Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Badger, AK to Wasilla, AK
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 37m
Distance
324.6 mi
522 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 26m
★
6 AM
6h 38m
8 AM
7h 2m
10 AM
6h 46m
12 PM
6h 44m
3 PM
6h 47m
5 PM
7h 1m
8 PM
6h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Badger, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Wasilla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Badger to Wasilla is 324.6 miles and takes about 6h 37m via AK 3, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alaska, offering a straightforward drive primarily on well-maintained highways. You'll spend most of your time cruising, making it a good option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two locations. The route is designed for a single day of travel, with a manageable duration and cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
162.3 miles from Badger, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| AK 3 | 317.1 mi | 6h 23m |
| Richardson Highway | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Old Richardson Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Rozak Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
AK 3
— 317.1 mi, about 6h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Badger, AK and Wasilla, AK.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
0.5 mi
·
3 min
3
Turn left onto Old Richardson Highway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Richardson Highway
4
Continue on Rozak Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Rozak Road
5
Turn right onto AK 2
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Richardson Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit onto AK 3
317 mi
·
6 hr 23 min
·
AK 3
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Main Street
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
8
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6.5-hour drive time, leaving Badger in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Wasilla with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a high highway percentage, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 317.1-mile stretch on AK 3, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. Your estimated fuel cost is around $65, so budget accordingly before you depart.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 162.3 miles from Badger, AK, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 317.1 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 71 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.3 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wasilla, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Badger, 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 Badger, AK
This is one driving day of about 324.6 miles and 6h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Badger, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on AK 3 for about 317.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 162.3 miles from Badger, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before AK 3 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 317.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
June Creek Rest Area
0 mi from route
East Fork Campground and Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 324.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Old Richardson Highway
Turn left onto Old Richardson Highway
Navigation decision point
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
AK 2 / Richardson Highway
Turn right onto AK 2 / Richardson Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
AK 3
Take the exit onto AK 3
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
324.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 37m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.15 one way
$136.31 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
114 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.61 | $71.68 | $143.36 |
| premium | $5.80 | $74.15 | $148.29 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $71.55 | $143.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.4 | 1 | $34.08 | $15.58 |
| Efficient EV | 81.2 | 0 | $28.40 | $12.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.8 | 1 | $45.44 | $20.77 |
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Badger, AK
Night in Badger on Tuesday
Local time
11:42 PM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Rain Showers Likely
SW 5 mph
65% chance
Live forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued August 30 at 12:19PM AKDT until September 1 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Destination
Wasilla, AK
Night in Wasilla on Tuesday
Local time
11:42 PM
AKDT
Current temp
43°F
Cloudy then Rain Showers
NE 5 mph
95% chance
Live forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued August 30 at 12:19PM AKDT until September 1 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
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
2 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
6h 37m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a predominantly highway drive, with 98% of the route utilizing major roads like AK 3 and the Richardson Highway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 317.1 miles on AK 3, meaning you'll be on this main artery for most of the trip. Expect consistent cruising with minimal transitions to surface roads, giving you a predictable driving experience for the vast majority of the distance.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 317.1 mi on AK 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on AK 3 and Richardson Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 37m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 5 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Old Richardson Highway): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (AK 2 / Richardson Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,285 ft
212 ft
Total Climb
2,961 ft
Total Descent
3,084 ft
Highest Point
2,285 ft
~161.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,073 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Badger, AK
Full guide →Arriving in Wasilla, AK
Full guide →Founded 1917
Wasilla is a city of 9,000 people (2020) in Alaska. Wasilla is the last city of significant size on the Parks Highway northward; therefore, it is a frequent stopping point if traveling by car to Denali National Park, Fairbanks or other points north. It is most famous as the home town of Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who served as mayor of the city for six years.
Top landmarks
- • Wasilla Depot — railway station in Wasilla, the United States of America
- • Wasilla Elementary School — school building in Wasilla, United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 37m. Total distance: 324.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 37m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 317.1 miles on AK 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Wasilla, AK before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through AK can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Old Richardson Highway): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (AK 2 / Richardson Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wasilla, AK before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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