Origin
Homer, AK
Night in Homer on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
AKDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Homer, AK to Ridgeway, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
78.6 mi
127 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Homer, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Ridgeway, AK
Martin.que
Trip Overview
Homer to Ridgeway is 78.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 55 minutes via Sterling Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the state of Alaska, connecting two points in the same region. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion. Plan for a straightforward journey with minimal need for overnight stays or extensive route planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.3 miles from Homer, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling Highway | 74.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| Kenai Spur Highway | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Churchill Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Homer Bypass Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Greatland Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sterling Highway
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Homer, AK and Ridgeway, AK.
1
Start on this road
266 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Greatland Street
326 ft
·
13 sec
·
Greatland Street
3
Turn right onto AK 1
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Homer Bypass Road
4
Continue on AK 1
75 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
Sterling Highway
5
Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Kenai Spur Highway
6
Turn left onto Churchill Avenue
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Churchill Avenue
7
Turn right
326 ft
·
23 sec
8
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a shorter drive of under two hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure, perhaps in the late morning to avoid early rush traffic. The drive is not long enough to necessitate splitting into multiple days, so you can comfortably complete it in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as while the estimated cost is low at $17, it's always wise to know where the next station is, especially on local routes. A key tip for this journey is to familiarize yourself with the Sterling Highway and Kenai Spur Highway segments beforehand, as the 'turn-heavy' nature means you'll be making several directional changes.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.3 miles from Homer, AK, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.3 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ridgeway, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Homer, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Homer, AK
This is one driving day of about 78.6 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Homer, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sterling Highway for about 74.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.3 miles from Homer, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Sterling Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.7 miles.
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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 78.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Greatland Street
At end of road, turn right onto Greatland Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road
Turn right onto AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road
Navigation decision point
4
75 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
Kenai Spur Highway
Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway
Navigation decision point
4
78.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
Churchill Avenue
Turn left onto Churchill Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
78.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.04 one way
$34.07 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $17.91 | $35.83 |
| premium | $5.98 | $18.51 | $37.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.35 | $34.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.25 | $3.77 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.88 | $3.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.4 | 0 | $11.00 | $5.03 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Ridgeway, AK
Night in Ridgeway on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
AKDT
Current temp
26°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.
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
16 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
1h 55m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with 0% highway share, meaning you won't encounter interstate-style cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 74.7 miles on the Sterling Highway, offering a substantial segment of consistent travel. As you progress, anticipate navigating a series of local roads and intersections, which will demand your attention. The overall feel is less about open-road freedom and more about precise navigation through communities and connecting local areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.7 mi on Sterling Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Greatland Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Homer, AK to Ridgeway, AK is easy. At 1h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Greatland Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road): Navigation decision point; at 75 miles (Kenai Spur Highway): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 78.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.7 miles on Sterling Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 (Greatland Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (AK 1 / Homer Bypass Road): Navigation decision point; at 75 miles (Kenai Spur Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ridgeway, AK before heading back.
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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