Technically a town, Dawson City (or Dawson as many refer to it) has a special provision allowing it to use the word "City" in its name for historical reasons.

The town was legally incorporated as a city in 1902, but no longer met the criteria for a city by the 1980s. Signs at the town's boundaries read "Welcome to the Town of the City of Dawson".

Tourism and Gold Mining are at the core of Dawson's economy. There are eight National Historic Sites of Canada in Dawson including the Dawson Historical Complex, which encompasses the historic core of the town. The Visitor Information Centre in downtown Dawson City should be your first stop. The friendly staff here have information about everything there is to see and do in this eclectic town.

Diamond Tooth Gerties gambling hall is a must for an evening's entertainment and a daytime activity might have you gold planning in the Klondike River and finding that elusive nugget.  In the summertime, play golf under the midnight sun at the Top of the World or simply enjoy the twenty odd hours of daylight that the locals take for granted.  For a town the size of Dawson, it is packed with things to do and see so make sure you allow enough time in your RV holiday itinerary to fit it all in.

Top 5 Things to Do

  • Pan for Gold at Bonanza Creek
  • Roll the Dice at Diamond Tooth Gerties
  • Sternwheel down the River on the Klondike Spirit
  • Drive to the Summit of Midnight Dome for a Panoramic View of the City
  • Take a Flightseeing Trip over Tombstone Park and the Dawson City Area

Heart of the Klondike Gold Rush

Between 1896 and 1898, Dawson City went from being a small First Nations camp to a thriving city of 40,000 people.  It was shortlived but left a history that is Dawson today.
Old Stores and Boardwalk, Dawson City, Yukon
Old Stores and Boardwalk, Dawson City, Yukon. Photo: Government of Yukon
Dawson City Museum
Dawson City Museum. Photo: Government of Yukon
Horse and Cart in Dawson City, Yukon
Horse and Cart in Dawson City, Yukon
Dawson-city-Burlesque-Girls-Diamond-Tooth-Gerties
Burlesque Girls, Dawson City, Yukon. Photo: Government of Yukon
Dawson City Yukon - Old Gold Mining Dredge Bonanza Creek
Old Gold Mining Dredge Bonanza Creek near Dawson City, Yukon

Relive the Klondike Gold Rush in Dawson City

A visit to Dawson City in Canada's Yukon Territory is like stepping back in time.  Buildings, both restored and in ruins, stand testimony to the towns's colourful story from the great Klondike Gold Rush.
Video courtesy of Travel Yukon

Make sure you call in at the visitor centre. It's a great starting point for your visit to Dawson City. The staff are in gold rush costumes and are very helpful with information about things to do and see. Top rate.
Allen Tait
Australia
The town itself is quaint - not unlike similar gold rush towns of the era but the Dawson City Museum impressed us a lot. A good place to learn about Dawson's history.
Helen Bradford
Maryland

Itineraries that include Yukon

Start/End Whitehorse / Whitehorse
Duration 14 days
Golden Circle
The Golden Circle starts and ends in Whitehorse, taking you over a mountain to the Pacific Ocean and from a coastal rain forest to the world’s smallest desert. The Yukon has pristine rivers and lakes; endless forests teeming with wildlife; and a fascinating Gold Rush history that is so close, dance hall music can still be heard. And anywhere there is a place to park a camper – whether it is in a natural Motorhome or RV park, or beside a stream with no name – a mountain view is practically guaranteed. Please note that if you pick up your RV in any location (except Whitehorse), both the Northern Surcharge fee and the US Travel Fee are applicable to this itinerary.
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Start/End Whitehorse / Whitehorse
Duration 10 days
Klondike Kluane Route
From gold panning to glaciers, this drive packs many of the Yukon’s premier historic attractions and natural wonders into one magnificent loop. The route travels the North Klondike Highway from Whitehorse to Dawson City, then via the Top of the World Highway into Alaska, returning to Canada on the Alaska Highway. It then follows the Alaska Highway through Beaver Creek and Haines Junction to Whitehorse. Please note that if you pick up your RV in any location (except Whitehorse), both the Northern Surcharge fee and the US Travel Fee are applicable to this itinerary.
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Start/End Whitehorse / Whitehorse
Duration 14 days
Northern Lights Tour
So wonderful, so magical, the Northern Lights are a gift to those who live in Canada’s north and Alaska. This heavenly light show shoots green lights this way and red swirls that way as a curtain of white, shimmering light dances before you. And, when the conditions are just right, you can hear them crackle. On your journey from Whitehorse into Alaska, you might just be delighted with them nightly. Please note that if you pick up in any location other than Whitehorse, a northern surcharge fee and the US travel fee will be payable.
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Start/End Vancouver / Vancouver
Duration 24 days
Yukon Explorer
From one of the most livable cities in the world to the untamed wilderness of Canada's Great North, there's so much to discover on this epic road trip from Vancouver to the Yukon Territory. Please note that if you pick up from a location other than Whitehorse, both the northern surcharge and US travel fee will be payable.
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