Origin
Fairbanks, AK
Night in Fairbanks on Friday
Local time
9:40 PM
AKDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairbanks, AK to Ketchikan, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55h 41m
Distance
1294 mi
2,082 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$280
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
54h 52m
★
6 AM
55h 42m
8 AM
57h 22m
10 AM
56h 17m
12 PM
56h 7m
3 PM
56h 22m
5 PM
57h 17m
8 PM
55h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairbanks, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Ketchikan, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairbanks, AK to Ketchikan, AK covers 1294 miles and takes about 55h 41m 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, George Parks Highway, Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau 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 $280.45 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
15 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
647 miles from Fairbanks, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23h 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
55h 41m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 1294 miles and 55h 41m 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 George Parks Highway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 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 55h 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 around 0.2 miles in near Airport Way.
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 1294 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 0.2 miles (Airport Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 752.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Airport Way
Turn right onto Airport Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Merge onto AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
752.4 mi into trip
|
~30h 36m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
1014.9 mi into trip
|
~47h 36m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
1291.9 mi into trip
|
~55h 37m in
|
AK 7 / Tongass Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Tongass Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | 334.5 mi | 22h |
| George Parks Highway | 301.1 mi | 6h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau | 276.8 mi | 8h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| Seward Highway | 47.1 mi | 57m |
| Glenn Highway | 33.1 mi | 38m |
| West Parks Highway | 18.7 mi | 26m |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairbanks, AK and Ketchikan, AK.
1
Start on 12th Avenue
436 ft
·
21 sec
·
12th Avenue
2
Turn right onto Noble Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Noble Street
3
Turn right onto Airport Way
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Airport Way
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto AK 3
301 mi
·
6 hr
·
George Parks Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on AK 3
19 mi
·
26 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on AK 1
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn left onto AK 1
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gambell Street
10
Continue on AK 1
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Seward Highway
11
Turn left onto FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
12
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
13
Continue on West Camp Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
14
Turn right
169 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn left
248 ft
·
4 sec
16
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
17
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
18
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi
·
8 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
19
Continue on Main Berth Ramp
197 ft
·
33 sec
·
Main Berth Ramp
20
Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
21
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Tongass Avenue
22
Turn right onto AK 7
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Water Street
23
Turn right onto AK 7
400 ft
·
12 sec
·
Front Street
24
Turn right
8 ft
·
0 sec
25
Arrive at destination
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 15 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 647 miles from Fairbanks, AK, or about 23h 40m 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 647 miles or 23h 40m 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 323.5 miles or 6h 34m
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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ketchikan, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairbanks, 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 Fairbanks, AK
Aim for roughly 324 miles and 13.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 324 miles and 13.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 324 miles and 13.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 324 miles and 13.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Fairbanks, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 15 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 647 mi from Fairbanks, AK · 23h 40m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
324 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.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
647 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 Willow, AK
Late stop town
Final reset
971 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Ketchikan, AK.
Overnight Options
Night 1
324 mi · about 13.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 324 miles or 13.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
647 mi · about 27.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 647 miles or 27.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
971 mi · about 41.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gateway, AK after about 971 miles or 41.8 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 647 miles from Fairbanks, 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 324 miles or 13.9 hours on the road.
Arriving in Ketchikan, AK
The final approach into Ketchikan, 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 Ketchikan, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Ketchikan, 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
$280.45 one way
$560.90 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
453 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $294.92 | $589.84 |
| premium | $5.98 | $304.65 | $609.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $285.70 | $571.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$280
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$620–$900
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 452.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $136 in charging · 4 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 388.2 | 4 | $135.87 | $62.11 |
| Efficient EV | 323.5 | 3 | $113.23 | $51.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 517.6 | 6 | $181.16 | $82.82 |
Gas CO2
453 kg
EV CO2
151 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
Ketchikan, AK
Night in Ketchikan on Friday
Local time
9:40 PM
AKDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
26°F
Gateway, AK
971 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
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
55h 41m 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 Fairbanks, AK to Ketchikan, AK covers 1294 miles and takes about 55h 41m 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 - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau. 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 324 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 647 miles from Fairbanks, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $280.45 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 15 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 12 significant decision points across 1294 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 0.2 miles (Airport Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 752.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
The route from Fairbanks, AK to Ketchikan, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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