Houston, AK to Ketchikan, AK is 993.6 miles and takes about 49h 40m via Alaska Marine Highway, with a fuel budget near $225 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This extensive route traverses within Alaska, connecting two distinct regions of the state. It's a significant undertaking, best suited for those who appreciate lengthy stretches of travel and are comfortable with extensive ferry travel. With 14 planned stops, you'll have opportunities to break up the drive, but expect a substantial time commitment. Consider this trip if you're looking for an immersive Alaskan experience that covers a considerable distance.
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
496.8 miles from Houston, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 27h 29m into the drive
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Given the 49h 40m duration and 14 stops, planning for 4 recommended days is wise to avoid exhaustion. You'll want to start your days early, especially when transitioning between ferry segments. Keep an eye on your fuel, budgeting around $225 for the trip, though ferry costs are separate and significant. The longest single leg is 334.5 miles, so ensure you have ample supplies before embarking on those stretches. Breaking this trip into manageable segments across your recommended days will make the extensive travel more enjoyable.
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 496.8 miles from Houston, AK, or about 27h 29m 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 219 miles or 9h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 496.8 miles or 27h 29m 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 248.4 miles or 11h 12m
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 47h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ketchikan, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Houston, 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 Houston, AK
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 219 miles from Houston, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 58 and 991.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
58 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|AK 1 / Gambell Street
Turn left onto AK 1 / Gambell Street
Navigation decision point
4
117.4 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
451.9 mi into trip|~24h 35m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
714.5 mi into trip|~41h 35m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
991.5 mi into trip|~49h 36m in|AK 7 / Tongass Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Tongass Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$194.26 one way
$388.52 round trip
$4.97/gal25.4 MPG avg348 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.28
$206.47
$412.93
premium
$5.46
$213.39
$426.78
diesel
$4.80
$187.61
$375.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$194
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$534–$814
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 347.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $104 in charging
· 3 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
298.1
3
$104.33
$47.69
Efficient EV
248.4
2
$86.94
$39.74
EV Truck/SUV
397.4
4
$139.10
$63.59
Gas CO2
348 kg
EV CO2
116 kg (67% less)
Plan for 3 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Houston, AK
Evening
in Houston on Saturday
Local time
6:50 PM
AKDT
Current temp
60°F
Light Rain
SE 0 to 5 mph85% 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
Ketchikan, AK
Evening
in Ketchikan on Saturday
Local time
6:50 PM
AKDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
NW 10 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
64°F
Gateway, AK
328 mi in
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
6 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
49h 40m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features 0% highway driving, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entirety of your 993.6 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 334.5 miles along the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. You'll notice a distinct shift from typical road travel to a ferry-based experience, with the Alaska Marine Highway system forming the backbone of this route. Expect to spend significant time aboard ferries, with your vehicle in tow.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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 40m, 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 around 58 miles in near AK 1 / Gambell Street.
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 9 significant decision points across 993.6 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: at 58 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 117.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 451.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.
=== Welcome World Cup fans ===
Games will be played at NRG Stadium on the south side of Houston
The best way to get to the stadium on game day is to use MetroRail trains (red line to NRG Stadium/Astrodome). Fare cards can be purchased at kiosks at train platforms and cost US$1.25 per ride
The best hotels for football fans are downtown or near the medical center (both areas have easy access to MetroRail).
Ketchikan is a scenic town of approximately 14,000 people (2014) along the Tongass Narrows, at the foot of Deer Mountain, on Revillagigedo Island in Southeast Alaska. It is the southernmost and fourth largest city in Alaska.
Top landmarks
•Ketchikan Federal Building
•Burkhart-Dibrell House — historic house in Alaska, United States
•Gilmore Building — building in Ketchikan, United States of America
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 248 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 Ketchikan, 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: at 58 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 117.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 451.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 49.7 hours each way, a round trip means 99.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ketchikan, AK before the return drive.
