Drive Time
40h 41m
Distance
670.3 mi
1,079 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$146
one way
Photo: Albert Koenig
Traveling from Anchorage to Juneau is a major undertaking that covers 670.3 miles and requires approximately 40 hours and 41 minutes of travel time. Because this route relies heavily on the Alaska Marine Highway—specifically the Whittier-Yakutat and Juneau-Yakutat segments—it is not a standard road trip that you can complete in a single day. We recommend planning for at least 4 days to navigate the transit logistics effectively. You should budget around $146 for fuel, though your actual costs will fluctuate based on the vehicle and specific ferry schedules. This journey is best viewed as a multi-modal expedition rather than a simple highway cruise, so prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace as you move through these Alaskan regions.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
11 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
335.2 miles from Anchorage, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19h 27m into the drive .
Expect a unique experience behind the wheel, as this route has a highway share of 0%, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time on the water rather than asphalt. The Seward Highway provides the initial land-based portion of your journey before you transition to the Alaska Marine Highway system. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Whittier-Yakutat leg, which spans 334.5 miles. While you won't be navigating typical interstate traffic, the technical nature of coordinating ferry segments requires careful attention to your schedule. The transition from road driving to maritime travel defines the personality of this trip, offering a stark contrast to standard continental road travel.
At 40h 41m, 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 early in the drive near West 4th Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 670.3 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: near the start (West 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 395 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 657.7 miles (AK 7 / Glacier Highway): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto West 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Glacier Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Highland Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | 334.5 mi | 22h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| Seward Highway | 47.1 mi | 57m |
| Egan Drive | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 7m |
| Portage Glacier Highway | 4.7 mi | 10m |
| Glacier Highway | 4 mi | 4m |
| West Camp Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Anchorage, AK and Juneau, AK.
Start on this road
Turn right onto West 4th Avenue
Turn right onto Gambell Street
Continue on AK 1
Turn left onto FFH 35
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
Continue on West Camp Road
Turn right
Turn left
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Continue
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7
Enter roundabout onto AK 7
Continue on AK 7
Turn straight onto AK 7
Turn left onto Highland Drive
Turn right onto Glacier Avenue
Turn left onto West 9th Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
When planning your departure, prioritize your ferry reservations well in advance, as these bookings dictate your entire timeline. With 11 stops along the way, pacing is essential; use these intervals to manage your fuel budget and rest properly. Given the total duration of over 40 hours, splitting the trip into four distinct segments is the most practical way to avoid burnout. Since you are relying on the Alaska Marine Highway for the majority of the distance, always check for service alerts or schedule changes before you leave Anchorage. Treat the ferry crossings as part of your active travel time rather than just downtime, as these segments represent the most significant portion of your journey.
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.
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 147 miles or 7h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 335.2 miles or 19h 27m 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 167.6 miles or 8h 26m
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 37h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Juneau, AK than in the middle of the route.
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 168 miles and 10.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 168 miles and 10.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 168 miles and 10.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Juneau, AK
Aim for roughly 168 miles and 10.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 335.2 mi from Anchorage, AK · 19h 27m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
221 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.
Night 1
168 mi · about 10.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 168 miles or 10.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
335 mi · about 20.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Girdwood, AK after about 335 miles or 20.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
503 mi · about 30.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Haines, AK after about 503 miles or 30.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 147 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 335.2 miles from Anchorage, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 168 miles or 10.2 hours on the road.
The final approach into Juneau, 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 Juneau, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Juneau, 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.
Regular Gas
$145.88 one way
$291.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.82 | $153.46 | $306.91 |
| premium | $6.02 | $158.92 | $317.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $148.92 | $297.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$146
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$486–$766
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 234.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $70 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 201.1 | 2 | $70.38 | $32.17 |
| Efficient EV | 167.6 | 1 | $58.65 | $26.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 268.1 | 3 | $93.84 | $42.90 |
Gas CO2
235 kg
EV CO2
78 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Anchorage on Saturday
Local time
2:17 PM
AKDT
Current temp
30°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Juneau on Saturday
Local time
2:17 PM
AKDT
Current temp
30°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
29°F
Girdwood, AK
221 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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