Origin
Ketchikan, AK
Morning in Ketchikan on Friday
Local time
8:50 AM
AKDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ketchikan, AK to Skagway, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17h 22m
Distance
371.2 mi
597 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
17h 7m
★
6 AM
17h 23m
8 AM
17h 54m
10 AM
17h 33m
12 PM
17h 30m
3 PM
17h 35m
5 PM
17h 52m
8 PM
17h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ketchikan, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Skagway, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ketchikan, AK to Skagway, AK covers 371.2 miles and takes about 17h 22m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Water Street, Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $80.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
4 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
185.6 miles from Ketchikan, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8h 41m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 4 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 17h 22m drive with frequent turns across 371.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Water Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is simple, but the total wheel time makes endurance and break timing the real challenge.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (17h 22m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ketchikan, AK to Skagway, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Water Street | — | — |
| Tongass Avenue | — | — |
| Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road | — | — |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau | — | — |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines | — | — |
| Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway | — | — |
| Broadway | — | — |
| 1st Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Water Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ketchikan, AK and Skagway, AK.
1
Start on the route
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Water Street
217 ft
·
12 sec
·
Water Street
3
Continue on Water Street
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Water Street
4
Turn left onto Tongass Avenue
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Tongass Avenue
5
Turn left
128 ft
·
5 sec
6
Turn right
430 ft
·
37 sec
7
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
469 ft
·
41 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
8
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi
·
8 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
9
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
76 mi
·
8 hr 30 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
10
Turn sharp right onto Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway
15 mi
·
45 min
·
Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway
11
Continue straight
459 ft
·
6 sec
12
Continue straight
515 ft
·
7 sec
13
Merge slight left onto Broadway
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Broadway
14
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
364 ft
·
7 sec
·
1st Avenue
15
Turn right onto State Street
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
State Street
16
Turn left
207 ft
·
15 sec
17
Arrive at your 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 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 4 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.6 miles from Ketchikan, AK, or about 8h 41m into the drive.
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 82 miles or 3h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.6 miles or 8h 41m 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 185.6 miles or 8h 41m
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 14h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Skagway, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ketchikan, 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 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 186 miles and 8.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Skagway, AK
Aim for roughly 186 miles and 8.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Ketchikan, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 4 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 185.6 mi from Ketchikan, AK · 8h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
186 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 Thorne Bay, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
186 mi · about 8.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Thorne Bay, AK after about 186 miles or 8.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 185.6 miles from Ketchikan, 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 186 miles or 8.7 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.
Arriving in Skagway, AK
The final approach into Skagway, 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 Skagway, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Skagway, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.45 one way
$160.90 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
130 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $84.60 | $169.20 |
| premium | $5.98 | $87.39 | $174.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $81.96 | $163.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 111.4 | 1 | $38.98 | $17.82 |
| Efficient EV | 92.8 | 1 | $32.48 | $14.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 148.5 | 1 | $51.97 | $23.76 |
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Skagway, AK
Morning in Skagway on Friday
Local time
8:50 AM
AKDT
Current temp
44°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
5 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
17h 22m 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 Ketchikan, AK to Skagway, AK covers 371.2 miles and takes about 17h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Water Street, Tongass Avenue, Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road. 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 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 186 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 185.6 miles from Ketchikan, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $80.45 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 4 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Navigation is easy, but the length (17h 22m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ketchikan, AK to Skagway, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ketchikan, AK to Skagway, 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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