It is now possible for anyone who desires to drive the old Haul Road from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, Alaska. Should you do it? Do you want to drive hundreds of miles on a narrow gravel road? Do you want to be passed by speeding trucks that toss gravel on to your soon-to-be pitted windshield? Do you want to drive hundreds of miles with limited or no services? If you want to do all these things. Then drive the Dalton Highway.
The only logical reason to drive this road is to HAUL something to Prudhoe Bay. You can do it if you want to, but you have been warned. If you have a poor vehicle or a bad back, don't even consider doing it.
The Dalton Highway connects the Elliot Highway to Deadhorse, Alaska. It is 414 miles in length. Gravel, no or soft shoulders. (you are strongly advised to pull over with care as often the shoulders fall aways steeply.) The steepest grade is 12%, highwst summit is Atigun Pass at 4,800 feet. Kept open all year as the professional truck drivers have to get goods, food and materials to Prudhoe Bay. They practically fly up the road as they have all driven it many times. The 18 wheelers spray gravel which assaults windshields and car bodies. If you are driving too slow, they will pass you and you will be breathing dust. Not a nice experience. The MILEPOST says that road conditions vary from 'acceptable to rough'. You have to drive around road maintenance equiipment that has to operature during the summer i.e. construction season of the year.
Calcium chloride is used on the road to try to control dust. It is extremely corresive to vehicles and slippery when wet. Smaller vehicles are required by law to yield to larger commercial vehicles. This means that you absolutely have to pull over when a large vehicle is coming toward you or when one of those are trying to maintain speed to get up at 12 degree grade. If you don't, things could get very ugly.
There are a few service and food areas along the way, but they are very far apart. If you have a vehicle or medical problem along the way, help can be long in coming and very expensive.
The MILEPOST warns that flat tires are extremely common. If you ever needed the MILEPOST, this is it! Order your MILEPOST. the MILEPOST.