Origin
Meadow Lakes, AK
Afternoon in Meadow Lakes on Sunday
Local time
4:29 PM
AKDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meadow Lakes, AK to Wasilla, AK
Drive Time
15m
Distance
8 mi
13 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wasilla, AK
Tima Miroshnichenko
Trip Overview
Traveling between Meadow Lakes and Wasilla is a quick, 8-mile journey that typically takes about 15 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate using West Seldon Road, North Lucille Street, and Beverly Lake Road to reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, it is an incredibly economical route to traverse within the Alaskan region. Whether you are running local errands or heading into town, this transition between the two areas is straightforward and practical for any schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
4 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you focused rather than lulled by highway monotony. Since this route maintains a 0% highway share, you will strictly navigate local surface roads throughout the entire 15-minute duration. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 3.7-mile segment on West Seldon Road. Navigating these turns requires constant attention, providing a much more hands-on experience than a standard interstate commute. You should anticipate a consistent rhythm of changing roads as you transition between these two Alaskan communities.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Seldon Road is the longest continuous segment at about 3.7 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.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 7 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 7 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
7.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
AK 3 / East Parks Highway
At end of road, turn left onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Seldon Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| North Lucille Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Beverly Lake Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Parks Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Starr Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Wyoming Drive | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Windy Bottem Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hess Lake Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Seldon Road
— 3.7 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meadow Lakes, AK and Wasilla, 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 North Lucille Street
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Lucille Street
9
Continue on North Lucille Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Lucille Street
Use the none lane.
10
At end of road, turn left onto AK 3
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Parks Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Main Street
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 8-mile length of this trip, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are zero planned stops along the way, you can easily complete the drive in one efficient burst without needing to account for extended breaks. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert at every intersection and transition between North Lucille Street and Beverly Lake Road. Budgeting $2 for fuel is more than enough for this transit, allowing you to focus your energy on your arrival in Wasilla. Try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure you maintain that quick 15-minute travel time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 4 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.7 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 8 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4 miles or 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wasilla, 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 8 miles and 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on West Seldon Road for about 3.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4 mi from Meadow Lakes, AK · 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
4 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 8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Wasilla, AK
The final approach into Wasilla, 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 Wasilla, AK.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.74 one way
$3.48 round trip
$5.53/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.82 | $1.83 | $3.66 |
| premium | $6.02 | $1.90 | $3.79 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $1.78 | $3.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.84 | $0.38 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.70 | $0.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Wasilla, AK
Afternoon in Wasilla on Sunday
Local time
4:29 PM
AKDT
Current temp
31°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.
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
2 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
15m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Wasilla, AK covers 8 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Seldon Road, North Lucille Street, Beverly Lake Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4 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 $1.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 15m drive. You will face about 7 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 Wasilla, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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