Origin
Juneau, AK
Evening in Juneau on Saturday
Local time
6:48 PM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Juneau, 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
41h 30m
Distance
711 mi
1,144 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$154
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
40h 53m
★
6 AM
41h 31m
8 AM
42h 45m
10 AM
41h 57m
12 PM
41h 49m
3 PM
42h 1m
5 PM
42h 42m
8 PM
41h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Juneau, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Palmer, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Juneau to Palmer is 711 miles and takes about 41 hours 30 minutes via Alaska Marine Highway and Seward Highway, with a fuel budget near $154 and multiple overnight stops. This journey traverses Alaska, connecting its capital to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. It's a long-distance drive that requires careful planning due to its duration and reliance on ferry services. With a recommended 4 days, you can break up the extensive travel time into manageable segments. This route is best suited for those who enjoy extended road trips and the unique experience of Alaskan travel.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
11 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
355.5 miles from Juneau, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22h 33m 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 |
| Seward Highway | 47.2 mi | 58m |
| Glenn Highway | 40.2 mi | 48m |
| Egan Drive | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 6m |
| Portage Glacier Highway | 4.7 mi | 10m |
| Glacier Highway | 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 Juneau, AK and Palmer, AK.
1
Start on this road
32 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto West 9th Street
359 ft
·
11 sec
·
West 9th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Glacier Avenue
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Glacier Avenue
4
Turn left onto Highland Drive
300 ft
·
7 sec
·
Highland Drive
5
Turn right onto AK 7
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Egan Drive
6
Continue on AK 7
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Glacier Highway
7
Enter roundabout onto AK 7
206 ft
·
3 sec
·
Glacier Highway
8
Continue on AK 7
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Glacier Highway
9
Turn left
382 ft
·
5 sec
10
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
11
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
12
Continue
374 ft
·
7 sec
13
At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road
173 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Camp Road
14
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
15
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
16
Continue on FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
17
Turn right onto AK 1
47 mi
·
58 min
·
Seward Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Ingra Street
19
Turn right onto AK 1
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
20
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Avenue
21
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
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.
23
Turn right onto West Evergreen Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Evergreen Avenue
Use the right lane.
24
Turn right onto South Colony Way
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
South Colony Way
25
Arrive at destination
South Colony Way
Trip Plan
Given the 41-hour 30-minute duration, splitting this trip over the recommended 4 days is essential for a comfortable journey. Plan your ferry departures and arrivals carefully, as these are critical components of the travel time. While there are 11 stops suggested, prioritize rest areas and fueling points along the Seward Highway, as it is the only overland section. The fuel cost is estimated at $154, so budget accordingly. Ensure you have all necessary vehicle checks completed before departing, especially for this extended and varied route.
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 11 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 355.5 miles from Juneau, AK, or about 22h 33m 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 156 miles or 9h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 355.5 miles or 22h 33m 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 177.8 miles or 10h 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 40h 14m
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 Juneau, 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 Juneau, AK
Aim for roughly 178 miles and 10.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 178 miles and 10.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 178 miles and 10.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Palmer, AK
Aim for roughly 178 miles and 10.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 156 miles from Juneau, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 11 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
235 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
178 mi · about 10.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bear Creek, AK after about 178 miles or 10.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
356 mi · about 20.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 356 miles or 20.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
533 mi · about 31.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 533 miles or 31.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 156 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 355.5 miles from Juneau, 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 178 miles or 10.4 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 710.8 — 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
|
West 9th Street
Turn left onto West 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
275.3 mi into trip
|
~17h 17m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
609.9 mi into trip
|
~39h 17m in
|
West Camp Road
At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road
Navigation decision point
8
703.6 mi into trip
|
~41h 19m 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
710.8 mi into trip
|
~41h 29m in
|
West Evergreen Avenue
Turn right onto West Evergreen Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$154.10 one way
$308.19 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
249 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $162.05 | $324.09 |
| premium | $5.98 | $167.39 | $334.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $156.98 | $313.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$154
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$494–$774
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 248.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $75 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 213.3 | 2 | $74.65 | $34.13 |
| Efficient EV | 177.8 | 2 | $62.21 | $28.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 284.4 | 3 | $99.54 | $45.50 |
Gas CO2
249 kg
EV CO2
83 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
17 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
41h 30m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its substantial ferry segments, with 0% of the drive on traditional highways. The primary travel will be via the Alaska Marine Highway, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 334.5 miles on the Whittier-Yakutat ferry route. You'll experience vast waterways and coastal views as you transition between ferry legs and the overland portion on the Seward Highway. The drive progresses from a maritime journey to a more conventional, though still scenic, road experience as you approach your destination.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 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 41h 30m, 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 West 9th Street.
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 13 significant decision points across 711 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 (West 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 275.3 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 609.9 miles (West Camp Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
41h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile.
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 178 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 11 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 (West 9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 275.3 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 609.9 miles (West Camp Road): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 41.5 hours each way, a round trip means 83.0 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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