Drive Time
54h 7m
Distance
973.1 mi
1,566 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$212
one way
The drive from Homer, AK to Wrangell, AK covers 973.1 miles and takes about 54h 7m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Greatland Street, Homer Bypass Road, Sterling Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $211.78 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
486.6 miles from Homer, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27h 3m into the drive .
At 973.1 miles and 54h 7m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Greatland Street and Homer Bypass Road.
At 54h 7m, 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 0 significant decision points across 973.1 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?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Homer, AK to Wrangell, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Greatland Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Homer Bypass Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sterling Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Seward Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Portage Glacier Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Portage Glacier Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Camp Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Homer, AK and Wrangell, AK.
Start on the route
At the end of the road, turn right onto Greatland Street
Turn right onto Homer Bypass Road
Continue on Sterling Highway
At the end of the road, turn left onto Seward Highway
Turn right onto Portage Glacier Road
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
Continue straight
Turn right
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
Continue straight
Continue on 2nd Street
Continue on Church Street
Turn left onto Bennett Street
Turn right
Arrive at your 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 214 miles or 11h 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 486.6 miles or 27h 3m 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 243.3 miles or 13h 31m
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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wrangell, 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 243 miles and 13.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 13.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 13.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Wrangell, AK
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 13.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 486.6 mi from Homer, AK · 27h 3m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
321 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
642 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
243 mi · about 13.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Cohoe, AK after about 243 miles or 13.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
487 mi · about 27.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Sterling, AK after about 487 miles or 27.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
730 mi · about 40.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Girdwood, AK after about 730 miles or 40.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 214 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 486.6 miles from Homer, 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 243 miles or 13.5 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.
The final approach into Wrangell, 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 Wrangell, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Wrangell, 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.
Regular Gas
$211.78 one way
$423.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.82 | $222.78 | $445.56 |
| premium | $6.02 | $230.71 | $461.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $216.19 | $432.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$212
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$552–$832
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 340.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $102 in charging · 3 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 291.9 | 3 | $102.18 | $46.71 |
| Efficient EV | 243.3 | 2 | $85.15 | $38.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 389.2 | 4 | $136.23 | $62.28 |
Gas CO2
340 kg
EV CO2
114 kg (66% 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
2:16 PM
AKDT
Current temp
30°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Wrangell on Saturday
Local time
2:16 PM
AKDT
Current temp
39°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
27°F
Cohoe, AK
321 mi in
30°F
Anchorage, AK
642 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.
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