Origin
Meadow Lakes, AK
Afternoon in Meadow Lakes on Friday
Local time
1:14 PM
AKDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meadow Lakes, AK to Valdez, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 41m
Distance
272.4 mi
438 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 28m
★
6 AM
5h 41m
8 AM
6h 8m
10 AM
5h 51m
12 PM
5h 48m
3 PM
5h 52m
5 PM
6h 6m
8 PM
5h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meadow Lakes, AK
JOHN CALLERY
Valdez, AK
Rafael Paganotti
Trip Overview
Meadow Lakes to Valdez is 272.4 miles and takes about 5h 41m via Glenn Highway and Richardson Highway, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alaska, connecting two distinct regions. It's a drive best suited for a single day, offering a direct path without requiring an overnight stay. Expect a local driving experience with a significant number of turns throughout the 5h 41m journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
136.2 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 272.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll be navigating a series of turns rather than cruising on a consistent highway. With 0% highway share, this is a ground-level experience from start to finish. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 137.7 miles on the Glenn Highway, offering a substantial segment of driving before the turns become more frequent. As you progress, the road will likely feel more intimate and less like a high-speed transit.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Glenn Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 137.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Starr Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 41m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Starr Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Wyoming Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Beverly Lake Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Starr Road
Turn left onto Starr Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Wyoming Drive
Turn right onto Wyoming Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Beverly Lake Road
Turn left onto Beverly Lake Road
Navigation decision point
5
17.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
AK 1 / Glenn Highway
At end of road, turn left onto AK 1 / Glenn Highway
Navigation decision point
5
272.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 41m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Highway | 137.7 mi | 2h 50m |
| Richardson Highway | 117.1 mi | 2h 20m |
| East Seldon Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| West Seldon Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| East Bogard Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Palmer-Fishhook Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Trunk Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Beverly Lake Road | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Glenn Highway
— 137.7 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meadow Lakes, AK and Valdez, AK.
1
Start on this road
225 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on Hess Lake Road
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hess Lake Road
3
Turn left onto Starr Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Starr Road
4
Turn right onto Wyoming Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Wyoming Drive
5
Turn left onto Beverly Lake Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Beverly Lake Road
6
Continue on Windy Bottem Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Windy Bottem Road
7
Turn straight onto West Seldon Road
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
West Seldon Road
8
Enter roundabout onto East Seldon Road
90 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Seldon Road
9
Continue on East Seldon Road
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
East Seldon Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Enter roundabout onto East Bogard Road
69 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Bogard Road
11
Continue on East Bogard Road
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
East Bogard Road
12
Enter roundabout onto Trunk Road
243 ft
·
4 sec
·
Trunk Road
13
Continue on Trunk Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Trunk Road
14
Turn right onto Palmer-Fishhook Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Palmer-Fishhook Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto AK 1
138 mi
·
2 hr 50 min
·
Glenn Highway
16
At end of road, turn right onto AK 4
117 mi
·
2 hr 20 min
·
Richardson Highway
17
Continue on AK 4
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Egan Avenue
18
Turn right onto East Pioneer Drive
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Pioneer Drive
19
Turn right
17 ft
·
1 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 41m duration and the recommendation for a single day, departing Meadow Lakes in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 137.7-mile stretch on the Glenn Highway, as services may be spaced out. The total fuel cost is estimated at $59, so plan accordingly and consider topping up before leaving Meadow Lakes.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 136.2 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 60 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.2 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valdez, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Meadow Lakes, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Meadow Lakes, AK
This is one driving day of about 272.4 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Glenn Highway for about 137.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.2 mi from Meadow Lakes, AK · 2h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 136.2 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Glenn Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137.7 miles.
Arriving in Valdez, AK
The final approach into Valdez, 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 Valdez, AK.
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
$59.04 one way
$118.08 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $62.08 | $124.17 |
| premium | $5.98 | $64.13 | $128.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.14 | $120.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.7 | 1 | $28.60 | $13.08 |
| Efficient EV | 68.1 | 0 | $23.83 | $10.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109 | 1 | $38.14 | $17.43 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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
Valdez, AK
Afternoon in Valdez on Friday
Local time
1:14 PM
AKDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
24°F
Palmer, AK
136 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.
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
3 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
5h 41m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Meadow Lakes, AK to Valdez, AK covers 272.4 miles and takes about 5h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Glenn Highway, Richardson Highway, East Seldon Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.2 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.04 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 41m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Starr Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Wyoming Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Beverly Lake Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Meadow Lakes, AK to Valdez, 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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