Yes, I would recommend driving it.  We returned mud caked and tar spattered (not sure where we even got that) and with more than a few chips in paint and windshield.  We spent most of two days washing, bug and tar removing, and waxing. 

Everything is all clean and pretty again.

The drive is a wonderful taste of Alaska wilderness.  It was fascinating to watch plant and animal life change around us as we traveled out and then back.  We looked a lot though, not able to really get far off the roadway.  I think I would like to explore Alaska wilderness by raft down one of the back country rivers.  It seems like a great way to immerse more completely.  I say that now that we are comfortably out of the really thick mosquitoes!