Trip from Palmer, AK to Ketchikan, AK

Drive Time

49h 18m

Distance

977.6 mi

1,573 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

4-day trip

Fuel Cost

$213

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 133 min

4 AM

48h 34m ★

6 AM

49h 18m

8 AM

50h 47m

10 AM

49h 49m

12 PM

49h 41m

3 PM

49h 54m

5 PM

50h 43m

8 PM

48h 52m

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

Engin Akyurt

Ketchikan, AK

Luke Miller

Trip Overview

Embarking on this 977.6-mile journey from Palmer to Ketchikan requires significant planning, as it spans nearly 50 hours of travel time. Because this route relies entirely on the Alaska Marine Highway system rather than traditional roads, you should budget for at least four days to complete the trip comfortably. Expect to spend approximately $213 on fuel costs throughout your transit. This is strictly a multi-day expedition that connects diverse coastal regions of Alaska, moving from the inland area of Palmer to the southern reaches of the state. Given the logistical complexity of coordinating ferry segments, this is not a casual day trip but a major transit undertaking.

Trip Pace

Best split across 4 days

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

Break Rhythm

14 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

488.8 miles from Palmer, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27h 38m into the drive .

Drive Character

Do not expect a traditional highway experience, as this route features 0% highway driving and relies on maritime transit. Your journey is defined by three primary ferry segments: the Whittier-Yakutat leg, the Yakutat-Juneau connection, and the final stretch into Ketchikan. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 334.5-mile segment between Whittier and Yakutat. Because you are navigating coastal waters rather than pavement, the character of this trip is defined by the schedule of the Alaska Marine Highway. You will experience a unique, non-driving transit style that shifts the focus from steering to managing ferry logistics across 14 distinct stops.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

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-Yakutat is the longest continuous segment at about 334.5 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

244 ft 0 ft

Total Climb

27 ft

Total Descent

244 ft

Highest Point

244 ft

Elevation Range

244 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 49h 18m, 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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Evergreen Avenue.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 977.6 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?

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 435.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 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.

435.9 mi into trip | ~24h 13m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

698.5 mi into trip | ~41h 13m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

975.5 mi into trip | ~49h 14m in | AK 7 / Tongass Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Tongass Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat	334.5 mi	22h
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau	276.8 mi	8h
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat	262.6 mi	17h
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
Tongass Avenue	1.7 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat — 334.5 mi, about 22h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, AK and Ketchikan, 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-Yakutat

334 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

263 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

277 mi · 8 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Continue on Main Berth Ramp

197 ft · 33 sec · Main Berth Ramp

Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

At end of road, turn right onto AK 7

1.7 mi · 3 min · Tongass Avenue

Turn right onto AK 7

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Water Street

Turn right onto AK 7

400 ft · 12 sec · Front Street

Turn right

8 ft · 0 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Success on this route depends on meticulous coordination with the Alaska Marine Highway ferry schedule, so book your passage well in advance. Since your total duration reaches 49 hours and 18 minutes, pacing your travel over four days is essential to account for ferry arrival and departure times. Keep a close watch on your fuel budget of $213, as availability and pricing can fluctuate significantly at remote coastal points. A critical tip for this specific route is to prepare for extended downtime between ferry connections by packing ample supplies for the onboard wait. Prioritize flexibility in your itinerary, as maritime travel is often subject to weather-related delays that can impact your arrival in Ketchikan.

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 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 488.8 miles from Palmer, AK, or about 27h 38m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 334.5 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 215 miles or 9h 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 488.8 miles or 27h 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 244.4 miles or 11h 37m

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 47h 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ketchikan, 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 4-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 244 miles and 12.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 244 miles and 12.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 244 miles and 12.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 4

Finish the approach into Ketchikan, AK

Aim for roughly 244 miles and 12.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 215 miles from Palmer, AK.

This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 14 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat for about 334.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 488.8 mi from Palmer, AK · 27h 38m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Eagle River, AK

323 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.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Girdwood, AK

645 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 Girdwood, AK

Overnight Options

Night 1

Eagle River, AK

244 mi · about 12.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 244 miles or 12.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 2

Anchorage, AK

489 mi · about 24.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 489 miles or 24.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 3

Girdwood, AK

733 mi · about 37h in

A practical overnight split lands near Girdwood, AK after about 733 miles or 37 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Girdwood, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 215 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Halfway reset

Meal break

The midpoint is around 488.8 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-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 244 miles or 12.3 hours on the road.

Arriving in Ketchikan, AK

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.

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

$212.76 one way

$425.53 round trip

$5.53/gal 25.4 MPG avg 342 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.82	$223.81	$447.62
premium	$6.02	$231.78	$463.55
diesel	$5.64	$217.19	$434.38

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$213

Hotel (3n)

$240–$420

Meals

$100–$200

Total

$553–$833

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 342 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $103 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	293.3	3	$102.65	$46.92
Efficient EV	244.4	2	$85.54	$39.10
EV Truck/SUV	391	4	$136.86	$62.57

Gas CO2

342 kg

EV CO2

114 kg (67% less)

Plan for 3 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 14 hours ago

Origin

Palmer, AK

Afternoon in Palmer on Sunday

Local time

12:38 PM

AKDT

Current temp

32°F

Patchy Fog

0 mph 90% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 11 at 3:21PM AKDT until April 14 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

Winter Storm Warning

Winter Storm Warning issued April 11 at 3:21PM AKDT until April 14 at 4:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

Destination

Ketchikan, AK

Afternoon in Ketchikan on Sunday

Local time

12:38 PM

AKDT

Current temp

34°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

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

49h 18m 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 Ketchikan, AK covers 977.6 miles and takes about 49h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat. 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 244 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 488.8 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 $212.76 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 14 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 from Palmer, AK to Ketchikan, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Palmer, AK to Ketchikan, AK

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

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 Ketchikan, AK

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Palmer, AK

Ketchikan, AK

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

49h 18m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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