Utqiagvik to Kodiak is 1272.3 miles and takes about 37h 14m via Dalton Highway, George Parks Highway, Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak, with a fuel budget near $248 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive that will take you across vast distances within Alaska. Given its length and the necessary transition to a ferry, this trip is best planned over 4 recommended days. You'll experience a significant shift in scenery and travel methods as you move from the northern interior to the southern coast.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
10 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
636.2 miles from Utqiagvik, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 20h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dalton Highway
415.8 mi
14h 20m
George Parks Highway
299.9 mi
5h 58m
Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
225.4 mi
5h 30m
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
79.1 mi
4h 30m
Elliott Highway
68.1 mi
1h 38m
Seward Highway
47.1 mi
57m
Spine Road
36.3 mi
1h 27m
Glenn Highway
33.1 mi
38m
Longest stretch:
Dalton Highway
— 415.8 mi, about 14h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Utqiagvik, AK and Kodiak, AK.
1
Start on this road
2.9 mi·18 min·this road
2
Turn left
10 mi·25 min
3
At end of road, turn right
0.8 mi·1 min
4
Turn right onto Oliktok Road
4.7 mi·11 min·Oliktok Road
5
Keep slight left at fork onto Oliktok Road
0.1 mi·20 sec·Oliktok Road
6
Turn straight onto Spine Road
35 mi·1 hr 24 min·Spine Road
7
Continue on Spine Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Spine Road
8
Turn right onto Colleen Lake Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Colleen Lake Road
9
Turn left onto AK 11
416 mi·14 hr 20 min·Dalton Highway
10
Continue on AK 2
68 mi·1 hr 38 min·Elliott Highway
11
Continue on AK 2
9.0 mi·12 min·Steese Highway
12
Turn right onto Johansen Expressway
4.2 mi·5 min·Johansen Expressway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Geist Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Geist Road
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
15
Merge onto AK 3
300 mi·5 hr 58 min·George Parks Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on AK 3
19 mi·26 min·West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on AK 1
33 mi·38 min·Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on AK 1
1.5 mi·3 min·East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn left onto AK 1
1.1 mi·2 min·Gambell Street
20
Continue on AK 1
47 mi·57 min·Seward Highway
21
Turn left onto FFH 35
5.0 mi·7 min·Portage Glacier Road
22
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi·10 min·Portage Glacier Highway
23
Continue on West Camp Road
1.5 mi·2 min·West Camp Road
24
Turn right
169 ft·8 sec
25
Turn left
248 ft·4 sec
26
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
79 mi·4 hr 30 min·Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
27
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
Plan to split this 37-hour drive over 4 days to make it manageable. The longest stretch of 415.8 miles on the Dalton Highway means you'll want to be well-prepared with fuel and supplies before embarking on it. Given the significant fuel cost of $248, monitor your fuel levels closely, especially on the more remote sections. Ensure you book your Alaska Marine Highway ferry well in advance, as space can be limited. Start your overland drive early in the morning to maximize daylight hours for driving and potential stops.
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 10 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 636.2 miles from Utqiagvik, AK, or about 20h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 415.8 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 220 miles or 8h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 636.2 miles or 20h 23m 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 318.1 miles or 11h 28m
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 35h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kodiak, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Utqiagvik, 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 Utqiagvik, AK
Aim for roughly 318 miles and 9.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 318 miles and 9.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 318 miles and 9.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Kodiak, AK
Aim for roughly 318 miles and 9.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Utqiagvik, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 10 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dalton Highway for about 415.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 1272.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
13.3 mi into trip|~43m in
At end of road, turn right
Navigation decision point
5
555.1 mi into trip|~18h 46m in|AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Merge onto AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1046.7 mi into trip|~31h 43m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
1272.2 mi into trip|~37h 14m in|Center Street
Turn right onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
5
1272.3 mi into trip|~37h 14m in|Mill Bay Road
Turn right onto Mill Bay Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$285.52 one way
$571.03 round trip
$5.70/gal25.4 MPG avg445 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.03
$302.05
$604.09
premium
$6.22
$311.46
$622.93
diesel
$6.28
$314.37
$628.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$286
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$626–$906
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 445.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $134 in charging
· 4 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
381.7
4
$133.59
$61.07
Efficient EV
318.1
3
$111.33
$50.89
EV Truck/SUV
508.9
6
$178.12
$81.43
Gas CO2
445 kg
EV CO2
149 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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 Oct 24, 2026
Origin
Utqiagvik, AK
Morning
in Utqiagvik on Saturday
Local time
11:03 AM
AKDT
Current temp
25°F
Light Snow
SE 25 to 30 mph84% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued October 23 at 11:57PM AKDT until October 26 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Storm Warning issued October 23 at 11:57PM AKDT until October 26 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Destination
Kodiak, AK
Morning
in Kodiak on Saturday
Local time
11:03 AM
AKDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
SE 15 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued October 23 at 11:57PM AKDT until October 26 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Storm Warning issued October 23 at 11:57PM AKDT until October 26 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
29°F
Chickaloon, AK
318 mi in
34°F
Houston, AK
954 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.
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
17 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
37h 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 0% highway driving, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire overland portion. The longest continuous stretch without a break is 415.8 miles on the Dalton Highway. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the drive, with limited services. You'll transition from overland travel to a ferry system for the final leg to Kodiak.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 415.8 mi on Dalton Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
At 37h 14m, 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 around 13.3 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 1272.3 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: at 13.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 555.1 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1046.7 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Utqiaġvik (formerly and still commonly known to non-natives as Barrow) is a city that is 300 miles (480 km) north of the Arctic Circle on the Arctic Ocean in Arctic Alaska. The city holds the distinction of being the northernmost settlement in the United States, and the northernmost settlement on the North American mainland. The residents are primarily of Inupiat (Native Alaskan) descent. Its population in 2019 was a bit more than 4,500 people.
Kodiak Island is in southwestern Alaska, in the Gulf of Alaska, 250 miles south of Anchorage. It is Alaska's largest island and second largest in the US, after the Big Island in Hawaii. The City of Kodiak is situated on the east shore of Kodiak Island.
Top landmarks
•Holy Resurrection Church — historic church in Alaska, United States
The longest stretch is about 415.8 miles on Dalton Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 4-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 318 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 9 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kodiak, 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 10 meaningful breaks. There are 9 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 13.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 555.1 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1046.7 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 37.2 hours each way, a round trip means 74.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kodiak, AK before the return drive.
