Drive Time
51m
Distance
38.5 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Photo: John De Leon
The drive from Girdwood, AK to Anchorage, AK covers 38.5 miles and takes about 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Seward Highway, A Street, West 9th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.7 miles on Seward Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
19.2 miles from Girdwood, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Expect a 51m drive with frequent turns across 38.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
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 around 0.1 miles in near Gold Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 51m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Gold Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (AK 1 / Seward Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Gold Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto AK 1 / Seward Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto A Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Seward Highway | 35.7 mi | 44m |
| A Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West 9th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Fireweed Lane | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Dawson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Gold Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Girdwood, AK and Anchorage, AK.
Start on Dawson Street
Turn right onto Gold Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn right onto AK 1
Turn left onto East Fireweed Lane
Turn right onto A Street
Turn left onto West 9th Avenue
Turn right onto I Street
Turn left onto West 4th Avenue
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 38.5 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.2 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anchorage, AK than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Girdwood, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Girdwood, AK
This is one driving day of about 38.5 miles and 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.2 mi from Girdwood, AK · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
A short stop after about 38.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Girdwood, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Anchorage, 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 Anchorage, AK.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$8.38 one way
$16.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.82 | $8.81 | $17.63 |
| premium | $6.02 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.55 | $17.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 62% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (62% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Girdwood on Saturday
Local time
2:18 PM
AKDT
Current temp
29°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Anchorage on Saturday
Local time
2:18 PM
AKDT
Current temp
30°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
26°F
Eagle River, AK
19 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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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