Origin
Wrangell, AK
Late night in Wrangell on Friday
Local time
4:18 AM
AKDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wrangell, AK to Anchorage, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51h 12m
Distance
848.9 mi
1,366 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$184
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
50h 26m
★
6 AM
51h 13m
8 AM
52h 45m
10 AM
51h 45m
12 PM
51h 36m
3 PM
51h 49m
5 PM
52h 40m
8 PM
50h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wrangell, AK
Barnabas Davoti
Anchorage, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Wrangell, AK to Anchorage, AK covers 848.9 miles and takes about 51h 12m 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 $183.98 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
424.5 miles from Wrangell, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25h 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
51h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 848.9 miles and 51h 12m 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 24 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 51h 12m, 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 Bennett Street.
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 13 significant decision points across 848.9 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 (Bennett Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Zimovia Highway): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 46.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Bennett Street
Turn left onto Bennett Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Zimovia Highway
At end of road, turn right onto Zimovia Highway
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
46.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 2m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
191.3 mi into trip
|
~10h 47m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
453.9 mi into trip
|
~27h 47m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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 | 46.9 mi | 58m |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg | 46.2 mi | 3h |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 6m |
| Portage Glacier Highway | 4.7 mi | 10m |
| West Camp Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wrangell, AK and Anchorage, AK.
1
Start on this road
89 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Bennett Street
307 ft
·
11 sec
·
Bennett Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Zimovia Highway
342 ft
·
9 sec
·
Zimovia Highway
4
Continue on Church Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Church Street
5
Continue on 2nd Street
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
2nd Street
6
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
46 mi
·
3 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
7
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
144 mi
·
7 hr 45 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
8
Continue
349 ft
·
32 sec
9
Turn left
175 ft
·
2 sec
10
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
11
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
12
Continue
374 ft
·
7 sec
13
At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road
173 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Camp Road
14
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
15
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
16
Continue on FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
17
Turn right onto AK 1
47 mi
·
58 min
·
Seward Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto East Fireweed Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Fireweed Lane
19
Turn right onto A Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
A Street
20
Turn left onto West 9th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 9th Avenue
21
Turn right onto I Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I Street
22
Turn left onto West 4th Avenue
120 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
23
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
24
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 424.5 miles from Wrangell, AK, or about 25h 53m 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 187 miles or 10h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 424.5 miles or 25h 53m 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 212.2 miles or 12h 9m
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 49h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anchorage, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wrangell, 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 Wrangell, AK
Aim for roughly 212 miles and 12.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 212 miles and 12.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 212 miles and 12.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Anchorage, AK
Aim for roughly 212 miles and 12.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 187 miles from Wrangell, 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 424.5 mi from Wrangell, AK · 25h 53m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
280 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
560 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, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
212 mi · about 12.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bear Creek, AK after about 212 miles or 12.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
424 mi · about 25.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 424 miles or 25.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
637 mi · about 38.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 637 miles or 38.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 187 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 424.5 miles from Wrangell, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 212 miles or 12.8 hours on the road.
Arriving in Anchorage, AK
The final approach into Anchorage, 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 Anchorage, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Anchorage, 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
$183.98 one way
$367.97 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
297 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $193.48 | $386.95 |
| premium | $5.98 | $199.86 | $399.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $187.43 | $374.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$184
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$524–$804
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 297 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $89 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 254.7 | 3 | $89.13 | $40.75 |
| Efficient EV | 212.2 | 2 | $74.28 | $33.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 339.6 | 4 | $118.85 | $54.33 |
Gas CO2
297 kg
EV CO2
99 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.
Destination
Anchorage, AK
Late night in Anchorage on Friday
Local time
4:18 AM
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.
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
23 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
51h 12m 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 Wrangell, AK to Anchorage, AK covers 848.9 miles and takes about 51h 12m 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 212 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 424.5 miles from Wrangell, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $183.98 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 13 significant decision points across 848.9 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 (Bennett Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Zimovia Highway): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 46.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
The route from Wrangell, AK to Anchorage, 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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