Origin
Metlakatla, AK
Night in Metlakatla on Thursday
Local time
10:57 PM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metlakatla, AK to Fairbanks, AK
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
34h 25m
Distance
1577.9 mi
2,539 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$342
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
33h 55m
★
6 AM
34h 26m
8 AM
35h 28m
10 AM
34h 47m
12 PM
34h 41m
3 PM
34h 50m
5 PM
35h 25m
8 PM
34h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metlakatla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Fairbanks, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Metlakatla, AK to Fairbanks, AK covers 1577.9 miles and takes about 34h 25m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Tait Street, Walden Point Road, Ferry Terminal Roas for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $341.98 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
9 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
788.9 miles from Metlakatla, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17h 12m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
34h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 1577.9 miles and 34h 25m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Tait Street and Walden Point Road.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tait Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 34h 25m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (34h 25m) 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 Metlakatla, AK to Fairbanks, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tait Street | — | — |
| Walden Point Road | — | — |
| Ferry Terminal Roas | — | — |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla | — | — |
| Berth 3 Apron | — | — |
| Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road | — | — |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau | — | — |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Tait Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metlakatla, AK and Fairbanks, AK.
1
Start on 4th Avenue
174 ft
·
8 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
459 ft
·
34 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
·
42 sec
8
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
469 ft
·
41 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 - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
11
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
12
Continue straight
374 ft
·
7 sec
13
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Camp Road
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Camp Road
14
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
15
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
16
Continue on Portage Glacier Road
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
17
Turn right onto Seward Highway
47 mi
·
58 min
·
Seward Highway
18
Continue on Ingra Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Ingra Street
19
Turn right onto East 6th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
20
Continue on East 5th Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Avenue
21
Continue on Glenn Highway
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
22
Keep slight left to continue on East Parks Highway
15 mi
·
20 min
·
East Parks Highway
23
Continue on West Parks Highway
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Parks Highway
24
Continue on George Parks Highway
301 mi
·
6 hr
·
George Parks Highway
25
Take the exit straight toward East Airport Way
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Airport Way
26
Continue on Airport Way
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Airport Way
27
Turn left onto Cushman Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Cushman Street
28
Turn right onto 12th Avenue
364 ft
·
16 sec
·
12th Avenue
29
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 4-day trip.
Plan roughly 9 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 788.9 miles from Metlakatla, AK, or about 17h 12m 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 220 miles or 4h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 788.9 miles or 17h 12m 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 394.5 miles or 8h 36m
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 33h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbanks, 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 4-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 394 miles and 8.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 394 miles and 8.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 394 miles and 8.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Fairbanks, AK
Aim for roughly 394 miles and 8.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Metlakatla, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 9 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 788.9 mi from Metlakatla, AK · 17h 12m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
394 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
789 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 Willow, AK
Late stop town
Final reset
1183 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Fairbanks, AK.
Overnight Options
Night 1
394 mi · about 8.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gateway, AK after about 394 miles or 8.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
789 mi · about 17.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 789 miles or 17.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
1183 mi · about 25.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 1183 miles or 25.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 788.9 miles from Metlakatla, 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 394 miles or 8.6 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 Fairbanks, AK
The final approach into Fairbanks, 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 Fairbanks, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Fairbanks, 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
$341.98 one way
$683.96 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
552 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $359.62 | $719.25 |
| premium | $5.98 | $371.49 | $742.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $348.38 | $696.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$342
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$682–$962
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 552.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $166 in charging · 5 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 473.4 | 5 | $165.68 | $75.74 |
| Efficient EV | 394.5 | 4 | $138.07 | $63.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 631.2 | 7 | $220.91 | $100.99 |
Gas CO2
552 kg
EV CO2
185 kg (66% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 5 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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
Fairbanks, AK
Night in Fairbanks on Thursday
Local time
10:57 PM
AKDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
26°F
Gateway, AK
394 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.
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
6 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
34h 25m 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 Fairbanks, AK covers 1577.9 miles and takes about 34h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tait Street, Walden Point Road, Ferry Terminal Roas. 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 4-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 394 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 788.9 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 $341.98 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 9 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 (34h 25m) 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 Metlakatla, AK to Fairbanks, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Metlakatla, AK to Fairbanks, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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