Origin
Fairbanks, AK
Morning in Fairbanks on Friday
Local time
8:56 AM
AKDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairbanks, 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
56h 30m
Distance
1312.9 mi
2,113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$285
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
55h 39m
★
6 AM
56h 30m
8 AM
58h 12m
10 AM
57h 6m
12 PM
56h 55m
3 PM
57h 11m
5 PM
58h 7m
8 PM
56h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairbanks, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Metlakatla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairbanks, AK to Metlakatla, AK covers 1312.9 miles and takes about 56h 30m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Noble Street, Airport Way, George Parks Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $284.55 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
16 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
656.4 miles from Fairbanks, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28h 15m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
56h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 1312.9 miles and 56h 30m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Noble Street and Airport Way.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Noble Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 56h 30m, 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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (56h 30m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairbanks, AK to Metlakatla, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Noble Street | — | — |
| Airport Way | — | — |
| George Parks Highway | — | — |
| West Parks Highway | — | — |
| Glenn Highway | — | — |
| East 5th Avenue | — | — |
| Gambell Street | — | — |
| Seward Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Noble Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairbanks, AK and Metlakatla, 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
4
Take the ramp slight right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge slight left onto George Parks Highway
301 mi
·
6 hr
·
George Parks Highway
6
Continue on West Parks Highway
19 mi
·
26 min
·
West Parks Highway
7
Continue on Glenn Highway
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
8
Continue on East 5th Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
9
Turn left onto Gambell Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gambell Street
10
Continue on Seward Highway
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Seward Highway
11
Turn left onto Portage Glacier Road
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
171 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn left
249 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
·
34 sec
·
Main Berth Ramp
20
Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
21
At the end of the road, turn right onto Tongass Avenue
226 ft
·
7 sec
·
Tongass Avenue
22
Turn right
128 ft
·
9 sec
23
Turn left
180 ft
·
6 sec
24
At the end of the road, turn right
335 ft
·
34 sec
25
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
19 mi
·
44 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
26
Continue on Ferry Terminal Roas
459 ft
·
37 sec
·
Ferry Terminal Roas
27
Turn right onto Walden Point Road
1.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Walden Point Road
28
Continue on Tait Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Tait Street
29
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
174 ft
·
8 sec
·
4th Avenue
30
Arrive at your 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 16 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 656.4 miles from Fairbanks, AK, or about 28h 15m into the drive.
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 9h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 656.4 miles or 28h 15m 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 328.2 miles or 14h 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 53h 55m
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 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 328 miles and 14.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 328 miles and 14.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 328 miles and 14.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Metlakatla, AK
Aim for roughly 328 miles and 14.1 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 16 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 656.4 mi from Fairbanks, AK · 28h 15m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
328 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
656 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
985 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Metlakatla, AK.
Overnight Options
Night 1
328 mi · about 14.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 328 miles or 14.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
656 mi · about 28.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 656 miles or 28.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
985 mi · about 42.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gateway, AK after about 985 miles or 42.4 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 656.4 miles from Fairbanks, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 328 miles or 14.1 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$284.55 one way
$569.10 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
459 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $299.23 | $598.45 |
| premium | $5.98 | $309.10 | $618.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $289.87 | $579.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$285
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$625–$905
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 459.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $138 in charging · 4 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 393.9 | 4 | $137.85 | $63.02 |
| Efficient EV | 328.2 | 3 | $114.88 | $52.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 525.2 | 6 | $183.81 | $84.03 |
Gas CO2
459 kg
EV CO2
154 kg (66% 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
Metlakatla, AK
Morning in Metlakatla on Friday
Local time
8:56 AM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
26°F
Gateway, AK
985 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
6 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
56h 30m 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 Metlakatla, AK covers 1312.9 miles and takes about 56h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Noble Street, Airport Way, George Parks Highway. 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 328 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 656.4 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 $284.55 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.
Navigation is easy, but the length (56h 30m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fairbanks, AK to Metlakatla, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fairbanks, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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