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
The drive from Homer, AK to Metlakatla, AK covers 1079.8 miles and takes about 52h 13m 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 $235.01 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
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 .
At 1079.8 miles and 52h 13m 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.
Gently rolling terrain
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
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto Greatland Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn right onto AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Tongass Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Homer, AK and Metlakatla, AK.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right onto Greatland Street
Turn right onto AK 1
Continue on AK 1
At end of road, turn left onto AK 1
Turn right onto FFH 35
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
Continue on West Camp Road
Turn right
Turn left
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
Continue on Main Berth Ramp
Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7
Turn right
Turn left
At end of road, turn right
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
Continue on Ferry Terminal Roas
Turn right onto Walden Point Road
Continue on Tait Street
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
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.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
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, AKNight 1
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 hotelsNight 2
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 hotelsNight 3
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 hotelsA short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe 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 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 270 miles or 13.1 hours on the road.
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.
Regular Gas
$235.01 one way
$470.01 round trip
| 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Homer on Saturday
Local time
2:18 PM
AKDT
Current temp
40°F
Cloudy
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
Afternoon in Metlakatla on Saturday
Local time
2:18 PM
AKDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
27°F
Cohoe, AK
356 mi in
30°F
Anchorage, AK
713 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
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
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Homer, AK or browse trips ending in Metlakatla, AK.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AK road trips.
Explore maps for Homer, AK or Metlakatla, AK on MapSof.net.
