Origin
Wasilla, AK
Late night in Wasilla on Wednesday
Local time
12:10 AM
AKDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wasilla, AK to Big Lake, AK
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
35m
Distance
20.9 mi
34 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wasilla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Big Lake, AK
Albert Koenig
Trip Overview
This short 20.9-mile drive from Wasilla to Big Lake in Alaska is easily manageable as a day trip, taking about 35 minutes to complete. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $5, it's an economical option for a quick journey. The route primarily utilizes East Parks Highway and West Big Lake Road, featuring a 17% highway share. Given its brief duration and lack of designated stops, you'll have plenty of flexibility in your timing. This is a straightforward local drive connecting two points within Alaska.
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
10.5 miles from Wasilla, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route. While 17% of the journey involves highway driving, much of it will be on local roads like West Big Lake Road and West Susitna Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 6.5 miles on East Parks Highway. This profile suggests a driving experience that requires attention to turns and local road conditions rather than long stretches of high-speed cruising.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Parks Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.5 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AK 3 / East Parks Highway.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Wasilla, AK to Big Lake, AK is easy. At 35m with 17% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (West Big Lake Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles (South Big Lake Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Turn left onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
10 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
West Big Lake Road
Turn left onto West Big Lake Road
Navigation decision point
4
13.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
South Big Lake Road
Enter roundabout onto South Big Lake Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
20.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
South Jay Sedor Street
Turn right onto South Jay Sedor Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Parks Highway | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| West Big Lake Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| West Susitna Parkway | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| West Parks Highway | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| South Big Lake Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| South Jay Sedor Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| West Tinkerbell Court | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Crocodile Way | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Parks Highway
— 6.5 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wasilla, AK and Big Lake, AK.
1
Start on Main Street
26 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto AK 3
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
East Parks Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AK 3
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Turn left onto West Big Lake Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
West Big Lake Road
5
Enter roundabout onto South Big Lake Road
197 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Big Lake Road
6
Continue on South Big Lake Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South Big Lake Road
7
Continue on West Susitna Parkway
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
West Susitna Parkway
8
Turn right onto South Jay Sedor Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jay Sedor Street
9
Turn right onto West Tinkerbell Court
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Tinkerbell Court
10
Continue on South Crocodile Way
345 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Crocodile Way
11
Arrive at destination
South Crocodile Way
Trip Plan
For this short 35-minute trip, you have considerable flexibility. Leaving Wasilla anytime should be fine, as there are no specified stops to coordinate around. Since the total distance is only 20.9 miles and the estimated fuel cost is just $5, you don't need to worry about extensive refueling or meal breaks. The most practical tip for this route is to pay close attention to the frequent turns, especially as you transition from East Parks Highway onto West Big Lake Road and West Susitna Parkway.
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 10.5 miles from Wasilla, AK, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.5 miles.
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 20.9 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.5 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Lake, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wasilla, 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 Wasilla, AK
This is one driving day of about 20.9 miles and 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wasilla, 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.
The longest stretch is on East Parks Highway for about 6.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.5 mi from Wasilla, AK · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.5 miles from Wasilla, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Big Lake, AK
The final approach into Big Lake, 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 Big Lake, 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
$4.53 one way
$9.06 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $4.76 | $9.53 |
| premium | $5.98 | $4.92 | $9.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.61 | $9.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.19 | $1.00 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Big Lake, AK
Late night in Big Lake on Wednesday
Local time
12:10 AM
AKDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
27°F
Houston, AK
10 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.
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
15 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
35m 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 Wasilla, AK to Big Lake, AK covers 20.9 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Parks Highway, West Big Lake Road, West Susitna Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.5 miles from Wasilla, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.53 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 Wasilla, AK to Big Lake, AK is easy. At 35m with 17% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (West Big Lake Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles (South Big Lake Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Wasilla, AK to Big Lake, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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