Traveling between Ketchikan and Juneau covers 291.9 miles and requires approximately 8 hours and 22 minutes of travel time. Because this route relies on the Alaska Marine Highway, it functions differently than a standard road trip and is best approached as a two-day journey rather than a single-day push. You should budget roughly $64 for fuel to cover this distance, though you will spend the vast majority of your travel time on the water. This transit connects two major hubs in the Alaska region, serving as a vital link for those navigating the state’s rugged coastal geography. Given the nature of the marine transit, planning ahead is essential to ensure a smooth transition between your departure and arrival points.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.9 miles from Ketchikan, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 14m into the drive
.
To make the most of this 8-hour and 22-minute transit, prioritize a two-day schedule to avoid fatigue and manage your 2 required stops effectively. Since the longest stretch spans 276.8 miles, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before boarding the ferry, as you will have limited opportunities to top off your tank while in transit. Depart early in the day to take full advantage of the daylight hours, especially when navigating the final stretches on Egan Drive and Glacier Highway. A key tip for this specific route is to closely monitor your ferry schedule, as the marine portion dictates your entire arrival timeline. Flexibility is your biggest asset here, so keep a close eye on weather reports that could impact travel across these coastal waters.
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 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.9 miles from Ketchikan, AK, or about 4h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276.8 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 64 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.9 miles or 4h 14m 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 145.9 miles or 4h 14m
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 6h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Juneau, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Ketchikan, 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 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ketchikan, AK
Aim for roughly 146 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Juneau, AK
Aim for roughly 146 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Ketchikan, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau for about 276.8 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 0.1 and 291.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|AK 7 / Water Street
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Water Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in|Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
Navigation decision point
5
279.2 mi into trip|~8h 6m in|AK 7 / Glacier Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AK 7 / Glacier Highway
Navigation decision point
5
291.3 mi into trip|~8h 21m in|Highland Drive
Turn left onto Highland Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
291.8 mi into trip|~8h 22m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.26 one way
$126.53 round trip
$5.51/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.79
$66.53
$133.06
premium
$5.98
$68.72
$137.45
diesel
$5.61
$64.45
$128.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$193–$303
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.6
1
$30.65
$14.01
Efficient EV
73
0
$25.54
$11.68
EV Truck/SUV
116.8
1
$40.87
$18.68
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Ketchikan, AK
Evening
in Ketchikan on Saturday
Local time
6:49 PM
AKDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 3:04PM AKDT until April 13 at 7:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 11:53AM AKDT until April 14 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Destination
Juneau, AK
Evening
in Juneau on Saturday
Local time
6:49 PM
AKDT
Current temp
42°F
Rain Showers
SE 5 to 10 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 3:04PM AKDT until April 13 at 7:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 11:53AM AKDT until April 14 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
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
11 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
8h 22m 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 is defined by a turn-heavy local driving profile that departs significantly from the typical interstate experience. With 0% of the route categorized as traditional highway, you will spend your time navigating the Alaska Marine Highway for a staggering 276.8-mile stretch. Once you reach the destination area, you will transition onto Egan Drive and Glacier Highway to reach your final stop. Expect a slower, more technical pace as you move through these coastal corridors. The lack of standard highway miles means the driving experience is highly specialized, requiring constant focus rather than the monotonous cruising found on mainland thoroughfares.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 276.8 mi on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near AK 7 / Water Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 22m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AK 7 / Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road): Navigation decision point; at 279.2 miles (AK 7 / Glacier Highway): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
62 ft0 ft
Total Climb
62 ft
Total Descent
29 ft
Highest Point
62 ft
~279.7 mi in
Elevation Range
62 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 276.8 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 146 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Juneau, 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 2 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 0.1 miles (AK 7 / Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road): Navigation decision point; at 279.2 miles (AK 7 / Glacier Highway): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Juneau, AK before the return drive.
