Haines to Wasilla is 779.7 miles and takes about 49 hours 48 minutes via Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat, and Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines, with a fuel budget near $176 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This extended trip spans across Alaska, connecting the southeastern panhandle with the Southcentral region. Given its long duration and reliance on the Alaska Marine Highway system for significant portions, this is a multi-day commitment. Plan for a substantial amount of time on ferries, with the longest single ferry leg being 334.5 miles. This route is best suited for travelers who enjoy a slower pace and want to experience Alaska's coastal and inland landscapes.
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
389.9 miles from Haines, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 28h 38m into the drive
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Toward Wasilla, FairbanksUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Main Street
26 ft·0 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of nearly 50 hours, this trip is best broken down over at least 4 recommended days to avoid exhaustion. Start your journey early in the day to maximize daylight hours, especially considering the long stretches and potential for ferry schedules. The fuel cost is estimated at $176, so budget accordingly. Given the 14 stops available, plan your overnight stays and breaks strategically to make the most of the journey without feeling rushed. Pay close attention to ferry schedules and book in advance, as this is a critical component of the route, especially the 334.5-mile segment on the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat.
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 389.9 miles from Haines, AK, or about 28h 38m 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 172 miles or 14h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 389.9 miles or 28h 38m 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 194.9 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wasilla, 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 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 Wasilla, AK
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 172 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.
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 and 779.7 — 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
779.7 mi into trip|~49h 48m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$177.40 one way
$354.79 round trip
$5.78/gal25.4 MPG avg273 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.10
$187.19
$374.38
premium
$6.29
$193.11
$386.23
diesel
$6.18
$189.68
$379.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$177
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$517–$797
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 272.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $82 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
233.9
2
$81.87
$37.43
Efficient EV
194.9
2
$68.22
$31.19
EV Truck/SUV
311.9
3
$109.16
$49.90
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.
Forecast as of Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Haines, AK
Morning
in Haines on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
AKDT
Current temp
44°F
Rain Showers Likely
SE 5 to 10 mph68% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wasilla, AK
Morning
in Wasilla on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
AKDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 mph13% chanceLive 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
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
49h 48m 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 extensive route involves 0% highway driving, meaning you'll be on surface roads and ferry routes for the entire 779.7 miles. The longest single stretch you'll encounter is 334.5 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat ferry. You can expect to spend a considerable amount of time on marine transport, with the total driving time of 49 hours 48 minutes likely including ferry transit. Prepare for a mix of coastal cruising and potentially more rural road conditions once you are off the ferries.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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 48m, 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 10 significant decision points across 779.7 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: 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.
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.
Wasilla is a city of 9,000 people (2020) in Alaska. Wasilla is the last city of significant size on the Parks Highway northward; therefore, it is a frequent stopping point if traveling by car to Denali National Park, Fairbanks or other points north. It is most famous as the home town of Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who served as mayor of the city for six years.
Top landmarks
•Wasilla Depot — railway station in Wasilla, the United States of America
•Wasilla Elementary School — school building in Wasilla, United States of America
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 Wasilla, 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 Wasilla, AK before the return drive.
