Cordova to Sitka is 867.6 miles and takes about 55 hours 30 minutes via Alaska Marine Highway, with a fuel budget near $188 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-distance journey spans within Alaska, connecting two distinct regions. Given the substantial driving time, this route is best tackled over approximately 4 days, allowing for a more relaxed pace. It's a significant undertaking, primarily utilizing ferry services, so be prepared for an immersive travel experience that differs greatly from a typical road trip. Consider this trip if you're looking for an extended adventure with ample time for exploration.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
15 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
433.8 miles from Cordova, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 28h 6m into the drive
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With a total duration of 55 hours and 30 minutes, it's highly recommended to split this trip over the suggested 4 days. Plan your ferry departures carefully, as schedules are crucial for this route. The fuel cost is estimated at $188, so factor this into your budget. Given the 15 planned stops, you'll have opportunities to break up the journey, but be mindful of the longest stretch of 334.5 miles, which will require significant time on the ferry. Ensure you have provisions and entertainment for these extended ferry segments.
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 15 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 433.8 miles from Cordova, AK, or about 28h 6m 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 191 miles or 12h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 433.8 miles or 28h 6m 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 216.9 miles or 13h 50m
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 52h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sitka, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Cordova, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
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Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
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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 Cordova, AK
Aim for roughly 217 miles and 13.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 217 miles and 13.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 217 miles and 13.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Sitka, AK
Aim for roughly 217 miles and 13.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 191 miles from Cordova, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 15 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 867.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AK 10 / 1st Street
Turn left onto AK 10 / 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
109.7 mi into trip|~6h 47m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
444.2 mi into trip|~28h 47m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
706.8 mi into trip|~45h 47m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
867.6 mi into trip|~55h 30m in|Baranof Street
Turn right onto Baranof Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$188.04 one way
$376.07 round trip
$5.51/gal25.4 MPG avg304 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.79
$197.74
$395.48
premium
$5.98
$204.26
$408.52
diesel
$5.61
$191.56
$383.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$188
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$528–$808
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 303.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $91 in charging
· 3 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
260.3
3
$91.10
$41.64
Efficient EV
216.9
2
$75.91
$34.70
EV Truck/SUV
347
4
$121.46
$55.53
Gas CO2
304 kg
EV CO2
102 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cordova, AK
Evening
in Cordova on Saturday
Local time
5:08 PM
AKDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sitka, AK
Evening
in Sitka on Saturday
Local time
5:08 PM
AKDT
Current temp
38°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
4 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
55h 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Sitka National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On an island amid towering spruce and hemlock, Sitka National Historical Park preserves the site of a battle between invading Russian traders and Indigenous Kiks.ádi Tlingit. Totem poles from Tlingit...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 867.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its extensive use of ferry services, with 0% highway driving and 100% of your journey taking place on the Alaska Marine Highway system. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 334.5 miles along the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat segment. Expect the nature of the 'drive' to be dictated by the ferry schedule and the vast distances between ferry terminals. The experience is less about the road itself and more about the journey across water, with the ferry acting as your main mode of transport for these long hauls.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 334.5 mi on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
At 55h 30m, 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 AK 10 / 1st Street.
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 9 significant decision points across 867.6 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 (AK 10 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 109.7 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 444.2 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
55h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 334.5 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. 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 217 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Sitka, 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 15 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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: near the start (AK 10 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 109.7 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 444.2 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes — Sitka National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 55.5 hours each way, a round trip means 111.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sitka, AK before the return drive.
