Origin
Metlakatla, AK
Morning in Metlakatla on Friday
Local time
10:13 AM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metlakatla, AK to Sitka, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18h 36m
Distance
458.7 mi
738 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
3-day trip
Fuel Cost
$99
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
18h 20m
★
6 AM
18h 36m
8 AM
19h 10m
10 AM
18h 48m
12 PM
18h 45m
3 PM
18h 50m
5 PM
19h 8m
8 PM
18h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metlakatla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Sitka, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Metlakatla, AK to Sitka, AK covers 458.7 miles and takes about 18h 36m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 3-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau, Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau, Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 276.8 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau. At current regular gas prices, budget about $99.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
5 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
229.3 miles from Metlakatla, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
18h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 18h 36m drive with frequent turns across 458.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau is the longest continuous segment at about 276.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near Ferry Terminal Roas.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 7 significant decision points across 458.7 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 1.4 miles (Ferry Terminal Roas): Navigation decision point; at 20.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal 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
1.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Ferry Terminal Roas
Turn left onto Ferry Terminal Roas
Navigation decision point
4
20.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
21 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
Navigation decision point
5
297.9 mi into trip
|
~8h 53m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
458.6 mi into trip
|
~18h 36m in
|
Baranof Street
Turn right onto Baranof Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau | 276.8 mi | 8h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau | 153.9 mi | 9h 29m |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla | 19.3 mi | 44m |
| Halibut Point Road | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| Walden Point Road | 1.1 mi | 4m |
| Tait Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Sawmill Creek Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
— 276.8 mi, about 8h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metlakatla, AK and Sitka, AK.
1
Start on 4th Avenue
175 ft
·
7 sec
·
4th Avenue
2
Continue on Tait Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Tait Street
3
Continue on Walden Point Road
1.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Walden Point Road
4
Turn left onto Ferry Terminal Roas
460 ft
·
33 sec
·
Ferry Terminal Roas
5
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
19 mi
·
44 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
6
Continue on Berth 3 Apron
335 ft
·
37 sec
·
Berth 3 Apron
7
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
41 sec
8
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
468 ft
·
40 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
9
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi
·
8 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
10
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
154 mi
·
9 hr 29 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
11
Continue
0.1 mi
·
50 sec
12
At end of road, turn right onto F-99
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Halibut Point Road
13
Enter roundabout onto S-933
117 ft
·
1 sec
·
Sawmill Creek Road
14
Continue on S-933
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Sawmill Creek Road
15
Turn right onto Baranof Street
221 ft
·
9 sec
·
Baranof Street
16
Arrive at destination
Baranof Street
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 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 229.3 miles from Metlakatla, AK, or about 6h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276.8 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 101 miles or 3h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 229.3 miles or 6h 54m 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 152.9 miles or 4h 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 15h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sitka, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Metlakatla, 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 Metlakatla, AK
Aim for roughly 153 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 153 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Sitka, AK
Aim for roughly 153 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Metlakatla, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 5 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau for about 276.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 229.3 mi from Metlakatla, AK · 6h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
229 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 Port Alexander, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
153 mi · about 6.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Juneau, AK after about 153 miles or 6.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
306 mi · about 12.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Port Alexander, AK after about 306 miles or 12.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 101 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 229.3 miles from Metlakatla, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 276.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 153 miles or 6.2 hours on the road.
Arriving in Sitka, AK
The final approach into Sitka, 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 Sitka, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Sitka, 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
$99.42 one way
$198.83 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
161 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $104.54 | $209.09 |
| premium | $5.98 | $107.99 | $215.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $101.28 | $202.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$99
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$334–$529
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 160.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 137.6 | 1 | $48.16 | $22.02 |
| Efficient EV | 114.7 | 1 | $40.14 | $18.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 183.5 | 2 | $64.22 | $29.36 |
Gas CO2
160 kg
EV CO2
54 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
Sitka, AK
Morning in Sitka on Friday
Local time
10:13 AM
AKDT
Current temp
38°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
3 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
18h 36m 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 Metlakatla, AK to Sitka, AK covers 458.7 miles and takes about 18h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau, Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau, Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla. 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 153 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 229.3 miles from Metlakatla, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $99.42 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 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 7 significant decision points across 458.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Ferry Terminal Roas): Navigation decision point; at 20.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Metlakatla, AK to Sitka, 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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