Trip from Sitka, AK to Prudhoe Bay, AK

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

73h 44m

Distance

1674.8 mi

2,695 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

4-day trip

Fuel Cost

$363

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 199 min

4 AM

72h 38m ★

6 AM

73h 44m

8 AM

75h 57m

10 AM

74h 30m

12 PM

74h 17m

3 PM

74h 37m

5 PM

75h 50m

8 PM

73h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

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Sitka, AK

Wikimedia Commons

Prudhoe Bay, AK

John De Leon

Trip Overview

This extensive 1,674.8-mile journey from Sitka to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, is a serious undertaking, estimated to take around 73 hours and 44 minutes of driving time. It's not a trip for a single day; with a recommended duration of 4 days, you'll need to plan for multiple overnight stops. The route primarily utilizes the Alaska Marine Highway between Whittier and Yakutat, transitioning to the George Parks Highway and finally the Dalton Highway. Expect a fuel cost of approximately $363 for this adventure. This drive offers a deep dive into Alaska's vast and varied landscapes, connecting two distinct regions within the state.

Trip Pace

Best split across 4 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

21 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

837.4 miles from Sitka, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50h 29m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This route offers a unique mix of experiences, beginning with a significant portion on the Alaska Marine Highway, which is more about ferry travel than traditional driving. Once on land, you'll primarily navigate the George Parks Highway and the challenging Dalton Highway. With 0% highway share, you're looking at a consistent experience of non-interstate roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 415.8 miles on the Dalton Highway, a significant segment that demands focus and preparation. The character of the drive shifts from coastal marine transit to vast interior highways, with the Dalton Highway being a defining, rugged element.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Dalton Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 415.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 73h 44m, 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 15 significant decision points across 1674.8 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 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road

Turn left onto S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road

Navigation decision point

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

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

423.4 mi into trip | ~26h 43m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

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

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Sitka, AK and Prudhoe Bay, AK, road signs point toward Wasilla and Fairbanks.

Wasilla

851.6 mi in | ~50h 45m | via AK 3

Fairbanks

851.6 mi in | ~50h 45m | via AK 3

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dalton Highway	415.8 mi	14h 20m
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat	334.5 mi	22h
George Parks Highway	299.8 mi	5h 58m
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat	262.6 mi	17h
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau	153.9 mi	9h 30m
Elliott Highway	68.1 mi	1h 38m
Seward Highway	47.2 mi	58m
Glenn Highway	33 mi	38m

Longest stretch: Dalton Highway — 415.8 mi, about 14h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sitka, AK and Prudhoe Bay, AK.

Start on Baranof Street

221 ft · 15 sec · Baranof Street

Turn left onto S-933

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Sawmill Creek Road

Enter roundabout onto F-99

59 ft · 1 sec · Halibut Point Road

Continue on F-99

6.6 mi · 11 min · Halibut Point Road

Turn left

0.1 mi · 48 sec

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau

154 mi · 9 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau

Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

263 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

334 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

Continue

374 ft · 7 sec

At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road

173 ft · 9 sec · West Camp Road

Continue on West Camp Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road

Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

4.7 mi · 10 min · Portage Glacier Highway

Continue on FFH 35

5.0 mi · 6 min · Portage Glacier Road

Turn right onto AK 1

47 mi · 58 min · Seward Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on AK 1

1.0 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street

Turn right onto AK 1

0.4 mi · 56 sec · East 6th Avenue

Continue on AK 1

1.0 mi · 1 min · East 5th Avenue

Continue on AK 1

33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Continue on AK 3

4.2 mi · 5 min · West Parks Highway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on AK 3

300 mi · 5 hr 58 min · George Parks Highway

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Turn left onto Geist Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · Geist Road

Continue on Johansen Expressway

4.2 mi · 5 min · Johansen Expressway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto AK 2

9.1 mi · 12 min · Steese Highway

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Continue on AK 2

68 mi · 1 hr 38 min · Elliott Highway

Continue on AK 11

416 mi · 14 hr 20 min · Dalton Highway

At end of road, turn right onto Colleen Lake Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Colleen Lake Road

At end of road, turn right onto Spine Road

3.0 mi · 7 min · Spine Road

Keep slight right at fork

1.4 mi · 3 min

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · this road

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 73-hour, 44-minute duration and 1,674.8-mile length, splitting this trip over the recommended 4 days is essential for safety and enjoyment. Plan your fuel stops carefully, especially on the Dalton Highway, as services can be sparse; the estimated fuel cost is $363. With 21 stops planned, you have opportunities to rest and resupply, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 415.8 miles on the Dalton Highway, which requires ample preparation. Departing in the early morning during the summer months will maximize daylight hours for driving and allow you to experience the unique Alaskan summer conditions.

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 21 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 837.4 miles from Sitka, AK, or about 50h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 415.8 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 837.4 miles or 50h 29m 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 418.7 miles or 26h 25m

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 71h 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prudhoe Bay, 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 419 miles and 18.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 419 miles and 18.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 419 miles and 18.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 4

Finish the approach into Prudhoe Bay, AK

Aim for roughly 419 miles and 18.4 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 21 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Dalton Highway for about 415.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 837.4 mi from Sitka, AK · 50h 29m into the drive

Early stop town

Coffee and fuel

Willow, AK

419 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.

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Ester, AK

837 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 Ester, AK

Overnight Options

Night 1

Willow, AK

419 mi · about 18.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 419 miles or 18.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 2

Ester, AK

837 mi · about 36.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 837 miles or 36.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 3

Ester, AK

1256 mi · about 55.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 1256 miles or 55.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Juneau, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eagle River, AK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 837.4 miles from Sitka, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Dalton Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 415.8 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 419 miles or 18.4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Prudhoe Bay, AK

The final approach into Prudhoe Bay, 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 Prudhoe Bay, AK.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Prudhoe Bay, 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

$362.98 one way

$725.97 round trip

$5.51/gal 25.4 MPG avg 586 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.79	$381.71	$763.42
premium	$5.98	$394.30	$788.61
diesel	$5.61	$369.77	$739.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$363

Hotel (3n)

$240–$420

Meals

$100–$200

Total

$703–$983

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 586 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $176 in charging · 6 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	502.4	6	$175.85	$80.39
Efficient EV	418.7	4	$146.55	$66.99
EV Truck/SUV	669.9	8	$234.47	$107.19

Gas CO2

586 kg

EV CO2

196 kg (67% less)

This is a long EV road trip requiring 6 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Sitka, AK

Late night in Sitka on Wednesday

Local time

12:09 AM

AKDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Prudhoe Bay, AK

Late night in Prudhoe Bay on Wednesday

Local time

12:09 AM

AKDT

Current temp

2°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

36 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

73h 44m 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 Prudhoe Bay, AK covers 1674.8 miles and takes about 73h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dalton Highway, Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, George 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 419 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 837.4 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 $362.98 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 21 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Sitka, AK and Prudhoe Bay, AK, road signs point toward Wasilla and Fairbanks.

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