Drive or Fly: Ketchikan, AK to Sitka, AK?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

17h 49m

Distance

440 mi

Total Cost

$263

CO2

178 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$83

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 42m

22m in the air

Air Distance

184 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ketchikan, AK → KTN 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SIT → Sitka, AK 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ketchikan, AK KTN — Ketchikan International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Sitka, AK SIT — Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport 1 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 15h 7m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	17h 49m	2h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$263	$182
Carbon footprint	178 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Ketchikan, AK to Sitka, AK with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.