Origin
Anchorage, AK
Morning in Anchorage on Friday
Local time
11:22 AM
AKDT
Current temp
27°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anchorage, AK to Big Lake, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 30m
Distance
64.6 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 24m
★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anchorage, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Big Lake, AK
Albert Koenig
Trip Overview
The drive from Anchorage, AK to Big Lake, AK covers 64.6 miles and takes about 1h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Glenn Highway, East Parks Highway, West Big Lake Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33 miles on Glenn Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.3 miles from Anchorage, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 64.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 30m drive with frequent turns across 64.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Glenn Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 33 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 4th Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (Reeve Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 4th Avenue
Turn right onto West 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Reeve Boulevard
Turn right onto Reeve Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
35.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
4
57.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
South Big Lake Road
Enter roundabout onto South Big Lake Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
63.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
South Jay Sedor Street
Turn right onto South Jay Sedor Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Anchorage, AK and Big Lake, AK, road signs point toward Wasilla and Fairbanks.
Wasilla
35.7 mi in
|
~44m
|
via AK 3
Fairbanks
35.7 mi in
|
~44m
|
via AK 3
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Highway | 33 mi | 38m |
| East Parks Highway | 14.5 mi | 20m |
| West Big Lake Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| West Susitna Parkway | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| West Parks Highway | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| South Big Lake Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| West 4th Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| South Jay Sedor Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Glenn Highway
— 33 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anchorage, AK and Big Lake, AK.
1
Start on this road
85 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto West 4th Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West 4th Avenue
3
Continue on Post Road
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Post Road
4
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 3rd Avenue
5
Continue on Commercial Drive
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Commercial Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto Reeve Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Reeve Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto AK 1
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
East 5th Avenue
8
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3
15 mi
·
20 min
·
East Parks Highway
Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on AK 3
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto West Big Lake Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
West Big Lake Road
12
Enter roundabout onto South Big Lake Road
197 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Big Lake Road
13
Continue on South Big Lake Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South Big Lake Road
14
Continue on West Susitna Parkway
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
West Susitna Parkway
15
Turn right onto South Jay Sedor Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jay Sedor Street
16
Turn right onto West Tinkerbell Court
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Tinkerbell Court
17
Continue on South Crocodile Way
345 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Crocodile Way
18
Arrive at destination
South Crocodile Way
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.3 miles from Anchorage, AK, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 14 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.3 miles or 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Lake, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anchorage, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anchorage, AK
This is one driving day of about 64.6 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Anchorage, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Glenn Highway for about 33 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.3 mi from Anchorage, AK · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.3 miles from Anchorage, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Big Lake, AK
The final approach into Big Lake, AK usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.00 one way
$28.00 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $14.72 | $29.45 |
| premium | $5.98 | $15.21 | $30.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.26 | $28.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.78 | $3.10 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.04 | $4.13 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Big Lake, AK
Morning in Big Lake on Friday
Local time
11:22 AM
AKDT
Current temp
27°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Anchorage, AK to Big Lake, AK covers 64.6 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Glenn Highway, East Parks Highway, West Big Lake Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.3 miles from Anchorage, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (Reeve Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Anchorage, AK and Big Lake, AK, road signs point toward Wasilla and Fairbanks.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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