Gateway, AK to Badger, AK is 332.5 miles and takes about 6h 51m via George Parks Highway, with a fuel budget near $69 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the state of Alaska for its entirety. The route primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a straightforward drive without extensive highway time. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, it's a feasible same-day trip, making it a good option if you're looking for efficiency.
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
166.2 miles from Gateway, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
George Parks Highway
301.4 mi
6h
East Parks Highway
12.1 mi
17m
Richardson Highway
5.4 mi
6m
Robert Mitchell Expressway
4.3 mi
5m
West Parks Highway
4.2 mi
5m
New Richardson Highway
0.8 mi
1m
South Georgeson Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Old Richardson Highway
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
George Parks Highway
— 301.4 mi, about 6h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gateway, AK and Badger, AK.
1
Start on Joanne Drive
0.1 mi·39 sec·Joanne Drive
2
Turn left onto Regents Road
0.2 mi·49 sec·Regents Road
3
Continue on East Duchess Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·East Duchess Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto East Cottrell-Campus Drive
296 ft·5 sec·East Cottrell-Campus Drive
5
Continue on South Georgeson Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·South Georgeson Drive
6
Enter roundabout onto Trunk Road
219 ft·3 sec·Trunk Road
7
Continue on Trunk Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Trunk Road
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AK 3 North: WasillaUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto AK 3
12 mi·17 min·East Parks Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on AK 3
4.2 mi·5 min·West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on AK 3
301 mi·6 hr·George Parks Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on AK 3
4.3 mi·5 min·Robert Mitchell Expressway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto AK 3
0.3 mi·41 sec·AK 3
14
Merge onto AK 2
5.4 mi·6 min·Richardson Highway
15
Continue on AK 2
0.8 mi·1 min·New Richardson Highway
16
Turn left onto Rozak Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·Rozak Road
17
Continue on Old Richardson Highway
0.7 mi·1 min·Old Richardson Highway
18
Turn right
0.5 mi·3 min
19
Turn left
0.2 mi·51 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight for the 6h 51m drive. The route is relatively direct, so you likely won't need to stop frequently, but plan for one break to stretch your legs. With a fuel cost estimated at $69, keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the longest stretch on the George Parks Highway. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time, but starting early is always recommended for longer drives in Alaska.
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 166.2 miles from Gateway, AK, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 301.4 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 73 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.2 miles or 3h 26m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Badger, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gateway, 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 Gateway, AK
This is one driving day of about 332.5 miles and 6h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Gateway, 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 301.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 2.3 — 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|Regents Road
Turn left onto Regents Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~3m in|East Cottrell-Campus Drive
At end of road, turn left onto East Cottrell-Campus Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in|Trunk Road
Enter roundabout onto Trunk Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
1.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward AK 3 North: Wasilla
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward AK 3 North: Wasilla
5
2.3 mi into trip|~6m in|AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Merge onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$75.65 one way
$151.30 round trip
$5.78/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.10
$79.83
$159.65
premium
$6.29
$82.35
$164.71
diesel
$6.18
$80.89
$161.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$101–$126
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.8
1
$34.91
$15.96
Efficient EV
83.1
0
$29.09
$13.30
EV Truck/SUV
133
1
$46.55
$21.28
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Gateway, AK
Late night
in Gateway on Saturday
Local time
2:23 AM
AKDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 10 to 15 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued October 15 at 10:30PM AKDT until October 16 at 4:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 9:24PM AKDT until October 16 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Destination
Badger, AK
Late night
in Badger on Saturday
Local time
2:23 AM
AKDT
Current temp
28°F
Chance Rain And Snow
NE 5 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued October 15 at 10:30PM AKDT until October 16 at 4:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 9:24PM AKDT until October 16 at 4:00AM 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
11 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 51m 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?
You'll be on surface roads for the majority of this 332.5-mile trip. The drive mostly follows the George Parks Highway for a significant stretch of 301.4 miles. Expect a rural cruising feel for most of the drive, with fewer exits and less traffic compared to major interstates. The transition from highway to surface roads will be gradual as you proceed.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 301.4 mi on George Parks Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Regents Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 332.5 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Regents Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (East Cottrell-Campus Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (Trunk Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 51m. Total distance: 332.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 301.4 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 Badger, 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 (Regents Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (East Cottrell-Campus Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (Trunk Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Badger, AK before the return drive.
