Origin
Sitka, AK
Afternoon in Sitka on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
AKDT
Current temp
30°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sitka, AK to Fairbanks, AK
Drive Time
57h 20m
Distance
1175.8 mi
1,892 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$256
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
56h 28m
★
6 AM
57h 20m
8 AM
59h 3m
10 AM
57h 56m
12 PM
57h 46m
3 PM
58h 1m
5 PM
58h 58m
8 PM
56h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sitka, AK
Tima Miroshnichenko
Fairbanks, AK
John De Leon
Trip Overview
Embarking on the 1,175.8-mile journey from Sitka to Fairbanks is a significant undertaking that requires careful logistical planning. Spanning approximately 57 hours and 20 minutes of travel time, this route is strictly a multi-day commitment rather than a quick excursion. You will navigate a combination of the Alaska Marine Highway—specifically the Juneau-Yakutat and Whittier-Yakutat segments—before transitioning onto the George Parks Highway to reach the interior. Budgeting around $256 for fuel is a smart starting point for your financial planning. Given the complexity of coordinating ferry travel with road segments, you should plan for at least 4 days to complete the trip comfortably. This is an expedition across diverse Alaskan regions that demands patience and a well-prepared vehicle.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
16 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
587.9 miles from Sitka, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a unique driving experience that blends maritime transit with traditional highway travel. Because the route relies heavily on the Alaska Marine Highway, your highway share remains at 0%, shifting the focus from high-speed interstate cruising to careful ferry scheduling. The most significant leg of your journey is the 334.5-mile stretch along the Whittier-Yakutat ferry route, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. Once you transition to the George Parks Highway, the character of the drive shifts toward standard road travel. Navigating these 16 total stops requires a balance between patience on the water and steady progress on the road, making it a demanding route that tests your ability to handle varied transit modes.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 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 57h 20m, 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 S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road.
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 1175.8 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 (S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (F-99 / Halibut Point Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 160.8 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
|
S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road
Turn left onto S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
F-99 / Halibut Point Road
Enter roundabout onto F-99 / Halibut Point Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
160.8 mi into trip
|
~9h 43m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
851.6 mi into trip
|
~50h 45m in
|
AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
6
1171.8 mi into trip
|
~57h 12m in
Take the exit toward East Airport Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward East Airport Way
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Sitka, AK to Fairbanks, AK, road signs begin pointing toward Wasilla along the way.
Wasilla
851.6 mi in
|
~50h 45m
|
via AK 3
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | 334.5 mi | 22h |
| George Parks Highway | 301.4 mi | 6h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau | 153.9 mi | 9h 30m |
| Seward Highway | 47.2 mi | 58m |
| Glenn Highway | 33 mi | 38m |
| East Parks Highway | 14.5 mi | 20m |
| Halibut Point Road | 6.6 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sitka, AK and Fairbanks, AK.
1
Start on Baranof Street
221 ft
·
15 sec
·
Baranof Street
2
Turn left onto S-933
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Sawmill Creek Road
3
Enter roundabout onto F-99
59 ft
·
1 sec
·
Halibut Point Road
4
Continue on F-99
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Halibut Point Road
5
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
48 sec
6
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
154 mi
·
9 hr 30 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
7
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
8
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
9
Continue
374 ft
·
7 sec
10
At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road
173 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Camp Road
11
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
12
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
13
Continue on FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
14
Turn right onto AK 1
47 mi
·
58 min
·
Seward Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Ingra Street
16
Turn right onto AK 1
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
17
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Avenue
18
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3
15 mi
·
20 min
·
East Parks Highway
Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on AK 3
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on AK 3
301 mi
·
6 hr
·
George Parks Highway
Use the none lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward East Airport Way
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on Airport Way
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Airport Way
Use the none lane.
24
Turn left onto Cushman Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Cushman Street
25
Turn right onto 12th Avenue
363 ft
·
15 sec
·
12th Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
12th Avenue
Trip Plan
Pacing is the most critical element of your success on this 1,175.8-mile trek. Since ferry schedules dictate much of your progress, verify your departure times well in advance to avoid long layovers between the Juneau-Yakutat and Whittier-Yakutat segments. Aim to split your drive over 4 days to keep your daily mileage manageable and allow for necessary rest. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $256 estimate may fluctuate based on local prices in remote areas. A concrete tip for this specific route is to prioritize your ferry bookings as soon as your travel dates are set, as these segments are the bottleneck that will define your arrival time in Fairbanks.
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 16 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 587.9 miles from Sitka, AK, or about 37h 32m 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 220 miles or 13h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 587.9 miles or 37h 32m 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 293.9 miles or 18h 20m
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 56h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbanks, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sitka, 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 Sitka, AK
Aim for roughly 294 miles and 14.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 294 miles and 14.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 294 miles and 14.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Fairbanks, AK
Aim for roughly 294 miles and 14.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Sitka, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 16 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 587.9 mi from Sitka, AK · 37h 32m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
388 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
776 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 Palmer, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
294 mi · about 14.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 294 miles or 14.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
588 mi · about 28.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 588 miles or 28.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
882 mi · about 43h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 882 miles or 43 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 587.9 miles from Sitka, 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 294 miles or 14.3 hours on the road.
Arriving in Fairbanks, AK
The final approach into Fairbanks, 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 Fairbanks, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Fairbanks, 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
$255.90 one way
$511.80 round trip
$5.53/gal
25.4 MPG avg
411 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.82 | $269.18 | $538.37 |
| premium | $6.02 | $278.77 | $557.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $261.22 | $522.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$256
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$596–$876
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 411.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $123 in charging · 4 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 352.7 | 4 | $123.46 | $56.44 |
| Efficient EV | 294 | 3 | $102.88 | $47.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 470.3 | 5 | $164.61 | $75.25 |
Gas CO2
411 kg
EV CO2
138 kg (66% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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
Fairbanks, AK
Afternoon in Fairbanks on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
AKDT
Current temp
24°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
27°F
Palmer, AK
776 mi in
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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
57h 20m 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 Sitka, AK to Fairbanks, AK covers 1175.8 miles and takes about 57h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, George Parks Highway, 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 294 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 587.9 miles from Sitka, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $255.90 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 16 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 1175.8 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 (S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (F-99 / Halibut Point Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 160.8 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
On the drive from Sitka, AK to Fairbanks, AK, road signs begin pointing toward Wasilla along the way.
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