Origin
Haines, AK
Evening in Haines on Saturday
Local time
6:48 PM
AKDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Haines, AK to Palmer, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49h 49m
Distance
779.2 mi
1,254 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$169
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
49h 4m
★
6 AM
49h 49m
8 AM
51h 19m
10 AM
50h 21m
12 PM
50h 12m
3 PM
50h 25m
5 PM
51h 14m
8 PM
49h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Haines, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Palmer, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Haines to Palmer is 779.2 miles and takes about 49h 49m via Alaska Marine Highway ferries, with a fuel budget near $139 and requiring multiple days. This long-distance journey connects two points within Alaska, traversing a significant portion of the state. It's a trip that requires careful planning due to its length and reliance on ferry services. Expect a unique travel experience that blends driving with sea travel. Consider this route if you're looking for an adventure that showcases Alaska's diverse landscapes and transportation methods.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
14 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
389.6 miles from Haines, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | 334.5 mi | 22h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines | 76.4 mi | 8h 30m |
| Seward Highway | 47.2 mi | 58m |
| Glenn Highway | 40.2 mi | 48m |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 6m |
| Portage Glacier Highway | 4.7 mi | 10m |
| Lutak Road | 4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Haines, AK and Palmer, AK.
1
Start on Dalton Street
49 ft
·
7 sec
·
Dalton Street
2
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
2nd Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto Lutak Road
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Lutak Road
4
Turn right
85 ft
·
5 sec
5
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
this road
6
Turn left onto Ferry Terminal - Haines {Lutak)
206 ft
·
2 sec
·
Ferry Terminal - Haines {Lutak)
7
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
76 mi
·
8 hr 30 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
8
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
9
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
10
Continue
374 ft
·
7 sec
11
At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road
173 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Camp Road
12
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
13
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
14
Continue on FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
15
Turn right onto AK 1
47 mi
·
58 min
·
Seward Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Ingra Street
17
Turn right onto AK 1
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
18
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Avenue
19
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto AK 1
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Glenn Highway
Toward Palmer, Glenallen
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto West Evergreen Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Evergreen Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right onto South Colony Way
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
South Colony Way
23
Arrive at destination
South Colony Way
Trip Plan
With a total duration of nearly 50 hours, this trip is best split over at least 4 recommended days to avoid exhaustion. Plan your ferry schedules well in advance, as these are critical to the progression of your journey. Keep an eye on fuel costs; while the provided estimate is $139, it's always wise to budget a little extra. Pay close attention to the ferry routes, particularly the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat segment, as it's the longest stretch and requires careful timing. Ensure you have provisions for the ferry portions, as services may 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 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 389.6 miles from Haines, AK, or about 28h 37m 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 171 miles or 14h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 389.6 miles or 28h 37m 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 194.8 miles or 15h 58m
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 48h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palmer, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Haines, 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 Haines, AK
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Palmer, AK
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 171 miles from Haines, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 14 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
257 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.
Overnight Options
Night 1
195 mi · about 12.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 195 miles or 12.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
390 mi · about 24.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 390 miles or 24.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
584 mi · about 37.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 584 miles or 37.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 171 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 389.6 miles from Haines, 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 195 miles or 12.5 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 778.9 — 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 1 / Glenn Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto AK 1 / Glenn Highway toward Palmer, Glenallen
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Palmer, Glenallen
6
778.9 mi into trip
|
~49h 48m in
|
West Evergreen Avenue
Turn right onto West Evergreen Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$168.88 one way
$337.76 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
273 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $177.59 | $355.18 |
| premium | $5.98 | $183.45 | $366.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $172.04 | $344.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$169
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$509–$789
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 272.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $82 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 233.8 | 2 | $81.82 | $37.40 |
| Efficient EV | 194.8 | 2 | $68.18 | $31.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 311.7 | 3 | $109.09 | $49.87 |
Gas CO2
273 kg
EV CO2
91 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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
Palmer, AK
Evening in Palmer on Saturday
Local time
6:48 PM
AKDT
Current temp
24°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
52 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
49h 49m 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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a ferry-based journey, meaning 0% of your travel will be on traditional highways. The Alaska Marine Highway system forms the backbone of this trip, offering a unique driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 334.5 miles along the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. Given the nature of ferry travel, expect periods of both transit and waiting, rather than a continuous driving experience on paved roads.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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 49h 49m, 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 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 11 significant decision points across 779.2 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
49h 49m 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 195 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 Palmer, 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 14 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 49.8 hours each way, a round trip means 99.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Palmer, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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