Origin
Seward, AK
Evening in Seward on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 PM
AKDT
Current temp
30°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Seward, AK to Sterling, AK
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h
Distance
82.2 mi
132 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 52m
★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 18m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 5m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, AK
Tima Miroshnichenko
Trip Overview
The drive from Seward, AK to Sterling, AK covers 82.2 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sterling Highway, Seward Highway, 3rd Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46 miles on Sterling Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.82 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Seward, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h drive with frequent turns across 82.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sterling Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 46 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jefferson Street.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Seward, AK to Sterling, AK is easy. At 2h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AK 9 / 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.2 miles (AK 1 / Sterling Highway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Jefferson Street
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AK 9 / 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto AK 9 / 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
36.2 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
AK 1 / Sterling Highway
Turn left onto AK 1 / Sterling Highway
Navigation decision point
4
82.2 mi into trip
|
~2h in
|
Great Land Street
Turn left onto Great Land Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling Highway | 46 mi | 1h 7m |
| Seward Highway | 35.4 mi | 51m |
| 3rd Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Jefferson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Great Land Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sterling Highway
— 46 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seward, AK and Sterling, AK.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue
170 ft
·
9 sec
·
2nd Avenue
2
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
300 ft
·
18 sec
·
Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto AK 9
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
3rd Avenue
4
Continue on AK 9
35 mi
·
51 min
·
Seward Highway
5
Turn left onto AK 1
46 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
Sterling Highway
6
Turn left onto Great Land Street
111 ft
·
4 sec
·
Great Land Street
7
Arrive at destination
Great Land Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.1 miles from Seward, AK, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sterling, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Seward, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Seward, AK
This is one driving day of about 82.2 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Seward, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Sterling Highway for about 46 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.1 mi from Seward, AK · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.1 miles from Seward, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sterling, AK
The final approach into Sterling, 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 Sterling, AK.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.82 one way
$35.63 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $18.73 | $37.47 |
| premium | $5.98 | $19.35 | $38.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.15 | $36.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.63 | $3.95 |
| Efficient EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.19 | $3.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.51 | $5.26 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Sterling, AK
Evening in Sterling on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 PM
AKDT
Current temp
46°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.
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
16 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
2h on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Seward, AK to Sterling, AK covers 82.2 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sterling Highway, Seward Highway, 3rd Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.1 miles from Seward, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Seward, AK to Sterling, AK is easy. At 2h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AK 9 / 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 36.2 miles (AK 1 / Sterling Highway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Seward, AK to Sterling, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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