Origin
Healy, AK
Morning in Healy on Friday
Local time
8:02 AM
AKDT
Current temp
25°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Healy, AK to Ketchikan, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53h 34m
Distance
1186.8 mi
1,910 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$257
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
52h 46m
★
6 AM
53h 34m
8 AM
55h 11m
10 AM
54h 8m
12 PM
53h 59m
3 PM
54h 13m
5 PM
55h 6m
8 PM
53h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Healy, AK
Tima Miroshnichenko
Ketchikan, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Healy, AK to Ketchikan, AK covers 1186.8 miles and takes about 53h 34m 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, Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat 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 $257.22 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
593.4 miles from Healy, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25h 5m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
53h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 1186.8 miles and 53h 34m 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 Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 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 53h 34m, 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 2.9 miles in near AK 3 / George Parks Highway.
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 10 significant decision points across 1186.8 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 2.9 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 251.2 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 645.2 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Turn left onto AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
251.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
|
AK 1 / Gambell Street
Turn left onto AK 1 / Gambell Street
Navigation decision point
5
645.2 mi into trip
|
~28h 29m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
907.7 mi into trip
|
~45h 29m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
1184.7 mi into trip
|
~53h 30m 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 |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau | 276.8 mi | 8h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| George Parks Highway | 195.1 mi | 3h 54m |
| 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 Healy, AK and Ketchikan, AK.
1
Start on Healy Spur Road
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Healy Spur Road
2
Turn left onto AK 3
195 mi
·
3 hr 54 min
·
George Parks Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on AK 3
19 mi
·
26 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on AK 1
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Turn left onto AK 1
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gambell Street
7
Continue on AK 1
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Seward Highway
8
Turn left onto FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
9
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
10
Continue on West Camp Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
11
Turn right
169 ft
·
8 sec
12
Turn left
248 ft
·
4 sec
13
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
14
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
15
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi
·
8 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
16
Continue on Main Berth Ramp
197 ft
·
33 sec
·
Main Berth Ramp
17
Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Tongass Avenue
19
Turn right onto AK 7
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Water Street
20
Turn right onto AK 7
400 ft
·
12 sec
·
Front Street
21
Turn right
8 ft
·
0 sec
22
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 593.4 miles from Healy, AK, or about 25h 5m 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 593.4 miles or 25h 5m 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 296.7 miles or 6h 5m
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 51h 49m
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 Healy, 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 Healy, AK
Aim for roughly 297 miles and 13.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 297 miles and 13.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 297 miles and 13.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 297 miles and 13.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Healy, 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 593.4 mi from Healy, AK · 25h 5m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
392 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
783 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 Gateway, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
297 mi · about 13.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 297 miles or 13.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
593 mi · about 26.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Meadow Lakes, AK after about 593 miles or 26.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
890 mi · about 40.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 890 miles or 40.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 593.4 miles from Healy, 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 297 miles or 13.4 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
$257.22 one way
$514.44 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
415 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $270.49 | $540.98 |
| premium | $5.98 | $279.41 | $558.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $262.03 | $524.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$257
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$597–$877
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 415.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $125 in charging · 4 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 356 | 4 | $124.61 | $56.97 |
| Efficient EV | 296.7 | 3 | $103.84 | $47.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 474.7 | 5 | $166.15 | $75.96 |
Gas CO2
415 kg
EV CO2
139 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
Morning in Ketchikan on Friday
Local time
8:02 AM
AKDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
26°F
Gateway, AK
783 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
24 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
53h 34m 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 Healy, AK to Ketchikan, AK covers 1186.8 miles and takes about 53h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau, 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 297 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 593.4 miles from Healy, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $257.22 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 10 significant decision points across 1186.8 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 2.9 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 251.2 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 645.2 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
The route from Healy, 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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