Origin
Palmer, AK
Morning in Palmer on Friday
Local time
10:15 AM
AKDT
Current temp
24°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmer, AK to College, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 37m
Distance
324 mi
521 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 25m
★
6 AM
6h 37m
8 AM
7h 1m
10 AM
6h 45m
12 PM
6h 43m
3 PM
6h 47m
5 PM
7h 0m
8 PM
6h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmer, AK
Wikimedia Commons
College, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Palmer, AK to College, AK covers 324 miles and takes about 6h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on George Parks Highway, East Palmer-Wasilla Highway, East Parks Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 299.2 miles on George Parks Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $70.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
162 miles from Palmer, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 37m. Total distance: 324 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 37m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 37m drive with frequent turns across 324 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
George Parks Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 299.2 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 37m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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.
5
321.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 32m in
|
Sheep Creek Road
At end of road, turn right onto Sheep Creek Road
Navigation decision point
4
322.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 34m in
|
Tanana Loop
Enter roundabout onto Tanana Loop
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| George Parks Highway | 299.2 mi | 5h 57m |
| East Palmer-Wasilla Highway | 9.5 mi | 15m |
| East Parks Highway | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| West Parks Highway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Sheep Creek Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Tanana Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Tanana Loop | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Palmer Wasilla Highway | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
George Parks Highway
— 299.2 mi, about 5h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, AK and College, 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
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Continue on AK 3
299 mi
·
5 hr 57 min
·
George Parks Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto Sheep Creek Road
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Sheep Creek Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto Sheep Creek Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Sheep Creek Road
10
Continue on West Tanana Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Tanana Drive
11
Enter roundabout onto Tanana Loop
85 ft
·
1 sec
·
Tanana Loop
12
Continue on Tanana Loop
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Tanana Loop
13
Continue on Alumni Drive
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Alumni Drive
14
Continue on College Road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
College Road
15
Arrive at destination
College Road
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 162 miles from Palmer, AK, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 299.2 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 71 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near College, 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 324 miles and 6h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Palmer, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on George Parks Highway for about 299.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 162 mi from Palmer, AK · 3h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 162 miles from Palmer, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before George Parks Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 299.2 miles.
Arriving in College, AK
The final approach into College, 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 College, AK.
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
$70.22 one way
$140.44 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $73.84 | $147.69 |
| premium | $5.98 | $76.28 | $152.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.54 | $143.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.2 | 1 | $34.02 | $15.55 |
| Efficient EV | 81 | 0 | $28.35 | $12.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.6 | 1 | $45.36 | $20.74 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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
College, AK
Morning in College on Friday
Local time
10:15 AM
AKDT
Current temp
21°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
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
6h 37m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 College, AK covers 324 miles and takes about 6h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are George Parks Highway, East Palmer-Wasilla Highway, East Parks Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 162 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 $70.22 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 37m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 College, 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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