Trip from Kenai, AK to Prudhoe Bay, AK

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

27h 10m

Distance

1015.4 mi

1,634 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

3-day trip

Fuel Cost

$220

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 74 min

4 AM

26h 46m ★

6 AM

27h 11m

8 AM

28h 0m

10 AM

27h 28m

12 PM

27h 23m

3 PM

27h 30m

5 PM

27h 57m

8 PM

26h 56m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Kenai, AK

John De Leon

Prudhoe Bay, AK

John De Leon

Trip Overview

Embark on an epic 1,015-mile journey from Kenai to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, a route that demands a serious time commitment of approximately 27 hours and 10 minutes. This isn't a day trip; with a recommended minimum of 3 days, you'll navigate primarily the George Parks Highway, Seward Highway, and the legendary Dalton Highway. Expect a fuel cost around $220 for this extensive Alaskan traverse. With 7 planned stops and the longest stretch covering 415.8 miles on the Dalton Highway, this drive offers a true sense of Alaskan remoteness and scale.

Trip Pace

Best split across 3 days

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

Break Rhythm

7 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

507.7 miles from Kenai, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10h 33m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This drive is a significant undertaking, characterized by its long-distance profile. You'll spend much of your time on highways, with the Dalton Highway being a major component that often shifts from paved to unpaved surfaces, requiring careful attention. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 415.8 miles on the Dalton Highway, meaning you'll need to be well-prepared for extended periods between services. The progression of this route takes you through varied Alaskan landscapes, transitioning from coastal influences to the vast interior.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Dalton Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 415.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 27h 10m, 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 Broad Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 1015.4 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 (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 68.3 miles (AK 1 / Seward Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 192.3 miles (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Broad Street

Turn left onto Broad Street

Navigation decision point

68.3 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | AK 1 / Seward Highway

At end of road, turn left onto AK 1 / Seward Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

192.3 mi into trip | ~4h 12m in | AK 3 / East Parks Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway toward Wasilla, Fairbanks

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks

511 mi into trip | ~10h 37m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

1010.9 mi into trip | ~26h 59m in | Spine Road

At end of road, turn right onto Spine Road

Navigation decision point

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Kenai, AK and Prudhoe Bay, AK, road signs point toward Wasilla and Fairbanks.

Wasilla

192.3 mi in | ~4h 12m | via AK 3

Fairbanks

192.3 mi in | ~4h 12m | via AK 3

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dalton Highway	415.8 mi	14h 20m
George Parks Highway	299.8 mi	5h 58m
Seward Highway	88.5 mi	1h 47m
Elliott Highway	68.1 mi	1h 38m
Sterling Highway	58.4 mi	1h 26m
Glenn Highway	33 mi	38m
East Parks Highway	14.5 mi	20m
Steese Highway	9.1 mi	12m

Longest stretch: Dalton Highway — 415.8 mi, about 14h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kenai, AK and Prudhoe Bay, AK.

Start on Frontage Road

465 ft · 25 sec · Frontage Road

Turn left onto Broad Street

91 ft · 5 sec · Broad Street

Turn right onto Kenai Spur Highway

0.5 mi · 1 min · Kenai Spur Highway

Turn right onto Bridge Access Road

3.3 mi · 5 min · Bridge Access Road

Turn left onto Kalifornsky Beach Road

6.0 mi · 8 min · Kalifornsky Beach Road

Turn left onto AK 1

58 mi · 1 hr 26 min · Sterling Highway

At end of road, turn left onto AK 1

89 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Seward Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on AK 1

1.0 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street

Turn right onto AK 1

0.4 mi · 56 sec · East 6th Avenue

Continue on AK 1

1.0 mi · 1 min · East 5th Avenue

Continue on AK 1

33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3

15 mi · 20 min · East Parks Highway

Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Continue on AK 3

4.2 mi · 5 min · West Parks Highway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on AK 3

300 mi · 5 hr 58 min · George Parks Highway

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Turn left onto Geist Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Geist Road

Continue on Johansen Expressway

4.2 mi · 5 min · Johansen Expressway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto AK 2

9.1 mi · 12 min · Steese Highway

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Continue on AK 2

68 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Elliott Highway

Continue on AK 11

416 mi · 14 hr 20 min · Dalton Highway

At end of road, turn right onto Colleen Lake Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Colleen Lake Road

At end of road, turn right onto Spine Road

3.0 mi · 7 min · Spine Road

Keep slight right at fork

1.4 mi · 3 min

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · this road

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 1,015-mile adventure, plan to break up the 27 hours and 10 minutes of driving over at least 3 days to avoid fatigue. Start your journey early in the day, especially when tackling the remote Dalton Highway, to maximize daylight hours and allow ample time for your 7 planned stops. Be mindful of the longest stretch of 415.8 miles on the Dalton Highway and ensure your fuel tank is full before you begin that segment. Given the significant distance, budgeting around $220 for fuel is a practical consideration.

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 3-day trip.

Plan roughly 7 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 507.7 miles from Kenai, AK, or about 10h 33m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 415.8 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 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 507.7 miles or 10h 33m 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 338.5 miles or 7h 10m

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 25h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prudhoe Bay, AK than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Kenai, 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 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Kenai, AK

Aim for roughly 338 miles and 9.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 338 miles and 9.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Finish the approach into Prudhoe Bay, AK

Aim for roughly 338 miles and 9.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Kenai, AK.

This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 7 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Dalton Highway for about 415.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 507.7 mi from Kenai, AK · 10h 33m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Willow, AK

335 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

Ester, AK

670 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 Ester, AK

Overnight Options

Night 1

Willow, AK

338 mi · about 9.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 338 miles or 9.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 2

Ester, AK

677 mi · about 18.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 677 miles or 18.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Houston, AK

Fuel and coffee

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

Ester, AK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 507.7 miles from Kenai, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dalton Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 415.8 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 338 miles or 9.1 hours on the road.

Arriving in Prudhoe Bay, AK

The final approach into Prudhoe Bay, 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 Prudhoe Bay, AK.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Prudhoe Bay, 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

$220.07 one way

$440.14 round trip

$5.51/gal 25.4 MPG avg 355 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.79	$231.42	$462.85
premium	$5.98	$239.06	$478.12
diesel	$5.61	$224.19	$448.38

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$220

Hotel (2n)

$160–$280

Meals

$75–$150

Total

$455–$650

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 355.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $107 in charging · 3 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	304.6	3	$106.62	$48.74
Efficient EV	253.9	2	$88.85	$40.62
EV Truck/SUV	406.2	5	$142.16	$64.99

Gas CO2

355 kg

EV CO2

119 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Kenai, AK

Late night in Kenai on Wednesday

Local time

1:10 AM

AKDT

Current temp

27°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Prudhoe Bay, AK

Late night in Prudhoe Bay on Wednesday

Local time

1:10 AM

AKDT

Current temp

2°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

25 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

27h 10m 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 Kenai, AK to Prudhoe Bay, AK covers 1015.4 miles and takes about 27h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dalton Highway, George Parks Highway, Seward Highway. 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 3-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 338 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 507.7 miles from Kenai, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $220.07 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 7 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Kenai, AK and Prudhoe Bay, AK, road signs point toward Wasilla and Fairbanks.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Kenai, AK

Haines, AK 798.6 mi · 50h 25m Ester, AK 506.8 mi · 10h 32m Cordova, AK 230.7 mi · 9h 37m Wasilla, AK 200.3 mi · 4h 22m Anchorage, AK 159.1 mi · 3h 7m Fritz Creek, AK 95.5 mi · 2h 24m

More trips to Prudhoe Bay, AK

Sitka, AK 1674.8 mi Palmer, AK 826.5 mi Wasilla, AK 815.2 mi

Explore more options from Kenai, AK or browse trips ending in Prudhoe Bay, AK.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AK road trips.

Explore maps for Kenai, AK or Prudhoe Bay, AK on MapSof.net.