Driving to the Yukon presents unique challenges, especially for electric vehicle owners. With limited charging options, I wanted to put some thought into a Yukon road trip plan for a potential trip from Vancouver to Whitehorse and Dawson City this summer.
Drawing firsthand insights from Rivian owners who tackled this journey last spring, we’ll dive into essential tips and innovative workarounds for navigating charging gaps along a unique option for the return journey.
Vancouver to Whitehorse – Charging Gaps
Canada’s charging infrastructure has improved significantly since my first EV road trip. Over the years, more and more EV chargers have come online, including in remote locations like the Yukon. This territory has been very progressive with EV initiatives, and its highways have decent L3 coverage. That said, getting there (or away) is the issue.
Driving to the Yukon via HWY 37
Looking at Plugshare, there is a significant stretch between northern British Columbia and the Yukon border with few charging options. Taking HWY 37 north, you can see there is a 500 km+ gap without any charging options. Three L3 chargers are under construction, so this route will be an easy option in the future.
Driving to the Yukon via HWY 97
It’s a similar story driving to the Yukon via HWY 97 through Fort St.John. L3 chargers are on the horizon; however, as of posting this, there are just a couple of L2 options and campgrounds to get you through a 900 km stretch between Fort St.John and Watson Lake, Yukon.
To get some insight on navigating this gap, I contacted Richard and Nicole from evroadtrip.ca, who made the trip last spring in their Rivian R1T.
Experience from Driving to the Yukon in an EV
Richard and Nicole purchased their Rivian R1T 2023 Adventure Model on May 1st and, almost immediately, drove north from Vancouver to the Yukon. It was an ambitious first EV road trip, spanning 2,500 km over 8 days. They have a great log of charging stops on their site, giving a good visualization of where you can charge in this gap.
As you can see, they unitized RV park chargers north of Fort Nelson. As I found, this wasn’t particularly by choice.
Vancouver to Whitehorse Charging Issues
While making their Yukon road trip plan, Richard and Nicole were told they definitely needed an EV-wired Nema 14-50 to TT-30 adapter.
“We certainly did. We were also able to pick up a dual-port TT-30 charger so that you can plug it into 2 plugs at RV parks. This allowed us to charge up overnight rather than over 3 days. It is very useful and highly recommended.”
The latter tip came courtesy of an RV park owner who was kind enough to sell them the part when he saw them charging.
“We just randomly were able to buy the pigtail dual-port adapter in Watson Lake Yukon from an RV campsite owner. Don’t rely on that, lol. Get it before you leave.”
When I asked why they had to rely on RV park chargers rather than the L3 Flo chargers in the Yukon, Richard said that they had run into some issues.
At that point, the Flo fast charging stations didn’t charge Rivian’s specifically. Since we left, some updates to either the vehicle or chargers have made it so the chargers work on our vehicles specifically.”
My Yukon Road Trip plan
Armed with some insight for the trip, I started to piece together my route. Getting from Vancouver to Fort Nelson would not be an issue, as there are plenty of BC Hydro L3 stations along the way. I had previously driven part of this route between Jasper and Vancouver.
Of course, this trip requires a CCS adapter for my Tesla Model Y.
Leg 1 – Vancouver to Quesnel
My first day will likely take me from Vancouver to Quesnel (660 km), and I will charge exclusively at Superchargers along the way. The Billy Barker Casino Hotel in Quesnel has a free EV charger for guests, so it could be a fun place to rest and charge for the night.
Distance – 660 km
Charge Time – 29 min.
Charge Cost – $26 CAD
Leg 2 – Quesnel to Fort St.John
From Quesnel, I’ll top up at the Tesla Supercharger in Prince George, the last of this trip, before making the 435 km leg to Fort St.John. There are two BC Hydro L3 chargers in between, and will likely top up at one, pending bathroom break timing.
I plan to spend the night in Fort St.John as it will be the last stop with hotel charging until Whitehorse, and the next day or two will be long. Looking at Plugshare, the Microtel has free charging for guests.
Leg 3 – Fort St.John to Fort Nelson
The drive between Fort St.John and Fort Nelson is 380 km, so I will top up at the Mile 80 Rest Stop, 55 km north of Fort St.John. This charger is free, which is nice.
ABRP suggests charging to 96%, which is a bit concerning and may require speed monitoring as there are no other charging options. Two L3 chargers are slated to come online on this stretch, making it much more feasible in the future.
Fort Nelson also has a BC Hydro L3 charger in the works; however, if it is not online, I will have to top up at one of the L2 chargers in town and, likely, spend the night. That said, if I am feeling well, I could take advantage of the longer daylight hours and continue on.
Both the Recreation Center and RV park have J1172 options and are next to the Heritage Museum, where I can kill some time.
Leg 5 – Fort Nelson to Liard Hot Springs
From Fort Nelson, it’s 300 km to the Ft. Liard Hot Springs campground. The Northern Rockies Lodge is listed with a J-1772 charger; however, I will likely charge at a 30-amp campsite at the Liard Provincial Park so I can enjoy the hot springs.
Distance – 305 km
Charge Time – 0 min.
Charge Cost – $0.00CAD
Leg 5 – Liard Hot Springs to Whitehorse
The next day should be much easier after being rejuvenated from the hot springs visit. It’s just 208 km from the Liard Hot Springs to Watson Lake, Yukon, where their L3 Flo charging network begins. As needed, I can top up in Teslin and Marsh Lake between there and Whitehorse.
Distance – 646 km
Charge Time – 1 hr 58 min
Charge Cost – $0.00 CAD
Day Trips from Whitehorse
The Edgewater Hotel in downtown Whitehorse is near several charging options and will likely be my home base for a few days while I explore the area. I have stayed there before and like it as it is right downtown and above a great bar and restaurant.
Before continuing north, this will include trips to the Carcorss Desert, Carcross, Miles Canyon, and Skagway, Alaska.
Those looking for accommodations with an EV charger should check out The Big Red Barn.
Leg 5 – Whitehorse to Dawson City
I drove to Dawson City a few years ago and loved it. The town is such an incredible time capsule of the Gold Rush days and has no shortage of quirks, which I love. This includes the can-can dancers at Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall and drinking a cocktail with a human toe in it.
Rock chips aside, thanks to the Yukon charging infrastructure, getting to Dawson City should be relatively easy. L3 chargers in Carmacks, Pelly Crossing, and Stewert Crossing make the 533 km drive very doable.
In Dawson City, there is another L3 Flo charger. There’s also an “unofficial” 14-50 plug listed at the downtown gazebo, which looks like a free overnight charging option. It’s also close to Klondike Kate’s Cabins, which I stayed at last time and enjoyed.
Distance – 533 km
Charge Time – 1 hr 8 min.
Charge Cost – $0.00 CAD
Alaska Marine Highway – A Unique Option
With L3 charging gaps, getting to and from the Yukon is going to be slow going. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; however, if I can avoid backtracking, I always will.
While searching for routes, I stumbled on the Alaska Marine Highway, a ferry service connecting Alaska with Bellingham, Washington… just 90 km south of my home. As such, I am looking into this ferry home.
Dubbed “the poor man’s cruise,” the route is surely scenic. That said, it is definitely not cheap if you bring a vehicle. I’m looking at ~$ $1,700 USD and another few hundred if I can get a room. Failing that, passengers can set up tents on the deck for the two-day+ journey.
Although pricey, the ferry ride looks fantastic and would be an experience. It is also popular, so I am having difficulty finding dates that will work. I will follow up on my Yukon road trip plan with a report and include details on the ferry, should I take it.
Thoughts on this Vancouver to whitehorse road trip?
This Yukon road trip plan from Vancouver to Whitehorse should be unforgettable adventure through some of Canada’s most remote and northern landscapes. By meticulously detailing each leg of the journey with strategic charging stops, estimated times, and associated costs, we’ve addressed the potential challenges posed by charging gaps, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Add in a unique ferry return option for an extra layer of flexibility to the itinerary and the return trip should be pretty wild.
That all said, I would love to hear from those that live up north or have done this Vancouver to Whitehorse road trip in an EV. What challenges did you face? What should I see and do along the way? Where should I eat while I charge? Let me know in the comments below!
