Haines, AK to Fairbanks, AK is 1095.9 miles and takes about 56h 12m via Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, George Parks Highway, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat, with a fuel budget near $238 and multiple days needed to complete. This journey spans across Alaska, offering a true sense of the state's vast interior and coastal access. With a recommended 4 days, you'll have ample time to experience this long-distance drive without feeling rushed. Prepare for a trip that requires careful planning due to its length and the unique transportation methods involved.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
16 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
547.9 miles from Haines, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 39h 2m into the drive
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Toward Wasilla, FairbanksUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on AK 3
4.2 mi·5 min·West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Continue on AK 3
301 mi·6 hr·George Parks Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward East Airport WayUse the right lane.
24
Continue on Airport Way
3.5 mi·6 min·Airport Way
Use the left lane.
25
Turn left onto Cushman Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Cushman Street
26
Turn right onto 12th Avenue
363 ft·15 sec·12th Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
12th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 56h 12m duration, this trip is best split over the recommended 4 days to maximize your experience and minimize fatigue. Start your journey early in the day when possible, especially when transitioning to highway driving. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without services could be substantial, and fuel costs are estimated at $238. Planning your ferry reservations well in advance is crucial for this route, as availability can be limited.
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 16 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 547.9 miles from Haines, AK, or about 39h 2m 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 17h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 547.9 miles or 39h 2m 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 274 miles or 21h 5m
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 54h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairbanks, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Haines, 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 Haines, AK
Aim for roughly 274 miles and 14.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 274 miles and 14.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 274 miles and 14.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Fairbanks, AK
Aim for roughly 274 miles and 14.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Haines, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 16 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 1091.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|2nd Avenue
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
80.9 mi into trip|~8h 35m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
343.4 mi into trip|~25h 35m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
771.7 mi into trip|~49h 37m in|AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
6
1091.9 mi into trip|~56h 4m in
Take the exit toward East Airport Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward East Airport Way
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$214.26 one way
$428.52 round trip
$4.97/gal25.4 MPG avg383 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.28
$227.72
$455.45
premium
$5.46
$235.36
$470.72
diesel
$4.80
$206.93
$413.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$214
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$554–$834
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 383.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $115 in charging
· 4 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
328.8
4
$115.07
$52.60
Efficient EV
274
3
$95.89
$43.84
EV Truck/SUV
438.4
5
$153.43
$70.14
Gas CO2
383 kg
EV CO2
128 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Haines, AK
Afternoon
in Haines on Saturday
Local time
3:56 PM
AKDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 10:56AM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 10:42AM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
Destination
Fairbanks, AK
Afternoon
in Fairbanks on Saturday
Local time
3:56 PM
AKDT
Current temp
67°F
Isolated Rain Showers
SW 5 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 10:56AM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 10:42AM AKDT by NWS Juneau 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.
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
2 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
56h 12m 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.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Headlines screamed "Gold!" The dream of a better life catapulted thousands of people to Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Their journey shaped them, and changed the people they encountered and the north...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a distinctive character, heavily influenced by its inclusion of the Alaska Marine Highway, which accounts for its 0% highway share. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 334.5 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, suggesting a significant ferry component. The George Parks Highway offers a more traditional driving experience in between ferry segments. Expect varied driving conditions, from open water travel to potentially remote highway stretches.
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 56h 12m, 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 2nd Avenue.
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 12 significant decision points across 1095.9 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 (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 80.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 343.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,380 ft0 ft
Total Climb
2,380 ft
Total Descent
2,024 ft
Highest Point
2,380 ft
~939.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,380 ft
Notable High Points
2,380 ft at ~939.3 miles+1,749 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Haines, AK to Fairbanks, AK, road signs begin pointing toward Wasilla along the way.
Haines is a small port community (population about 2,000) in Southeastern Alaska on the shores of the Lynn Canal, the state's longest fjord. It is surrounded by glacier-covered mountains of the Coast Range.
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
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 274 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 Fairbanks, 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 16 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 (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 80.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 343.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 56.2 hours each way, a round trip means 112.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fairbanks, AK before the return drive.
