By Kristin Bigsby

Contrary to popular belief, recreational vehicle park proprietors and RV owners themselves agree near-record gas prices aren't keeping travelers from Haines.

The average price of gas this week in Haines was $2.55 per gallon—up 31 cents from April, when fuel prices were reportedly the highest ever in Haines. As for the rest of the country, the American Automobile Association reports a $1.91 per gallon national average, which has mellowed from spring months where it stood above $2. (It’s still high; a year ago prices were $1.48 per gallon.)

Nora and James Woolbright, who drove north along the Al-Can Highway from Lake Havasu, Ariz. to get to Haines, said it costs nearly $150 to fill the tank in their 36-foot mobile home.

In the Yukon Territory and British Columbia, prices range from 80 cents to $1 Canadian per liter. That’s $2.17 to $2.70 per gallon after metric conversions and exchange rates are accounted for.

The Woolbrights said they’re not discouraged by fuel costs "at all," despite the fact their Chevy-454 engine gets only seven miles to the gallon. Fueling up is commonplace: $150 here, $150 again, just miles down the road.

"It’s all part of being an RV owner," James said. "We’d be more discouraged by long lines at the grocery store. The prices haven’t had that much effect on us. A year ago it was $3 a gallon in Arizona."

"These folks have planned to spend money on gas," said John Schnabel, who’s owned the Oceanside RV Park for 20 years.

He said RV tourism has dropped noticeably since 2000.

Most of the 22 customers hooked up at his full-service park this week are visitors returning to Alaska for the second or third time, and business comes in waves with weekends or holidays, he said.

Tourism director Lori Stepansky said the high prices don’t appear to be a deterrent to travelers.

"When people are requesting information about Haines, they do ask what the price of gas is here... We haven’t heard any complaints, but people do mention it will cost a lot to get up here...but they say they’ll come anyway," Stepansky said.

"We don’t hear any comments about people having to take out a second mortgage to afford fuel," said Jeff Butcher, owner of the Port Chilkoot Campground since 2002. Butcher said this year he’s seen a modest increase in RV business. "I’ve only heard casual mentions of gas prices. If people want to travel in their RVs, they expect to pay for gas."

Owners of Haines Hitch-Up RV Park, the largest of three full-service parks in Haines, declined to comment on traffic trends this year.

"Someone who owns a $100,000 RV...I don’t think a few extra dollars for gas will influence them that much," said John Beiler, director of tourism development in Juneau, where business is up for the largest RV park in the city, Spruce Meadows.

"We’re renting about 20 percent more than last year," owner Linda Williams said. "Strangely enough, I’ve heard little about gas prices affecting RV travelers. They built it into their budget to begin with."

Compared to last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports a slight increase in vehicle traffic during May, and as of Tuesday, a 2.17 percent decrease for June.

What attracts many RVers to the region is the Golden Circle: a loop through Juneau, Skagway, Whitehorse and Haines.

"It’s extremely popular, whether people are driving themselves up the Alaska Highway, or flying in and renting an RV," said Anthony Trombetta, receptionist at the visitors' center in Whitehorse, where many tourists begin the Golden Circle.

RV travel is by far the most popular form of tourism in the Yukon, he said.

And it’s a significant part of Alaska’s tourism economy, Beiler said.

"RVers stay long and travel further. They take tours, buy groceries, gasoline, and shop in stores," he said. "Apparently, highway travel is down this year statewide."

Trombetta said a good portion of travelers who rent RVs (a recent trend), are European. They pre-book vehicles, and explore the Yukon and Alaska for months on-end.

"Our people are so far prepaid, making bookings between October and January. The effects of gas prices this year wouldn’t be felt until next year," said Sten Linde, station manager at Whitehorse’s CanaDream Campers, which rents trucks and motor homes.

The rigs, a bit smaller than ones American RV owners purchase, average 10-15 miles per gallon, he said.

"Everyone knows the price of gas goes up in summer... Once they’ve paid $5,000 to rent an RV, they’re not really worried about gas prices," Linde said.

Tino Voigt of Saxony, Germany, came to Haines last week—on his way around the Golden Circle with his wife—in an RV he rented in Whitehorse.

"For Europeans, gas is cheap in America and Canada," he said. "I would say…it’s about $4.50 a gallon for gas in Germany. And, my car there gets bad mileage, even compared to this (RV). This is fun. Gas…costs no matter what."