Trip from Anchorage, AK to Metlakatla, AK

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

49h 17m

Distance

955.5 mi

1,538 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

4-day trip

Fuel Cost

$186

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 133 min

4 AM

48h 33m ★

6 AM

49h 17m

8 AM

50h 46m

10 AM

49h 48m

12 PM

49h 40m

3 PM

49h 53m

5 PM

50h 42m

8 PM

48h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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consolidated city-borough, and largest city in Alaska, United States of America

Anchorage, AK

Wikimedia Commons

Metlakatla, AK

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Anchorage, AK to Metlakatla, AK covers 955.5 miles and takes about 49h 17m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 334.5 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. At current regular gas prices, budget about $186.25 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 4 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

14 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

477.8 miles from Anchorage, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28h 45m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Solo Traveler

49h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-distance drive route profile.

Drive Character

At 955.5 miles and 49h 17m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat and Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat is the longest continuous segment at about 334.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 49h 17m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 395 miles in near Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 955.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 395 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 657.6 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 934.6 miles (AK 7 / Tongass Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

395 mi into trip | ~23h 24m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

657.6 mi into trip | ~40h 24m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

934.6 mi into trip | ~48h 25m in | AK 7 / Tongass Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Tongass Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

934.6 mi into trip | ~48h 25m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

934.6 mi into trip | ~48h 25m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat	334.5 mi	22h
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau	276.8 mi	8h
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat	262.6 mi	17h
Seward Highway	47.1 mi	57m
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla	19.3 mi	44m
Portage Glacier Road	5 mi	7m
Portage Glacier Highway	4.7 mi	10m
West Camp Road	1.5 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat — 334.5 mi, about 22h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Anchorage, AK and Metlakatla, AK.

Start on this road

85 ft · 8 sec · this road

Turn right onto West 4th Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · West 4th Avenue

Turn right onto Gambell Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · Gambell Street

Continue on AK 1

47 mi · 57 min · Seward Highway

Turn left onto FFH 35

5.0 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road

Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

4.7 mi · 10 min · Portage Glacier Highway

Continue on West Camp Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road

Turn right

169 ft · 8 sec

Turn left

248 ft · 4 sec

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

334 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

263 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

277 mi · 8 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Continue on Main Berth Ramp

197 ft · 33 sec · Main Berth Ramp

Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

At end of road, turn right onto AK 7

226 ft · 6 sec · Tongass Avenue

Turn right

128 ft · 9 sec

Turn left

180 ft · 5 sec

At end of road, turn right

335 ft · 34 sec

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla

19 mi · 44 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla

Continue on Ferry Terminal Roas

460 ft · 36 sec · Ferry Terminal Roas

Turn right onto Walden Point Road

1.1 mi · 4 min · Walden Point Road

Continue on Tait Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Tait Street

Turn left onto 4th Avenue

175 ft · 7 sec · 4th Avenue

Arrive at destination

4th Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 4-day trip.

Plan roughly 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 477.8 miles from Anchorage, AK, or about 28h 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 334.5 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 210 miles or 11h 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 477.8 miles or 28h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 238.9 miles or 13h 7m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 47h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metlakatla, 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.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 4-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Anchorage, AK

Aim for roughly 239 miles and 12.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 239 miles and 12.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 239 miles and 12.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 4

Finish the approach into Metlakatla, AK

Aim for roughly 239 miles and 12.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 210 miles from Anchorage, AK.

This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 14 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat for about 334.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 477.8 mi from Anchorage, AK · 28h 45m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Eagle River, AK

315 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Bear Creek, AK

631 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Bear Creek, AK

Overnight Options

Night 1

Eagle River, AK

239 mi · about 12.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 239 miles or 12.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 2

Eagle River, AK

478 mi · about 24.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 478 miles or 24.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 3

Bear Creek, AK

717 mi · about 37h in

A practical overnight split lands near Bear Creek, AK after about 717 miles or 37 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Valdez, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 210 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Haines, AK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 477.8 miles from Anchorage, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 239 miles or 12.3 hours on the road.

Arriving in Metlakatla, AK

The final approach into Metlakatla, AK usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Metlakatla, AK.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Metlakatla, AK with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sandwich Deck Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Anchorage, Alaska

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+19072761401

Visit website

Biscuitclub

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Anchorage, Alaska

0.4 mi

Ginger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Anchorage, Alaska

0.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The Kobuk

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Anchorage, Alaska

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19072723626

Visit website

Dark Horse Coffee Co

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Anchorage, Alaska

0.3 mi

That Feeling Co

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Anchorage, Alaska

0.2 mi

Sandwich Deck Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+19072761401

Visit website

Biscuitclub

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+19072777332

Visit website

Ginger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $40 to $50

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 4–10 pm

+19079293680

Visit website

Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19072762337

Visit website

Palmeira tropical fusion

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+19076692626

Visit website

Midnight Sun Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+19077430572

Visit website

Hula Hands Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+19073394852

Visit website

Wonjo Korean Cuisine

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+19072222992

Visit website

The Kobuk

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19072723626

Visit website

Dark Horse Coffee Co

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 6:45 am–3 pm

+19072790647

Visit website

That Feeling Co

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+19076774393

Visit website

Wild Starr Coffee House

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+19076779453

Visit website

AK Alchemist Coffee

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+19078685000

Visit website

Hightide Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19077208851

Visit website

Coffee and comfort

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 7:30 am–2:30 pm

+19076443971

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Alaska Escape Rooms

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 1–6 pm

+19074446975

Visit website

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Anchorage, Alaska

+19072900482

Visit website

Alaska Museum of Science and Nature

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19072742400

Visit website

Shockwave Trampoline Park

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Anchorage, Alaska

+19073399283

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$186.25 one way

$372.49 round trip

$4.95/gal 25.4 MPG avg 334 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.34	$200.81	$401.61
premium	$5.57	$209.38	$418.76
diesel	$6.37	$239.48	$478.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$186

Hotel (3n)

$240–$420

Meals

$100–$200

Total

$526–$806

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 334.3 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $100 in charging · 3 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	286.7	3	$100.33	$45.86
Efficient EV	238.9	2	$83.61	$38.22
EV Truck/SUV	382.2	4	$133.77	$61.15

Gas CO2

334 kg

EV CO2

112 kg (66% less)

Plan for 3 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Anchorage, AK

Afternoon in Anchorage on Friday

Local time

1:29 PM

AKDT

Current temp

27°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Metlakatla, AK

Afternoon in Metlakatla on Friday

Local time

1:29 PM

AKDT

Current temp

41°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

14 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

49h 17m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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 Metlakatla, AK covers 955.5 miles and takes about 49h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 4-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 239 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 477.8 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 $186.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route from Anchorage, AK to Metlakatla, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Anchorage, AK or browse trips ending in Metlakatla, AK.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AK road trips.

Trip from Anchorage, AK to Metlakatla, AK

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Metlakatla, AK

Nearby Places

Sandwich Deck Restaurant

The Kobuk

Sandwich Deck Restaurant

Biscuitclub

Ginger

Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse

Palmeira tropical fusion

Midnight Sun Cafe

Hula Hands Restaurant

Wonjo Korean Cuisine

The Kobuk

Dark Horse Coffee Co

That Feeling Co

Wild Starr Coffee House

AK Alchemist Coffee

Hightide Coffee

Coffee and comfort

Coffee Queen

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ReCharge Alaska Charging Station

Tesla Destination Charger

ChargePoint Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Alaska Escape Rooms

Anchorage Trolley Tours

Visit Anchorage Log Cabin Visitor Information Center

F Street Station

Segway Tours of Anchorage

Pedal Anchorage

Alaska Museum of Science and Nature

Shockwave Trampoline Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Anchorage, AK

Metlakatla, AK

Same local time

14 degrees warmer at arrival

49h 17m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Anchorage, AK to Metlakatla, AK?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Anchorage, AK to Metlakatla, AK?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Anchorage, AK to Metlakatla, AK?

How this page is built

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