Origin
Fairbanks, AK
Evening in Fairbanks on Saturday
Local time
5:12 PM
AKDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairbanks, AK to Juneau, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47h 53m
Distance
1027.7 mi
1,654 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$223
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
47h 11m
★
6 AM
47h 54m
8 AM
49h 20m
10 AM
48h 24m
12 PM
48h 15m
3 PM
48h 28m
5 PM
49h 16m
8 PM
47h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairbanks, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Juneau, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 1,027.7-mile journey from Fairbanks to Juneau is a significant undertaking, estimated to take around 47 hours and 53 minutes of pure driving. It's not a trip for a single day; the recommended duration is 4 days to allow for proper rest and enjoyment. You'll be navigating stretches of the George Parks Highway and the Alaska Marine Highway, including segments between Whittier and Yakutat and Juneau and Yakutat. With a fuel cost estimated at $223, this long-distance drive offers a substantial Alaskan experience. Plan for 13 stops along the way to break up the extensive mileage.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
13 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
513.8 miles from Fairbanks, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14h 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | 334.5 mi | 22h |
| George Parks Highway | 301.1 mi | 6h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| Seward Highway | 47.1 mi | 57m |
| Glenn Highway | 33.1 mi | 38m |
| West Parks Highway | 18.7 mi | 26m |
| Egan Drive | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairbanks, AK and Juneau, 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
19 mi
·
26 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on AK 1
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn left onto AK 1
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Gambell Street
10
Continue on AK 1
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Seward Highway
11
Turn left onto FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
12
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
13
Continue on West Camp Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
14
Turn right
169 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn left
248 ft
·
4 sec
16
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
17
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
18
Continue
382 ft
·
7 sec
19
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Glacier Highway
20
Enter roundabout onto AK 7
61 ft
·
0 sec
·
Glacier Highway
21
Continue on AK 7
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Glacier Highway
22
Turn straight onto AK 7
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Egan Drive
23
Turn left onto Highland Drive
336 ft
·
6 sec
·
Highland Drive
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Glacier Avenue
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Glacier Avenue
25
Turn left onto West 9th Street
359 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 9th Street
26
Turn right
32 ft
·
2 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the substantial duration of nearly 48 hours of driving, splitting this trip over the recommended 4 days is essential for safety and comfort. Aim to depart early in the morning each day to maximize daylight hours and allow ample time for your 13 planned stops, ensuring you can rest and refuel. Since a large part of this route involves ferry travel on the Alaska Marine Highway, confirm your ferry schedules well in advance, especially for the Whittier-Yakutat and Juneau-Yakutat legs, as these are critical to the overall journey's success.
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 13 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 513.8 miles from Fairbanks, AK, or about 14h 55m 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 220 miles or 4h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 513.8 miles or 14h 55m 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 256.9 miles or 5h 10m
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 44h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Juneau, 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.
+
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 Fairbanks, AK
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 12 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 12 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 12 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Juneau, AK
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 12 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Fairbanks, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 13 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.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
339 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
678 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Wasilla, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
257 mi · about 12h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ester, AK after about 257 miles or 12 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
514 mi · about 23.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Willow, AK after about 514 miles or 23.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
771 mi · about 35.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 771 miles or 35.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 513.8 miles from Fairbanks, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 257 miles or 12 hours on the road.
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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 1027.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
5
752.4 mi into trip
|
~30h 36m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
1015 mi into trip
|
~47h 36m in
|
AK 7 / Glacier Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Glacier Highway
Navigation decision point
5
1027.1 mi into trip
|
~47h 52m in
|
Highland Drive
Turn left onto Highland Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$222.74 one way
$445.47 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
360 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $234.23 | $468.45 |
| premium | $5.98 | $241.95 | $483.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $226.90 | $453.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$223
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$563–$843
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 359.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $108 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 308.3 | 3 | $107.91 | $49.33 |
| Efficient EV | 256.9 | 2 | $89.92 | $41.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 411.1 | 5 | $143.88 | $65.77 |
Gas CO2
360 kg
EV CO2
120 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Juneau, AK
Evening in Juneau on Saturday
Local time
5:12 PM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
24°F
Palmer, AK
339 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
6 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
47h 53m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
The personality of this route is defined by its extensive use of the Alaska Marine Highway, meaning a significant portion of your travel will be on water, not paved roads. While the George Parks Highway offers a more traditional driving experience, the ferry segments will dramatically alter the pace and nature of your trip. You won't encounter any highway driving in the typical sense, with a 0% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 334.5 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway between Whittier and Yakutat, highlighting the unique ferry-based nature of this connection.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 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 47h 53m, 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 0.2 miles in near Airport Way.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 1027.7 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 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; at 752.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
47h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile.
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 257 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 Juneau, 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 13 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: 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; at 752.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 47.9 hours each way, a round trip means 95.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Juneau, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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