Origin
Sitka, AK
Late night in Sitka on Wednesday
Local time
3:32 AM
AKDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sitka, AK to Seattle, WA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
57h 31m
Distance
1226.6 mi
1,974 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$266
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
56h 40m
★
6 AM
57h 32m
8 AM
59h 15m
10 AM
58h 8m
12 PM
57h 58m
3 PM
58h 13m
5 PM
59h 10m
8 PM
57h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sitka, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sitka, AK to Seattle, WA covers 1226.6 miles and takes about 57h 31m 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 $265.84 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
16 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
613.3 miles from Sitka, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28h 45m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 1226.6 miles and 57h 31m 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.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sawmill Creek Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 57h 31m, 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.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 0 significant decision points across 1226.6 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 Seattle, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sawmill Creek Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Halibut Point Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Bellingham ↔ Ketchikan | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harris Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 10th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Fairhaven Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Sawmill Creek Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sitka, AK and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on Baranof Street
220 ft
·
15 sec
·
Baranof Street
2
Turn left onto Sawmill Creek Road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Sawmill Creek Road
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Halibut Point Road
59 ft
·
1 sec
·
Halibut Point Road
4
Exit the roundabout onto Halibut Point Road
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 right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi
·
8 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
8
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Bellingham ↔ Ketchikan
702 mi
·
38 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Bellingham ↔ Ketchikan
9
Continue straight
177 ft
·
20 sec
10
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
1 min
11
At the end of the road, turn left onto Harris Avenue
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Harris Avenue
12
Turn right onto 10th Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
10th Street
13
Continue on Old Fairhaven Parkway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Fairhaven Parkway
14
Take the ramp right toward I 5 South: Seattle
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 5 South: Seattle
15
Merge slight left
85 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward Union Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Union Street
17
Continue on Union Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Union Street
18
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
5th Avenue
19
Turn right onto Madison Street
112 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
20
Turn left
30 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at your 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 4-day trip.
Plan roughly 16 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 613.3 miles from Sitka, AK, or about 28h 45m into the drive.
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 10h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 613.3 miles or 28h 45m 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 306.6 miles or 14h 22m
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 54h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, WA 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 307 miles and 14.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 307 miles and 14.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 307 miles and 14.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Seattle, WA
Aim for roughly 307 miles and 14.4 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 16 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 613.3 mi from Sitka, AK · 28h 45m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
307 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
613 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 Bellingham, WA
Late stop town
Final reset
920 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Seattle, WA.
Overnight Options
Night 1
307 mi · about 14.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Petersburg, AK after about 307 miles or 14.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
613 mi · about 28.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bellingham, WA after about 613 miles or 28.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
920 mi · about 43.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Mill Creek, WA after about 920 miles or 43.1 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 613.3 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 307 miles or 14.4 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.
Arriving in Seattle, WA
The final approach into Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Seattle, WA 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$265.84 one way
$531.69 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
429 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $279.56 | $559.12 |
| premium | $5.98 | $288.78 | $577.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $270.82 | $541.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$266
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$606–$886
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 429.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $129 in charging · 4 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 368 | 4 | $128.79 | $58.88 |
| Efficient EV | 306.7 | 3 | $107.33 | $49.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 490.6 | 6 | $171.72 | $78.50 |
Gas CO2
429 kg
EV CO2
144 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
Seattle, WA
Late night in Seattle on Wednesday
Local time
4:32 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 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
57h 31m 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 Seattle, WA covers 1226.6 miles and takes about 57h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sawmill Creek Road, Halibut Point Road, Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau. 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 307 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 613.3 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 $265.84 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 0 significant decision points across 1226.6 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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sitka, AK to Seattle, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sitka, AK to Seattle, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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