Origin
College, AK
Night in College on Tuesday
Local time
11:08 PM
AKDT
Current temp
23°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from College, AK to Sitka, AK
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
57h 14m
Distance
1172.5 mi
1,887 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$254
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
56h 23m
★
6 AM
57h 14m
8 AM
58h 57m
10 AM
57h 50m
12 PM
57h 40m
3 PM
57h 56m
5 PM
58h 52m
8 PM
56h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
College, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Sitka, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from College, AK to Sitka, AK covers a considerable distance of 1172.5 miles, demanding an estimated 57 hours and 14 minutes of travel time. This extensive route, spanning across Alaska, is best tackled over approximately 4 recommended days rather than attempting it as a single day trip. The primary roads you'll navigate include the George Parks Highway and segments of the Alaska Marine Highway, specifically the Whittier-Yakutat and Juneau-Yakutat routes. With a projected fuel cost of around $254 and 16 planned stops, this trip offers a comprehensive Alaskan experience. Prepare for a significant commitment, as this is a long-distance adventure.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
16 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
586.3 miles from College, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19h 48m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This route is characterized by its unique blend of highway driving and marine travel, with a 0% highway share suggesting a focus on scenic byways and ferry services. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 334.5 miles along the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. As you progress, the landscape will likely shift dramatically, moving from interior highway views to coastal and island scenery as you transition to the marine segments. Expect a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged with changing environments.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 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 57h 14m, 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 1.2 miles in near West Tanana Drive.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 1172.5 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 1.2 miles (West Tanana Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.8 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 749.1 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Tanana Drive
Enter roundabout onto West Tanana Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
AK 3 / George Parks Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
749.1 mi into trip
|
~30h 31m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
1011.7 mi into trip
|
~47h 31m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
1172.5 mi into trip
|
~57h 14m in
|
Baranof Street
Turn right onto Baranof Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | 334.5 mi | 22h |
| George Parks Highway | 299.2 mi | 5h 57m |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau | 153.9 mi | 9h 29m |
| Seward Highway | 47.1 mi | 57m |
| Glenn Highway | 33.1 mi | 38m |
| West Parks Highway | 18.7 mi | 26m |
| Halibut Point Road | 6.6 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between College, AK and Sitka, AK.
1
Start on College Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
College Road
2
Continue on Alumni Drive
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Alumni Drive
3
Continue on Tanana Loop
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Tanana Loop
4
Enter roundabout onto West Tanana Drive
140 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Tanana Drive
5
Continue on West Tanana Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Tanana Drive
6
Continue on Sheep Creek Road
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Sheep Creek Road
7
Continue on Sheep Creek Road
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Sheep Creek Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto AK 3
299 mi
·
5 hr 57 min
·
George Parks Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on AK 3
19 mi
·
26 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on AK 1
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn left onto AK 1
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gambell Street
13
Continue on AK 1
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Seward Highway
14
Turn left onto FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
15
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
16
Continue on West Camp Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
17
Turn right
169 ft
·
8 sec
18
Turn left
248 ft
·
4 sec
19
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
20
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
21
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
154 mi
·
9 hr 29 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
22
Continue
0.1 mi
·
50 sec
23
At end of road, turn right onto F-99
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Halibut Point Road
24
Enter roundabout onto S-933
117 ft
·
1 sec
·
Sawmill Creek Road
25
Continue on S-933
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Sawmill Creek Road
26
Turn right onto Baranof Street
221 ft
·
9 sec
·
Baranof Street
27
Arrive at destination
Baranof Street
Trip Plan
Given the 57-hour duration, splitting this trip over 4 days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue and allow for necessary rest. Plan your departures strategically, perhaps in the morning, to maximize daylight hours for driving and any potential stops. With 16 stops planned, aim for a consistent pace, ensuring you refuel whenever opportunities arise, especially before embarking on longer stretches like the 334.5-mile segment. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge; it's a crucial consideration for this extensive Alaskan drive.
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 16 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 586.3 miles from College, AK, or about 19h 48m 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 220 miles or 4h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 586.3 miles or 19h 48m 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 293.1 miles or 5h 52m
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 53h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sitka, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving College, 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 College, AK
Aim for roughly 293 miles and 14.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 293 miles and 14.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 293 miles and 14.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Sitka, AK
Aim for roughly 293 miles and 14.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from College, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 16 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 586.3 mi from College, AK · 19h 48m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
387 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
774 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 Wasilla, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
293 mi · about 14.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 293 miles or 14.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
586 mi · about 28.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 586 miles or 28.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
879 mi · about 42.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 879 miles or 42.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 586.3 miles from College, 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 293 miles or 14.3 hours on the road.
Arriving in Sitka, AK
The final approach into Sitka, 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 Sitka, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Sitka, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$254.12 one way
$508.24 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
410 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $267.23 | $534.46 |
| premium | $5.98 | $276.05 | $552.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $258.87 | $517.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$254
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$594–$874
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 410.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $123 in charging · 4 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 351.8 | 4 | $123.11 | $56.28 |
| Efficient EV | 293.1 | 3 | $102.59 | $46.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 469 | 5 | $164.15 | $75.04 |
Gas CO2
410 kg
EV CO2
137 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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
Sitka, AK
Night in Sitka on Tuesday
Local time
11:08 PM
AKDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
27°F
Palmer, AK
387 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
15 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
57h 14m 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 College, AK to Sitka, AK covers 1172.5 miles and takes about 57h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, George Parks Highway, 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 293 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 586.3 miles from College, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $254.12 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 16 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 1172.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (West Tanana Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.8 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 749.1 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
The route from College, AK to Sitka, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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