Origin
Palmer, AK
Morning in Palmer on Friday
Local time
8:41 AM
AKDT
Current temp
24°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmer, AK to Metlakatla, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50h 6m
Distance
996.4 mi
1,604 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$216
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
49h 21m
★
6 AM
50h 7m
8 AM
51h 37m
10 AM
50h 38m
12 PM
50h 29m
3 PM
50h 43m
5 PM
51h 32m
8 PM
49h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmer, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Metlakatla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Palmer, AK to Metlakatla, AK covers 996.4 miles and takes about 50h 6m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on West Evergreen Avenue, Glenn Highway, East Parks Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $215.95 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
14 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
498.2 miles from Palmer, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
50h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 996.4 miles and 50h 6m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are West Evergreen Avenue and Glenn Highway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Evergreen Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 50h 6m, 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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (50h 6m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Palmer, AK to Metlakatla, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Evergreen Avenue | — | — |
| Glenn Highway | — | — |
| East Parks Highway | — | — |
| East 5th Avenue | — | — |
| Gambell Street | — | — |
| Seward Highway | — | — |
| Portage Glacier Road | — | — |
| Portage Glacier Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Evergreen Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, AK and Metlakatla, AK.
1
Start on South Colony Way
13 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Colony Way
2
Turn left onto West Evergreen Avenue
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Evergreen Avenue
3
Turn left onto Glenn Highway
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Glenn Highway
4
Merge slight left onto East Parks Highway
515 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Parks Highway
5
Continue on Glenn Highway
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
6
Continue on East 5th Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
7
Turn left onto Gambell Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gambell Street
8
Continue on Seward Highway
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Seward Highway
9
Turn left onto Portage Glacier Road
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
10
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
11
Continue on West Camp Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
12
Turn right
171 ft
·
8 sec
13
Turn left
249 ft
·
4 sec
14
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
15
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
16
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi
·
8 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
17
Continue on Main Berth Ramp
197 ft
·
34 sec
·
Main Berth Ramp
18
Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
19
At the end of the road, turn right onto Tongass Avenue
226 ft
·
7 sec
·
Tongass Avenue
20
Turn right
128 ft
·
9 sec
21
Turn left
180 ft
·
6 sec
22
At the end of the road, turn right
335 ft
·
34 sec
23
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
19 mi
·
44 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
24
Continue on Ferry Terminal Roas
459 ft
·
37 sec
·
Ferry Terminal Roas
25
Turn right onto Walden Point Road
1.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Walden Point Road
26
Continue on Tait Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Tait Street
27
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
174 ft
·
8 sec
·
4th Avenue
28
Arrive at your destination
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 4-day trip.
Plan roughly 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 498.2 miles from Palmer, AK, or about 25h 3m into the drive.
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 219 miles or 11h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 498.2 miles or 25h 3m 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 249.1 miles or 12h 31m
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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Metlakatla, 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 249 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Metlakatla, AK
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 219 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 498.2 mi from Palmer, AK · 25h 3m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
329 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.
Overnight Options
Night 1
249 mi · about 12.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 249 miles or 12.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
498 mi · about 25.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 498 miles or 25.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
747 mi · about 37.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 747 miles or 37.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 219 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 498.2 miles from Palmer, 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 249 miles or 12.5 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.
Arriving in Metlakatla, AK
The final approach into Metlakatla, 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 Metlakatla, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Metlakatla, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$215.95 one way
$431.90 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
349 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $227.09 | $454.19 |
| premium | $5.98 | $234.59 | $469.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $219.99 | $439.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$216
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$556–$836
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 348.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $105 in charging · 3 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 298.9 | 3 | $104.62 | $47.83 |
| Efficient EV | 249.1 | 2 | $87.18 | $39.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 398.6 | 4 | $139.50 | $63.77 |
Gas CO2
349 kg
EV CO2
117 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Metlakatla, AK
Morning in Metlakatla on Friday
Local time
8:41 AM
AKDT
Current temp
41°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
17 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
50h 6m 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 Metlakatla, AK covers 996.4 miles and takes about 50h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Evergreen Avenue, Glenn Highway, East Parks 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 4-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 249 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 498.2 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 $215.95 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.
Navigation is easy, but the length (50h 6m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Palmer, AK to Metlakatla, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Palmer, AK to Metlakatla, 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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