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Trip from Homer, AK to Metlakatla, AK

Drive Time

52h 13m

Distance

1079.8 mi

1,738 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

4-day trip

Fuel Cost

$235

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 141 min
4 AM
51h 26m ★
6 AM
52h 13m
8 AM
53h 47m
10 AM
52h 46m
12 PM
52h 37m
3 PM
52h 51m
5 PM
53h 42m
8 PM
51h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Homer, AK, AK

Homer, AK

Tima Miroshnichenko

Trip Overview

Traveling from Homer to Metlakatla is a significant undertaking that covers 1,079.8 miles across Alaska. Because this journey relies heavily on the Alaska Marine Highway system, including segments between Whittier, Yakutat, Juneau, and Ketchikan, it is not a standard drive and requires roughly 52 hours and 13 minutes of transit time. You should plan for at least four days to complete this trip comfortably. Budgeting approximately $235 for fuel is a helpful starting point, though your final costs may vary based on vehicle efficiency. This route is best viewed as a multi-day expedition rather than a quick commute, requiring careful coordination with ferry schedules to navigate the coastal regions effectively.

Trip Pace

Best split across 4 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

14 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

539.9 miles from Homer, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27h 40m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a unique experience on this route, as it features a 0% highway share and functions primarily as a maritime transit journey. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 334.5 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway segment between Whittier and Yakutat. Unlike a traditional interstate grind, the transit involves navigating these long, open-water connections between coastal hubs. The nature of the journey shifts as you transition between the various ferry segments, moving from the Whittier-Yakutat leg to the Juneau-Yakutat and Ketchikan-Juneau connections. Prepare for a slower, deliberate pace that prioritizes long-distance navigation over typical road driving.

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.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,025 ft 0 ft

Total Climb

960 ft

Total Descent

1,025 ft

Highest Point

1,025 ft

~135 mi in

Elevation Range

1,025 ft

Notable High Points

1,025 ft at ~135 miles +730 ft prominence

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 52h 13m, 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 0.1 miles in near Greatland Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 1079.8 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 0.1 miles (Greatland Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road): Navigation decision point; at 519.3 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Greatland Street

At end of road, turn right onto Greatland Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road

Turn right onto AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road

Navigation decision point

5
519.3 mi into trip | ~26h 19m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
781.8 mi into trip | ~43h 20m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

6
1058.8 mi into trip | ~51h 21m in | AK 7 / Tongass Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Tongass Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

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
Sterling Highway 131.9 mi 3h 9m
Seward Highway 41.4 mi 48m
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla 19.3 mi 44m
Portage Glacier Road 5 mi 7m
Portage Glacier Highway 4.7 mi 10m
Longest stretch: Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat — 334.5 mi, about 22h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Homer, AK and Metlakatla, AK.

1

Start on this road

266 ft · 21 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn right onto Greatland Street

326 ft · 13 sec · Greatland Street
3

Turn right onto AK 1

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Homer Bypass Road
4

Continue on AK 1

132 mi · 3 hr 9 min · Sterling Highway
5

At end of road, turn left onto AK 1

41 mi · 48 min · Seward Highway
6

Turn right onto FFH 35

5.0 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road
7

Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

4.7 mi · 10 min · Portage Glacier Highway
8

Continue on West Camp Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road
9

Turn right

169 ft · 8 sec
10

Turn left

248 ft · 4 sec
11

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

334 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
12

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

263 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
13

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

277 mi · 8 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
14

Continue on Main Berth Ramp

197 ft · 33 sec · Main Berth Ramp
15

Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
16

At end of road, turn right onto AK 7

226 ft · 6 sec · Tongass Avenue
17

Turn right

128 ft · 9 sec
18

Turn left

180 ft · 5 sec
19

At end of road, turn right

335 ft · 34 sec
20

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla

19 mi · 44 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
21

Continue on Ferry Terminal Roas

460 ft · 36 sec · Ferry Terminal Roas
22

Turn right onto Walden Point Road

1.1 mi · 4 min · Walden Point Road
23

Continue on Tait Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Tait Street
24

Turn left onto 4th Avenue

175 ft · 7 sec · 4th Avenue
25

Arrive at destination

4th Avenue

Trip Plan

To manage this 1,079.8-mile trek effectively, you should break the journey into four distinct segments, utilizing the 14 scheduled stops to rest and refuel. Since the trip is entirely dependent on the Alaska Marine Highway, your most important step is to confirm the ferry schedules well in advance, as these will dictate your pacing more than your own driving speed. Keep a close eye on your fuel budget, keeping that $235 estimate in mind while accounting for potential delays in ferry arrivals or departures. A helpful tip for this specific route is to treat each ferry connection as a major logistical waypoint; make sure you have all necessary provisions for the long stretches at sea where traditional roadside services are completely unavailable.

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 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 539.9 miles from Homer, AK, or about 27h 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 6h 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 539.9 miles or 27h 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 269.9 miles or 9h 55m

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 50h 12m

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 Homer, 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 Homer, AK

Aim for roughly 270 miles and 13.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 270 miles and 13.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 270 miles and 13.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 4

Finish the approach into Metlakatla, AK

Aim for roughly 270 miles and 13.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Homer, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 14 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 539.9 mi from Homer, AK · 27h 40m into the drive

Downtown Cohoe, AK, AK

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Cohoe, AK

356 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.

Popular next leg

Cohoe, AK to Anchorage, AK

169.1 mi · 3h 10m

Downtown Anchorage, AK, AK

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Anchorage, AK

713 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 Anchorage, AK

Overnight Options

Night 1

Cohoe, AK

270 mi · about 13.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Cohoe, AK after about 270 miles or 13.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 2

Sterling, AK

540 mi · about 26.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Sterling, AK after about 540 miles or 26.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 3

Girdwood, AK

810 mi · about 39.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Girdwood, AK after about 810 miles or 39.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Girdwood, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Halfway reset

Meal break

The midpoint is around 539.9 miles from Homer, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 miles or 13.1 hours on the road.

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.

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

$235.01 one way

$470.01 round trip

$5.53/gal 25.4 MPG avg 378 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.82 $247.21 $494.41
premium $6.02 $256.01 $512.01
diesel $5.64 $239.89 $479.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$235

Hotel (3n)

$240–$420

Meals

$100–$200

Total

$575–$855

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 377.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $113 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 323.9 3 $113.38 $51.83
Efficient EV 270 3 $94.48 $43.19
EV Truck/SUV 431.9 5 $151.17 $69.11

Gas CO2

378 kg

EV CO2

126 kg (67% less)

Plan for 3 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Homer, AK

Afternoon in Homer on Sunday

Local time

3:08 PM

AKDT

Current temp

40°F

Cloudy

SW 0 to 5 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 11 at 4:52AM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 11 at 2:15AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

Destination

Metlakatla, AK

Afternoon in Metlakatla on Sunday

Local time

3:08 PM

AKDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

52h 13m 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 Homer, AK to Metlakatla, AK covers 1079.8 miles and takes about 52h 13m 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 270 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 539.9 miles from Homer, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $235.01 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 14 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 13 significant decision points across 1079.8 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 0.1 miles (Greatland Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road): Navigation decision point; at 519.3 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
The route from Homer, AK to Metlakatla, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 0 ft to 1,025 ft elevation with about 960 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.

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