Origin
Petersburg, AK
Afternoon in Petersburg on Saturday
Local time
12:44 PM
AKDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Petersburg, AK to Ketchikan, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 7m
Distance
151.6 mi
244 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 0m
★
6 AM
9h 8m
8 AM
9h 24m
10 AM
9h 14m
12 PM
9h 12m
3 PM
9h 14m
5 PM
9h 23m
8 PM
9h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Petersburg, AK
Vitali Adutskevich
Ketchikan, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Petersburg, AK to Ketchikan, AK covers 151.6 miles and takes about 9h 7m 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 - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell, Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg, Tongass Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.1 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.86 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
75.8 miles from Petersburg, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell | 102.1 mi | 6h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg | 46.2 mi | 3h |
| Tongass Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| North Nordic Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Water Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Front Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Fram Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
— 102.1 mi, about 6h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petersburg, AK and Ketchikan, AK.
1
Start on Fram Street
376 ft
·
21 sec
·
Fram Street
2
Turn left onto AK 7
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Nordic Drive
3
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
56 sec
4
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
46 mi
·
3 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
5
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
102 mi
·
6 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
6
Continue on Main Berth Ramp
197 ft
·
33 sec
·
Main Berth Ramp
7
Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Tongass Avenue
9
Turn right onto AK 7
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Water Street
10
Turn right onto AK 7
400 ft
·
12 sec
·
Front Street
11
Turn right
8 ft
·
0 sec
12
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 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.8 miles from Petersburg, AK, or about 4h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.1 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 33 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.8 miles or 4h 43m 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 75.8 miles or 4h 43m
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 7h 34m
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 Petersburg, 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 Petersburg, AK
Aim for roughly 76 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 76 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Petersburg, 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 - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell for about 102.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
76 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 Metlakatla, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
76 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Metlakatla, AK after about 76 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.8 miles from Petersburg, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 76 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 151.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AK 7 / North Nordic Drive
Turn left onto AK 7 / North Nordic Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
47.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 3m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
149.5 mi into trip
|
~9h 3m in
|
AK 7 / Tongass Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Tongass Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
151.6 mi into trip
|
~9h 7m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.86 one way
$65.71 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $34.55 | $69.10 |
| premium | $5.98 | $35.69 | $71.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.47 | $66.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$163–$273
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.92 | $7.28 |
| Efficient EV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.26 | $6.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.22 | $9.70 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Ketchikan, AK
Afternoon in Ketchikan on Saturday
Local time
12:44 PM
AKDT
Current temp
49°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.
Road read
9h 7m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
151.6 mi in 9h 7m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.1 mi on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 around 0.1 miles in near AK 7 / North Nordic Drive.
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 7m, 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: at 0.1 miles (AK 7 / North Nordic Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 47.3 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
50 ft
0 ft
Total Climb
27 ft
Total Descent
50 ft
Highest Point
50 ft
Elevation Range
50 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.1 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 76 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ketchikan, AK before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through AK can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AK 7 / North Nordic Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 47.3 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ketchikan, AK before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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