Origin
Big Lake, AK
Evening in Big Lake on Saturday
Local time
6:48 PM
AKDT
Current temp
27°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Lake, AK to Anchorage, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 30m
Distance
64.4 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Lake, AK
Albert Koenig
Anchorage, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on the drive from Big Lake to Anchorage covers 64.4 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate along the Glenn Highway and West Parks Highway, with a portion on West Susitna Parkway. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, this journey is quite economical. The route is characterized by numerous turns, suggesting a more local and potentially engaging driving experience rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. This straightforward drive within Alaska is perfect for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.2 miles from Big Lake, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Highway | 33.1 mi | 38m |
| West Parks Highway | 18 mi | 25m |
| West Susitna Parkway | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| West Big Lake Road | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| South Big Lake Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| East 5th Avenue | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| South Jay Sedor Street | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| West Tinkerbell Court | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Glenn Highway
— 33.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Lake, AK and Anchorage, AK.
1
Start on South Crocodile Way
345 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Crocodile Way
2
Continue on West Tinkerbell Court
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
West Tinkerbell Court
3
Turn left onto South Jay Sedor Street
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Jay Sedor Street
4
Turn left onto West Susitna Parkway
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
West Susitna Parkway
5
Continue on South Big Lake Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
South Big Lake Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Big Lake road
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
Big Lake road
7
Continue on Big Lake road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Big Lake road
8
Turn straight onto West Big Lake Road
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Big Lake Road
9
Turn right onto AK 3
18 mi
·
25 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on AK 1
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto I Street
358 ft
·
17 sec
·
I Street
13
Turn left onto West 4th Avenue
120 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
14
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes, this drive offers flexibility. You can depart at your convenience, perhaps in the morning to maximize your day in Anchorage. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan for any necessary breaks yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $14 for the trip. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for the frequent turns, especially as you transition onto West Susitna Parkway, and ensure your navigation is set correctly.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.2 miles from Big Lake, AK, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.1 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 14 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.2 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
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 Big Lake, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Big Lake, AK
This is one driving day of about 64.4 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Big Lake, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Glenn Highway for about 33.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from Big Lake, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 64.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
West Susitna Parkway
Turn left onto West Susitna Parkway
Navigation decision point
4
7.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Big Lake road
Enter roundabout onto Big Lake road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
10.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
AK 3 / West Parks Highway
Turn right onto AK 3 / West Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
64.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
West 4th Avenue
Turn left onto West 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
64.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.96 one way
$27.92 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $14.68 | $29.36 |
| premium | $5.98 | $15.16 | $30.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.22 | $28.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.02 | $4.12 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Evening in Anchorage on Saturday
Local time
6:48 PM
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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you should anticipate frequent changes in direction. While 6% of the route involves highway driving, much of it consists of local roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 33.1 miles on the Glenn Highway, offering a brief period of uninterrupted travel. As you progress, expect the character of the road to shift from more open highway sections to the more intricate network of local parkways.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.1 mi on Glenn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near West Susitna Parkway.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (West Susitna Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 7.3 miles (Big Lake road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 10.8 miles (AK 3 / West Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Anchorage, AK
Full guide →Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, in the Southcentral region. Anchorage is a cosmopolitan port city with a population of 291 247 (2020). It is a consolidated city-borough referred to as a municipality. The urbanized city is defined by Muldoon Road to the east, Rabbit Creek Road to the south, and Cook Inlet to the north and west. Several small suburbs are within the Municipality of Anchorage while physically outside what most Anchorageites would call the "Anchorage" proper area. These include Eagle River and Chugiak to the north and Girdwood to the south.
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 1h 30m. Total distance: 64.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.1 miles on Glenn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.8 miles (West Susitna Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 7.3 miles (Big Lake road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 10.8 miles (AK 3 / West Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Anchorage, AK before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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