Origin
Palmer, AK
Morning in Palmer on Friday
Local time
8:07 AM
AKDT
Current temp
24°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmer, AK to Wrangell, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52h 1m
Distance
889.8 mi
1,432 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$193
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
51h 14m
★
6 AM
52h 1m
8 AM
53h 35m
10 AM
52h 34m
12 PM
52h 24m
3 PM
52h 38m
5 PM
53h 30m
8 PM
51h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmer, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Wrangell, AK
Barnabas Davoti
Trip Overview
The drive from Palmer, AK to Wrangell, AK covers 889.8 miles and takes about 52h 1m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 334.5 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. At current regular gas prices, budget about $192.85 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
444.9 miles from Palmer, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24h 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
52h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 889.8 miles and 52h 1m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat and Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 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.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 52h 1m, 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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 889.8 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 435.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 698.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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.
5
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
5
698.5 mi into trip
|
~41h 13m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
842.9 mi into trip
|
~48h 59m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
889.8 mi into trip
|
~52h in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | 334.5 mi | 22h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau | 144.3 mi | 7h 45m |
| Seward Highway | 47.1 mi | 57m |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg | 46.2 mi | 3h |
| Glenn Highway | 40.1 mi | 48m |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 7m |
| Portage Glacier Highway | 4.7 mi | 10m |
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 Wrangell, 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
Turn left onto AK 1
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto AK 3
516 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Parks Highway
5
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on AK 1
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn left onto AK 1
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gambell Street
8
Continue on AK 1
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Seward Highway
9
Turn left onto FFH 35
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
169 ft
·
8 sec
13
Turn left
248 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
Continue
175 ft
·
6 sec
17
Turn right
349 ft
·
25 sec
18
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
144 mi
·
7 hr 45 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
19
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
46 mi
·
3 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
20
Continue
398 ft
·
10 sec
21
Continue on 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
2nd Street
22
Continue on Church Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Church Street
23
Turn left onto Bennett Street
307 ft
·
10 sec
·
Bennett Street
24
Turn right
89 ft
·
6 sec
25
Arrive at 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 444.9 miles from Palmer, AK, or about 24h 48m 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 196 miles or 8h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 444.9 miles or 24h 48m 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 222.5 miles or 10h 10m
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 48h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wrangell, 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 222 miles and 13 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 13 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 13 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Wrangell, AK
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 13 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 196 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 444.9 mi from Palmer, AK · 24h 48m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
294 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
222 mi · about 13h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 222 miles or 13 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
445 mi · about 26h in
A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 445 miles or 26 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
667 mi · about 39h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 667 miles or 39 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 196 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 444.9 miles from Palmer, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 222 miles or 13 hours on the road.
Arriving in Wrangell, AK
The final approach into Wrangell, 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 Wrangell, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Wrangell, 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
$192.85 one way
$385.70 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
311 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $202.80 | $405.59 |
| premium | $5.98 | $209.49 | $418.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $196.46 | $392.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$193
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$533–$813
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 311.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $93 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 266.9 | 3 | $93.43 | $42.71 |
| Efficient EV | 222.5 | 2 | $77.86 | $35.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 355.9 | 4 | $124.57 | $56.95 |
Gas CO2
311 kg
EV CO2
104 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.
Destination
Wrangell, AK
Morning in Wrangell on Friday
Local time
8:07 AM
AKDT
Current temp
50°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
26 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
52h 1m 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 Wrangell, AK covers 889.8 miles and takes about 52h 1m 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 - Juneau-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau. 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 222 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 444.9 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 $192.85 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 889.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Evergreen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 435.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 698.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Palmer, AK to Wrangell, 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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