Origin
Anchorage, AK
Late night in Anchorage on Friday
Local time
3:52 AM
AKDT
Current temp
27°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anchorage, AK to Palmer, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
43.1 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anchorage, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Palmer, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Anchorage to Palmer is 43.1 miles and takes about 56 minutes via Glenn Highway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop across Alaska is a straightforward drive, mostly on the Glenn Highway, connecting two key Alaskan communities. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns as you transition from urban Anchorage to the more spread-out areas around Palmer. With a drive time under an hour, this trip is perfect for a quick excursion or an easy relocation.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 43.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This is a turn-heavy local drive that clocks in at 43.1 miles. You'll spend your time navigating a mix of city streets, including West 4th Avenue and East 3rd Avenue, before merging onto the Glenn Highway for the longest stretch of 40.2 miles. While the highway itself offers a smoother experience, the overall profile indicates a route that requires frequent adjustments rather than sustained highway cruising. The highway share is 0%, meaning you'll be engaged with the road throughout.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 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 40.2 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 56m drive. You will face about 6 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 1 / Glenn Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 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 1 / Glenn Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto AK 1 / Glenn Highway toward Palmer, Glenallen
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Palmer, Glenallen
6
42.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
West Evergreen Avenue
Turn right onto West Evergreen Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
43.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
South Colony Way
Turn right onto South Colony Way
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Anchorage, AK to Palmer, AK, road signs begin pointing toward Glenallen along the way.
Glenallen
35.7 mi in
|
~44m
|
via AK 1
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Highway | 40.2 mi | 48m |
| West 4th Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| East 3rd Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Evergreen Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Commercial Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Reeve Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Post Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Glenn Highway
— 40.2 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anchorage, AK and Palmer, 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 right at fork onto AK 1
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Glenn Highway
Toward Palmer, Glenallen
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto West Evergreen Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Evergreen Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto South Colony Way
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
South Colony Way
12
Arrive at destination
South Colony Way
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.6 mi from Anchorage, AK · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Anchorage, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Palmer, AK
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Palmer, AK if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.34 one way
$18.68 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $9.82 | $19.65 |
| premium | $5.98 | $10.15 | $20.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Palmer, AK
Late night in Palmer on Friday
Local time
3:52 AM
AKDT
Current temp
24°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
56m 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 Palmer, AK covers 43.1 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Glenn Highway, West 4th Avenue, East 3rd Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.6 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 $9.34 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 56m drive. You will face about 6 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 1 / Glenn Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Anchorage, AK to Palmer, AK, road signs begin pointing toward Glenallen along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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