border |
| 02 | Carcross → Whitehorse | 75 km | 1h 00m | — |
| 03 | Whitehorse → Carmacks | 180 km | 2h 00m | — |
| 04 | Carmacks → Pelly Crossing | 100 km | 1h 10m | — |
| 05 | Pelly Crossing → Dawson City | 250 km | 2h 50m | — |
| Total | 710 km | 8h+ | Drive time only |
Day by day
The itinerary
A suggested route designed to balance driving time with the stops that matter.
Skagway and the White Pass
Start at tidewater, climb the pass, clear the border, and drop into Yukon lake country.
Carcross to Whitehorse
See Emerald Lake and the Carcross Desert, visit the Carcross Commons, then continue to Whitehorse.
Whitehorse
Walk the SS Klondike sternwheeler and the riverfront, resupply and rest before the long northern leg.
Whitehorse to Dawson City
Long driving day north through Carmacks and Pelly Crossing; watch for wildlife and fuel at every opportunity.
Dawson City
Explore the historic townsite, the Midnight Dome viewpoint and the goldfields at Bonanza Creek.
When to drive
Month by month
Best window: June – September. Plan around shoulder months for fewer crowds at the cost of variable weather.
Budget
Three ways to drive it
Smart
$210–$320/ day
- Drive days
- 5
- Lodging
- Campgrounds, motels and small B&Bs
- Food
- Groceries, bakeries and roadside diners
- Experiences
- Self-guided hikes, beaches and viewpoints
Mid
$360–$590/ day
- Drive days
- 5
- Lodging
- Inns, lodges and mid-range hotels
- Food
- Regional restaurants and one standout meal a day
- Experiences
- One guided tour or ticketed attraction most days
Premium
$910+/ day
- Drive days
- 5
- Lodging
- Boutique hotels, resorts and premium lodges
- Food
- Chef-led tasting menus and producer visits
- Experiences
- Private guides, charters and small-group tours
Editorial picks
Where to stop, sleep, and eat
Stop
Emerald Lake
South Klondike Hwy
The most photographed roadside lake in Yukon.
Stop
SS Klondike
Whitehorse
Dry-docked sternwheeler that explains the whole river era.
Stop
Midnight Dome
Dawson City
The view over the Yukon–Klondike confluence and the goldfields.
Signature stops
Don't miss
White Pass climb from Skagway
Emerald Lake and Carcross Desert
SS Klondike at Whitehorse
Dawson City historic townsite
Before you go
The prep checklist.
Practical things to lock in before you leave the driveway.
- Carry border documents for everyone and check current station hours.
- Fuel at Carmacks and Pelly Crossing; gaps are long.
- Watch for wildlife on the road, particularly at dawn and dusk.
- Nights are cold even in summer — pack layers and a warm sleeping bag.
Where this road leads
Related destinations
Good to know
Frequently
asked.
Practical answers from travellers who have driven this route.
- Do I cross an international border?
- Yes, if you start in Skagway, Alaska. Carry proper travel documents for everyone in the vehicle and check current border-station hours, which are seasonal.
- How far apart is fuel?
- Long. Carmacks and Pelly Crossing are the main stops between Whitehorse and Dawson. Fill up whenever you can and carry water and warm layers.
- Can I continue to the Dempster?
- Yes — the Dempster Highway junction sits just east of Dawson City, which makes this a natural first half of a longer northern expedition.
Planning the bigger trip?
Read our full guide to Canadian road-trip itineraries.
Along this route
Parks, camps, and cities on the drive
Every place below is within a comfortable side-trip of the route waypoints — surfaced automatically from our national-park, provincial-park, campground, and city datasets.
Nearby provincial parks
Nearby campgrounds
Cities along the way
Travel styles
Related experiences
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Nearby events & festivals
Events along the Klondike Highway: Skagway to Dawson City route — worth timing your trip around.
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