Drive Time
33h 17m
Distance
1545.5 mi
2,487 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$301
one way
Photo: Luke Miller
The drive from North Pole, AK to Ketchikan, AK covers 1545.5 miles and takes about 33h 17m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Snowman Lane, 4th Avenue, South Santa Claus Lane for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $301.25 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
772.8 miles from North Pole, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16h 38m into the drive .
At 1545.5 miles and 33h 17m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Snowman Lane and 4th Avenue.
At 33h 17m, 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 0 significant decision points across 1545.5 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?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Pole, AK to Ketchikan, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Snowman Lane | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 4th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Santa Claus Lane | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Santa Claus Lane | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Badger Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Richardson Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Glenn Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 5th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between North Pole, AK and Ketchikan, AK.
Start on Fourth Avenue
Turn right onto Snowman Lane
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
Turn right onto South Santa Claus Lane
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Santa Claus Lane
Exit the roundabout onto North Santa Claus Lane
Turn slight left onto Badger Road
Continue on Badger Road
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left onto Richardson Highway
Take the exit slight right
Continue on Glenn Highway
Continue on East 5th Avenue
Turn left onto Gambell Street
Continue on Seward Highway
Turn left onto Portage Glacier Road
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
Continue on West Camp Road
Turn right
Turn left
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
Continue on Main Berth Ramp
Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
At the end of the road, turn right onto Tongass Avenue
Turn right onto Water Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Turn right
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 772.8 miles or 16h 38m 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 386.4 miles or 8h 19m
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 32h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ketchikan, AK than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving North Pole, 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 North Pole, AK
Aim for roughly 386 miles and 8.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 386 miles and 8.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 386 miles and 8.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 386 miles and 8.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 772.8 mi from North Pole, AK · 16h 38m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
386 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
773 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
1159 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Ketchikan, AK.
Night 1
386 mi · about 8.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 386 miles or 8.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
773 mi · about 16.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 773 miles or 16.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
1159 mi · about 25h in
A practical overnight split lands near Palmer, AK after about 1159 miles or 25 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 772.8 miles from North Pole, 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 386 miles or 8.3 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.
The final approach into Ketchikan, 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 Ketchikan, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Ketchikan, 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.
Regular Gas
$301.25 one way
$602.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.34 | $324.80 | $649.60 |
| premium | $5.57 | $338.67 | $677.34 |
| diesel | $6.37 | $387.35 | $774.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$301
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$641–$921
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 540.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $162 in charging · 5 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 463.7 | 5 | $162.28 | $74.18 |
| Efficient EV | 386.4 | 4 | $135.23 | $61.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 618.2 | 7 | $216.37 | $98.91 |
Gas CO2
541 kg
EV CO2
181 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in North Pole on Saturday
Local time
11:42 AM
AKDT
Current temp
19°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Ketchikan on Saturday
Local time
11:42 AM
AKDT
Current temp
34°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
22°F
Ester, AK
386 mi in
22°F
Willow, AK
773 mi in
27°F
Palmer, AK
1159 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
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
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from North Pole, AK or browse trips ending in Ketchikan, AK.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AK road trips.
Explore maps for North Pole, AK or Ketchikan, AK on MapSof.net.
