Drive or Fly: Sterling, AK to Ketchikan, AK?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Flying wins

Medium

Flying saves significant time at this distance. Consider driving only if you enjoy the road trip.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

49h 22m

Distance

974.8 mi

Total Cost

$832

CO2

394 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$217

Hotel (1 room, 4 nights) $440

Meals (1 pax, 5 days) $175

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 5 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 9m

1h 34m in the air

Air Distance

784 mi

Total Cost

$298

CO2

200 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sterling, AK → ENA 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 94m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

KTN → Ketchikan, AK 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $243) $243

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Sterling, AK ENA — Kenai Municipal Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Ketchikan, AK KTN — Ketchikan International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ENA and KTN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 45h 13m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	49h 22m	4h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$832	$298
Carbon footprint	394 kg CO₂	200 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Sterling, AK to Ketchikan, AK with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.