Drive Time
15m
Distance
8 mi
13 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko
The drive from Meadow Lakes, AK to Wasilla, AK covers 8 miles and takes about 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Seldon Road, North Lucille Street, Beverly Lake Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 3.7 miles on West Seldon Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
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 .
Expect a 15m drive with frequent turns across 8 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Starr Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Wyoming Drive
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Beverly Lake Road
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Meadow Lakes, AK and Wasilla, AK.
Start on this road
Continue on Hess Lake Road
Turn left onto Starr Road
Turn right onto Wyoming Drive
Turn left onto Beverly Lake Road
Continue on Windy Bottem Road
Turn straight onto West Seldon Road
Enter roundabout onto North Lucille Street
Continue on North Lucille Street
At end of road, turn left onto AK 3
Turn left onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
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.
A short stop after about 8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 4 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$1.74 one way
$3.48 round trip
| 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Meadow Lakes on Saturday
Local time
2:22 PM
AKDT
Current temp
29°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Wasilla on Saturday
Local time
2:22 PM
AKDT
Current temp
31°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
26°F
Eagle River, AK
4 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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