Trip from Palmer, AK to Cordova, AK

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

Distance

211.2 mi

340 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

8h 52m ★

6 AM

9h 0m

8 AM

9h 17m

10 AM

9h 6m

12 PM

9h 4m

3 PM

9h 7m

5 PM

9h 16m

8 PM

8h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Palmer, AK

Wikimedia Commons

Cordova, AK

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Palmer, AK to Cordova, AK covers 211.2 miles and takes about 9h behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova, Seward Highway, Glenn Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 108.6 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.77 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

105.6 miles from Palmer, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

9h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 9h drive with frequent turns across 211.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova is the longest continuous segment at about 108.6 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 4/10

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 9h, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 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 0.3 miles (AK 1 / Glenn Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.9 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Evergreen Avenue

Turn left onto West Evergreen Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | AK 1 / Glenn Highway

Turn left onto AK 1 / Glenn Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

41.9 mi into trip | ~52m in | AK 1 / Gambell Street

Turn left onto AK 1 / Gambell Street

Navigation decision point

101.4 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

211.2 mi into trip | ~9h in | Adams Avenue

Turn right onto Adams Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova	108.6 mi	6h 45m
Seward Highway	47.1 mi	57m
Glenn Highway	40.1 mi	48m
Portage Glacier Road	5 mi	7m
Portage Glacier Highway	4.7 mi	10m
East 5th Avenue	1.5 mi	3m
West Camp Road	1.5 mi	2m
Gambell Street	1.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova — 108.6 mi, about 6h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, AK and Cordova, AK.

Start on South Colony Way

12 ft · 8 sec · South Colony Way

Turn left onto West Evergreen Avenue

0.3 mi · 41 sec · West Evergreen Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto AK 1

7.0 mi · 10 min · Glenn Highway

Use the left lane.

Merge onto AK 3

516 ft · 6 sec · East Parks Highway

Continue on AK 1

33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on AK 1

1.5 mi · 3 min · East 5th Avenue

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn left onto AK 1

1.1 mi · 2 min · Gambell Street

Continue on AK 1

47 mi · 57 min · Seward Highway

Turn left onto FFH 35

5.0 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road

Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

4.7 mi · 10 min · Portage Glacier Highway

Continue on West Camp Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road

Turn right

169 ft · 8 sec

Turn left

248 ft · 4 sec

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova

109 mi · 6 hr 45 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova

Continue

410 ft · 30 sec

Turn right

184 ft · 3 sec

Turn slight right onto Ferry Terminal Access Road

254 ft · 4 sec · Ferry Terminal Access Road

Continue on AK 10

0.2 mi · 16 sec · New England Cannery Road

Continue on AK 10

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Orca Inlet Road

Continue on AK 10

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Ocean Dock Road

Continue on AK 10

0.5 mi · 45 sec · 1st Street

Turn right onto Adams Avenue

3 ft · 0 sec · Adams Avenue

Arrive at destination

Adams Avenue

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 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 105.6 miles from Palmer, AK, or about 2h 28m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.6 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 46 miles or 58m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 105.6 miles or 2h 28m 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 105.6 miles or 2h 28m

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 6h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cordova, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Palmer, AK

Aim for roughly 106 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Cordova, AK

Aim for roughly 106 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Palmer, AK.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova for about 108.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 105.6 mi from Palmer, AK · 2h 28m into the drive

consolidated city-borough, and largest city in Alaska, United States of America

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Anchorage, AK

106 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 Anchorage, AK

Popular next leg

Anchorage, AK to Cordova, AK

170.3 mi · 8h 11m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Anchorage, AK

106 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 106 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Anchorage, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Girdwood, AK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 105.6 miles from Palmer, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 108.6 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 106 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

Arriving in Cordova, AK

The final approach into Cordova, 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 Cordova, AK.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Cordova, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Vagabond Blues

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Palmer, Alaska

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+19077452233

Visit website

Palmer Alehouse

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Palmer, Alaska

0.2 mi

La Fiesta Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Palmer, Alaska

0 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Purple Moose Espresso

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Palmer, Alaska

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 5:30 am–7 pm

+19077463949

Visit website

That Feeling Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Anchorage, Alaska

0.4 mi

Alauda Coffeehouse

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Palmer, Alaska

0.1 mi

Vagabond Blues

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+19077452233

Visit website

Palmer Alehouse

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $20 to $30

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+19077462537

Visit website

La Fiesta Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+19077463335

Visit website

Turkey Red

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+19077465544

Visit website

Bleeding Heart Brewery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: 2–8 pm

+19077462421

Visit website

The Fern AK

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19077453376

Visit website

Garcia's Grill & KM

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+19077452676

Visit website

Arctic Roadrunner

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 10:30 am–7:30 pm

+19075611245

Visit website

Purple Moose Espresso

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: 5:30 am–7 pm

+19077463949

Visit website

That Feeling Co

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+19077714019

Visit website

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: 5 am–6 pm

+19072175158

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Palmer, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ReCharge Alaska Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17208331479

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18888074522

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 45.3

Anchorage, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Palmer, Alaska

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.77 one way

$91.55 round trip

$5.51/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.79	$48.14	$96.27
premium	$5.98	$49.72	$99.45
diesel	$5.61	$46.63	$93.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$176–$286

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	63.4	0	$22.18	$10.14
Efficient EV	52.8	0	$18.48	$8.45
EV Truck/SUV	84.5	1	$29.57	$13.52

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Palmer, AK

Morning in Palmer on Friday

Local time

11:54 AM

AKDT

Current temp

24°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cordova, AK

Morning in Cordova on Friday

Local time

11:54 AM

AKDT

Current temp

42°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

18 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

9h 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 Palmer, AK to Cordova, AK covers 211.2 miles and takes about 9h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova, Seward Highway, Glenn Highway. 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 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 106 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 105.6 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 $45.77 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 9h, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

The route from Palmer, AK to Cordova, 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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Return Trip

Cordova, AK to Palmer, AK

Plan the drive back the other way.

211 mi 9h

Explore more options from Palmer, AK or browse trips ending in Cordova, AK.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AK road trips.

Trip from Palmer, AK to Cordova, AK

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Cordova, AK

Nearby Places

Vagabond Blues

Purple Moose Espresso

Vagabond Blues

Palmer Alehouse

La Fiesta Restaurant

Turkey Red

Bleeding Heart Brewery

The Fern AK

Garcia's Grill & KM

Arctic Roadrunner

Purple Moose Espresso

That Feeling Co

Alauda Coffeehouse

The Art Cafe

Brew HaHa

Dead Horse Donuts

Kaladi Brothers Coffee

Blondie's Coffee Co.

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ReCharge Alaska Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Matanuska Brewery and Tap Room, Palmer

Poppy Lane

The Palmer Bar and Grill

Palmer Visitor Information Center

Alaska Photo Treks

Chai Medicinals

Bikini Babes AK

Upscale Stay • Hot Tub • Steps to Dining/Coffee

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Palmer, AK

Cordova, AK

Same local time

18 degrees warmer at arrival

9h on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Palmer, AK to Cordova, AK?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Palmer, AK to Cordova, AK?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Palmer, AK to Cordova, AK?

How this page is built

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