This 316.7-mile drive from Fairbanks to Big Lake, Alaska, is easily manageable as a single-day adventure, taking approximately 6 hours and 29 minutes. You'll primarily travel on the George Parks Highway, with portions of West Susitna Parkway and West Big Lake Road closer to your destination. With a fuel cost estimated around $69, this route offers a straightforward journey within the state of Alaska. The overall feel is that of a turn-heavy local drive, suggesting you'll experience varied road conditions and turns as you approach Big Lake. It's a practical option for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
158.4 miles from Fairbanks, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
George Parks Highway
301.1 mi
6h
West Susitna Parkway
3.6 mi
7m
West Big Lake Road
3.5 mi
4m
Airport Way
3.3 mi
5m
South Big Lake Road
3 mi
4m
West Parks Highway
0.7 mi
1m
South Jay Sedor Street
0.6 mi
2m
Noble Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
George Parks Highway
— 301.1 mi, about 6h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairbanks, AK and Big Lake, AK.
1
Start on 12th Avenue
436 ft·21 sec·12th Avenue
2
Turn right onto Noble Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Noble Street
3
Turn right onto Airport Way
3.3 mi·5 min·Airport Way
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto AK 3
301 mi·6 hr·George Parks Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on AK 3
0.7 mi·1 min·West Parks Highway
7
Turn right onto West Big Lake Road
3.5 mi·4 min·West Big Lake Road
8
Enter roundabout onto South Big Lake Road
197 ft·5 sec·South Big Lake Road
9
Continue on South Big Lake Road
2.9 mi·4 min·South Big Lake Road
10
Continue on West Susitna Parkway
3.6 mi·7 min·West Susitna Parkway
11
Turn right onto South Jay Sedor Street
0.6 mi·2 min·South Jay Sedor Street
12
Turn right onto West Tinkerbell Court
0.2 mi·35 sec·West Tinkerbell Court
13
Continue on South Crocodile Way
345 ft·15 sec·South Crocodile Way
14
Arrive at destination
South Crocodile Way
Trip Plan
For this roughly 6.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Fairbanks to maximize your daylight hours and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, plan it strategically along the George Parks Highway, perhaps around the halfway point, to break up the 301.1-mile stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $69, and services might be more spaced out in certain areas. The "turn-heavy local drive" nature as you approach Big Lake means you'll need to be particularly mindful of navigation and speed adjustments in the final miles.
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 158.4 miles from Fairbanks, AK, or about 3h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 301.1 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 70 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.4 miles or 3h 12m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Lake, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairbanks, 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 Fairbanks, AK
This is one driving day of about 316.7 miles and 6h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Fairbanks, 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 George Parks Highway for about 301.1 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 309.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Noble Street
Turn right onto Noble Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Airport Way
Turn right onto Airport Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~7m 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.
4
305.9 mi into trip|~6h 9m in|West Big Lake Road
Turn right onto West Big Lake Road
Navigation decision point
4
309.4 mi into trip|~6h 14m in|South Big Lake Road
Enter roundabout onto South Big Lake Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.92 one way
$123.84 round trip
$4.97/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.28
$65.81
$131.62
premium
$5.46
$68.02
$136.03
diesel
$4.80
$59.80
$119.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95
1
$33.25
$15.20
Efficient EV
79.2
0
$27.71
$12.67
EV Truck/SUV
126.7
1
$44.34
$20.27
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Fairbanks, AK
Late night
in Fairbanks on Sunday
Local time
1:35 AM
AKDT
Current temp
68°F
Isolated Rain Showers then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued July 17 at 8:20AM AKDT until July 20 at 12:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued July 17 at 8:20AM AKDT until July 20 at 12:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Destination
Big Lake, AK
Late night
in Big Lake on Sunday
Local time
1:35 AM
AKDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Light Rain then Chance Rain Showers
W 0 to 5 mph70% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued July 17 at 8:20AM AKDT until July 20 at 12:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued July 17 at 8:20AM AKDT until July 20 at 12:00PM 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
10 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
6h 29m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a dynamic driving experience on this route, characterized by its "turn-heavy local drive" profile. While a significant 301.1 miles are spent on the George Parks Highway, the latter part of your journey involves more local road navigation. The highway share is 100%, indicating a well-maintained and continuous road for most of the trip. This means you'll likely encounter a mix of faster highway speeds transitioning into more winding and potentially slower sections as you get closer to Big Lake, requiring your attention to the road.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 301.1 mi on George Parks 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 0.1 miles in near Noble Street.
Driving Effort3/10
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 29m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Noble Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Airport Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Fairbanks is a town in interior Alaska. With 31,000 inhabitants (2019), and 98,000 in Fairbanks North Star Borough, it is Alaska's second-largest city. A junction of several major highways, will be a likely stop of most visitors to the state.
Fairbanks may be like a smaller version of a large American city. There's a Walmart, a Home Depot and a McDonald's. Don't let this fool you: the greater Fairbanks area is true to its roots. There are plenty of Alaskan originals here.
Top landmarks
•Immaculate Conception Church — church in Fairbanks, Alaska
•University of Alaska Museum of the North — museum on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks
The longest stretch is about 301.1 miles on George Parks Highway. 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 Big Lake, 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 0.1 miles (Noble Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Airport Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (AK 3 / George Parks Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Big Lake, AK before the return drive.
