(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Route Description
Alaska Highway 3 is 323 miles (520 km) long and runs from 35 miles (56 km) north
of Anchorage to Fairbanks.
The highway, which mostly parallels the Alaska Railroad, is one of the most
important roads in Alaska. It is the main route between Anchorage and Fairbanks,
Alaska's two largest cities, the principal access to Denali National Park and
Preserve and Denali State Park, and the main highway in the Matanuska-Susitna
Valley.
It is a common misconception that the name "Parks Highway" comes from the
road's proximity to the Denali state and national parks; it is in fact in honor
of George Alexander Parks, governor of the Territory of Alaska from 1925 to
1933. However, the aptness of the name was recognized when it was chosen.
Mileposts along the Parks Highway do not begin with 0 (zero). Instead, they
begin with Mile 35 (km 56), continuing the milepost numbering of the Glenn
Highway where the two highways intersect near Palmer. The 0 (zero) mile marker
for the Glenn Highway is at its terminus in downtown Anchorage at the
intersection of East 5th Avenue and Gambell Street. Thus mileposts along the
Parks Highway reflect distance from Anchorage, which is not actually on the
Parks Highway.
