Drive Time
38h 2m
Distance
959 mi
1,543 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$209
one way
Photo: Engin Akyurt
The drive from Sitka, AK to Palmer, AK covers 959 miles and takes about 38h 2m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Sawmill Creek Road, Halibut Point Road, Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $208.71 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
10 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
479.5 miles from Sitka, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19h 1m into the drive .
At 959 miles and 38h 2m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Sawmill Creek Road and Halibut Point Road.
At 38h 2m, 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 0 significant decision points across 959 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?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sitka, AK to Palmer, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sawmill Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Halibut Point Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Camp Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Portage Glacier Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Portage Glacier Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Sitka, AK and Palmer, AK.
Start on Baranof Street
Turn left onto Sawmill Creek Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Halibut Point Road
Exit the roundabout onto Halibut Point Road
Turn left
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Continue straight
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Camp Road
Continue on West Camp Road
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
Continue on Portage Glacier Road
Turn right onto Seward Highway
Continue on Ingra Street
Turn right onto East 6th Avenue
Continue on East 5th Avenue
Continue on Glenn Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Glenn Highway
Turn right onto West Evergreen Avenue
Turn right onto South Colony Way
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 211 miles or 8h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 479.5 miles or 19h 1m 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 239.7 miles or 9h 30m
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 35h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palmer, AK than in the middle of the route.
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 240 miles and 9.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 9.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 9.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Palmer, AK
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 9.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 479.5 mi from Sitka, AK · 19h 1m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
316 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
633 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 Eagle River, AKNight 1
240 mi · about 9.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Girdwood, AK after about 240 miles or 9.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
480 mi · about 19h in
A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 480 miles or 19 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
719 mi · about 28.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 719 miles or 28.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 211 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 479.5 miles from Sitka, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 240 miles or 9.5 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
The final approach into Palmer, 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 Palmer, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Palmer, AK with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$208.71 one way
$417.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.82 | $219.55 | $439.10 |
| premium | $6.02 | $227.37 | $454.73 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $213.06 | $426.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$209
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$549–$829
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 335.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $101 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 287.7 | 3 | $100.70 | $46.03 |
| Efficient EV | 239.8 | 2 | $83.91 | $38.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 383.6 | 4 | $134.26 | $61.38 |
Gas CO2
336 kg
EV CO2
112 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Sitka on Saturday
Local time
2:19 PM
AKDT
Current temp
30°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Palmer on Saturday
Local time
2:19 PM
AKDT
Current temp
27°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
29°F
Girdwood, AK
316 mi in
26°F
Eagle River, AK
633 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Sitka, AK or browse trips ending in Palmer, AK.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AK road trips.
Explore maps for Sitka, AK or Palmer, AK on MapSof.net.
