Origin
Sterling, AK
Afternoon in Sterling on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
AKDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sterling, AK to Cohoe, AK
Drive Time
44m
Distance
32.5 mi
52 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, AK
Tima Miroshnichenko
Cohoe, AK
Tima Miroshnichenko
Trip Overview
Traveling from Sterling to Cohoe covers a quick 32.5-mile journey that typically takes about 44 minutes behind the wheel. This local drive is perfect for a single-day outing, as it is short enough to navigate without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the Sterling Highway before transitioning onto North Cohoe Loop Road and Ness Road to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, this trip remains an affordable way to move between these two Alaskan communities. Since the entire route takes place within the same region, you can expect a familiar landscape throughout the transit. It is a straightforward, practical connection that serves well for those looking to reach the Cohoe area efficiently.
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
16.2 miles from Sterling, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous, high-speed interstate experience. You will not spend any time on major highways, as the route relies entirely on local roads and connector routes. Because the drive is only 32.5 miles long, there are no exceptionally long, uninterrupted stretches to worry about. Navigating the transition from the Sterling Highway onto North Cohoe Loop Road and Ness Road requires your full attention to road markers and turns. The personality of this trip is defined by its localized nature, requiring you to stay alert through frequent directional changes.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sterling Highway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Sterling, AK to Cohoe, AK is easy. At 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sterling, AK to Cohoe, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Cohoe Loop Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ness Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Sterling Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling, AK and Cohoe, AK.
1
Start on Great Land Street
79 ft
·
3 sec
·
Great Land Street
2
Turn left onto Sterling Highway
27 mi
·
38 min
·
Sterling Highway
3
Turn right onto North Cohoe Loop Road
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
North Cohoe Loop Road
4
Turn right onto Ness Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ness Road
5
Turn left
154 ft
·
7 sec
6
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short 44-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. With no mandatory stops required for a trip of this length, you can easily complete the journey in one push without needing to factor in extensive rest breaks. Keep your $7 fuel budget in mind as you head out, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a series of turns rather than a straight highway cruise. Given the turn-heavy nature of North Cohoe Loop Road and Ness Road, check your GPS before leaving Sterling to ensure you are comfortable with the specific junctions you will encounter. This route’s simplicity is its greatest advantage, allowing you to reach Cohoe with minimal logistical preparation.
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 16.2 miles from Sterling, AK, or about 22m into the drive.
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 32.5 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.2 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cohoe, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sterling, 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 Sterling, AK
This is one driving day of about 32.5 miles and 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sterling, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.2 mi from Sterling, AK · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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
Arriving in Cohoe, AK
The final approach into Cohoe, 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 Cohoe, 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
$7.07 one way
$14.15 round trip
$5.53/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.82 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
| premium | $6.02 | $7.71 | $15.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.22 | $14.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.41 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.84 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Cohoe, AK
Afternoon in Cohoe on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
AKDT
Current temp
27°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
19 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
44m 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 Sterling, AK to Cohoe, AK covers 32.5 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sterling Highway, North Cohoe Loop Road, Ness Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.2 miles from Sterling, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.07 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 Sterling, AK to Cohoe, AK is easy. At 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sterling, AK to Cohoe, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sterling, AK to Cohoe, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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