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Trip from Wasilla, AK to Wrangell, AK

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

52h

Distance

890.3 mi

1,433 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

4-day trip

Fuel Cost

$193

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 140 min
4 AM
51h 14m ★
6 AM
52h 1m
8 AM
53h 34m
10 AM
52h 33m
12 PM
52h 24m
3 PM
52h 38m
5 PM
53h 30m
8 PM
51h 33m

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

city in Alaska, USA

Wasilla, AK

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Wrangell, AK, AK

Wrangell, AK

Barnabas Davoti

Trip Overview

The drive from Wasilla, AK to Wrangell, AK covers 890.3 miles and takes about 52h behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 334.5 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. At current regular gas prices, budget about $192.96 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

14 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

445.2 miles from Wasilla, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24h 46m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Solo Traveler

52h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-distance drive route profile.

Drive Character

At 890.3 miles and 52h of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat and Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat is the longest continuous segment at about 334.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 52h, 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 AK 3 / East Parks Highway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 890.3 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 (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 436.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 699.1 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

5
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.
5
436.4 mi into trip | ~24h 13m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
699.1 mi into trip | ~41h 13m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

5
843.4 mi into trip | ~48h 58m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
890.3 mi into trip | ~52h in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat 334.5 mi 22h
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat 262.6 mi 17h
Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau 144.3 mi 7h 45m
Seward Highway 47.1 mi 57m
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg 46.2 mi 3h
Glenn Highway 33.1 mi 38m
East Parks Highway 7.9 mi 10m
Portage Glacier Road 5 mi 7m
Longest stretch: Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat — 334.5 mi, about 22h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wasilla, AK and Wrangell, AK.

1

Start on Main Street

15 ft · 7 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto AK 3

7.9 mi · 10 min · East Parks Highway
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on AK 1

33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Continue on AK 1

1.5 mi · 3 min · East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
5

Turn left onto AK 1

1.1 mi · 2 min · Gambell Street
6

Continue on AK 1

47 mi · 57 min · Seward Highway
7

Turn left onto FFH 35

5.0 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road
8

Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

4.7 mi · 10 min · Portage Glacier Highway
9

Continue on West Camp Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road
10

Turn right

169 ft · 8 sec
11

Turn left

248 ft · 4 sec
12

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

334 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
13

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

263 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
14

Continue

175 ft · 6 sec
15

Turn right

349 ft · 25 sec
16

Continue on Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau

144 mi · 7 hr 45 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
17

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg

46 mi · 3 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
18

Continue

398 ft · 10 sec
19

Continue on 2nd Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · 2nd Street
20

Continue on Church Street

0.4 mi · 58 sec · Church Street
21

Turn left onto Bennett Street

307 ft · 10 sec · Bennett Street
22

Turn right

89 ft · 6 sec
23

Arrive at 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 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 445.2 miles from Wasilla, AK, or about 24h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 334.5 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 196 miles or 8h 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 445.2 miles or 24h 46m 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 222.6 miles or 10h 8m

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 48h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wrangell, 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.

+

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 Wasilla, AK

Aim for roughly 223 miles and 13 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 223 miles and 13 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 223 miles and 13 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 4

Finish the approach into Wrangell, AK

Aim for roughly 223 miles and 13 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 196 miles from Wasilla, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 14 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat for about 334.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 445.2 mi from Wasilla, AK · 24h 46m into the drive

community in Alaska, USA

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Eagle River, AK

294 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.

Overnight Options

Night 1

Gateway, AK

223 mi · about 13h in

A practical overnight split lands near Gateway, AK after about 223 miles or 13 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 2

Anchorage, AK

445 mi · about 26h in

A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 445 miles or 26 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 3

Eagle River, AK

668 mi · about 39h in

A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 668 miles or 39 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Palmer, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 196 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Halfway reset

Meal break

The midpoint is around 445.2 miles from Wasilla, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 223 miles or 13 hours on the road.

Arriving in Wrangell, AK

The final approach into Wrangell, 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 Wrangell, AK.

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

$192.96 one way

$385.91 round trip

$5.51/gal 25.4 MPG avg 312 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.79 $202.91 $405.82
premium $5.98 $209.61 $419.21
diesel $5.61 $196.57 $393.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$193

Hotel (3n)

$240–$420

Meals

$100–$200

Total

$533–$813

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 311.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $93 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 267.1 3 $93.48 $42.73
Efficient EV 222.6 2 $77.90 $35.61
EV Truck/SUV 356.1 4 $124.64 $56.98

Gas CO2

311 kg

EV CO2

104 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Wasilla, AK

Late night in Wasilla on Friday

Local time

1:51 AM

AKDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wrangell, AK

Late night in Wrangell on Friday

Local time

1:51 AM

AKDT

Current temp

50°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

6 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

52h 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 Wasilla, AK to Wrangell, AK covers 890.3 miles and takes about 52h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-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 223 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 445.2 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 $192.96 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 14 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 10 significant decision points across 890.3 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.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 436.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 699.1 miles: Navigation decision point.

The route from Wasilla, AK to Wrangell, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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