Origin
Palmer, AK
Late night in Palmer on Wednesday
Local time
12:10 AM
AKDT
Current temp
27°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmer, AK to Big Lake, AK
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
53m
Distance
32.2 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmer, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Big Lake, AK
Albert Koenig
Trip Overview
This short, 32.2-mile journey from Palmer to Big Lake in Alaska is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 53 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily using the East Palmer-Wasilla Highway and East Parks Highway before transitioning to West Big Lake Road. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this drive offers a straightforward local transit experience. Given its brevity and the absence of designated stops in the data, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule. The entire trip stays within the state of Alaska, connecting two distinct Alaskan locales.
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
16.1 miles from Palmer, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this Alaskan excursion. While 11% of the route involves highway driving, much of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.5 miles on the East Palmer-Wasilla Highway. This suggests a driving experience that involves frequent adjustments and navigating through community areas rather than long, open highway stretches. The character of the road will likely shift from more arterial routes to quieter local thoroughfares as you approach Big Lake.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Palmer-Wasilla Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.5 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 early in the drive near West Evergreen Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Evergreen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (East Palmer-Wasilla Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Evergreen Avenue
Turn left onto West Evergreen Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Palmer-Wasilla Highway
Turn straight onto East Palmer-Wasilla Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
10.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Turn right onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
24.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
South Big Lake Road
Enter roundabout onto South Big Lake Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
31.4 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
South Jay Sedor Street
Turn right onto South Jay Sedor Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Palmer-Wasilla Highway | 9.5 mi | 15m |
| East Parks Highway | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| West Big Lake Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| West Susitna Parkway | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| West Parks Highway | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| South Big Lake Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| South Jay Sedor Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| East Palmer Wasilla Highway | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East Palmer-Wasilla Highway
— 9.5 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, AK and Big Lake, AK.
1
Start on South Colony Way
12 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Colony Way
2
Turn left onto West Evergreen Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
West Evergreen Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on East Palmer Wasilla Highway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Palmer Wasilla Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn straight onto East Palmer-Wasilla Highway
9.5 mi
·
15 min
·
East Palmer-Wasilla Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto AK 3
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
East Parks Highway
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on AK 3
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn left onto West Big Lake Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
West Big Lake Road
8
Enter roundabout onto South Big Lake Road
197 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Big Lake Road
9
Continue on South Big Lake Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South Big Lake Road
10
Continue on West Susitna Parkway
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
West Susitna Parkway
11
Turn right onto South Jay Sedor Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jay Sedor Street
12
Turn right onto West Tinkerbell Court
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Tinkerbell Court
13
Continue on South Crocodile Way
345 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Crocodile Way
14
Arrive at destination
South Crocodile Way
Trip Plan
For this quick 53-minute drive covering 32.2 miles, flexibility is your greatest asset. You can depart Palmer at any time that works best for you, with no need to split the journey. The estimated fuel cost is a low $7, so you won't need to worry extensively about refueling stops. Pay attention to the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route, especially as you transition onto West Big Lake Road, to ensure you don't miss any necessary turns. A practical tip: check local traffic conditions before leaving Palmer, as this can impact your travel time on the initial highway segments.
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 16.1 miles from Palmer, AK, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.5 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 32.2 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.1 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Lake, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palmer, 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 Palmer, AK
This is one driving day of about 32.2 miles and 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Palmer, 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 East Palmer-Wasilla Highway for about 9.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.1 mi from Palmer, AK · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.1 miles from Palmer, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Big Lake, AK
The final approach into Big Lake, 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 Big Lake, 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
$6.98 one way
$13.96 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $7.34 | $14.68 |
| premium | $5.98 | $7.58 | $15.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.11 | $14.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Big Lake, AK
Late night in Big Lake on Wednesday
Local time
12:10 AM
AKDT
Current temp
29°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
53m 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 Palmer, AK to Big Lake, AK covers 32.2 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Palmer-Wasilla Highway, East Parks Highway, West Big Lake Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.1 miles from Palmer, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.98 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 53m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Evergreen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (East Palmer-Wasilla Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Palmer, AK to Big Lake, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Big Lake, AK
More trips to Big Lake, AK
Explore more options from Palmer, AK or browse trips ending in Big Lake, AK.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AK road trips.
Explore maps for Palmer, AK or Big Lake, AK on MapSof.net.