Ketchikan to King Cove is 1707.9 miles and takes about 79h 9m via Alaska Marine Highway routes, with a fuel budget near $386 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This extensive route traverses the Alaska region, primarily utilizing the Alaska Marine Highway system, which means you'll be relying on ferry services for a significant portion of your travel. Given its length and the nature of the ferry system, this trip is best approached as an adventure rather than a quick point-to-point drive. Plan for multiple days to fully experience the route, accounting for ferry schedules and the total travel time of approximately 79 hours.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
22 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
853.9 miles from Ketchikan, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45h 38m into the drive
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Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chignik to Sand Point
142 mi·9 hr 15 min·Alaska Marine Highway - Chignik to Sand Point
15
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sand Point to King Cove
96 mi·6 hr 15 min·Alaska Marine Highway - Sand Point to King Cove
16
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway Terminak King Cove
99 ft·7 sec·Alaska Marine Highway Terminak King Cove
17
Turn right onto Harbor Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Harbor Road
18
Continue on Ram's Creek Road
0.3 mi·51 sec·Ram's Creek Road
19
Turn right
312 ft·22 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of nearly 79 hours, this route is best split over at least 4 recommended days to avoid excessive fatigue and allow for proper enjoyment of the travel segments. Prioritize booking your ferry passage well in advance, as the Alaska Marine Highway system can fill up, especially during peak seasons. Keep a close eye on fuel levels, budgeting around $386 for the trip, and be aware that services can be sparse between ferry terminals. The longest stretch of 334.5 miles on the Whittier-Yakutat ferry segment means you'll be on the water for an extended period, so pack accordingly for comfort and entertainment.
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 22 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 853.9 miles from Ketchikan, AK, or about 45h 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 220 miles or 6h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 853.9 miles or 45h 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 427 miles or 17h 40m
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 75h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near King Cove, 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 4-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 427 miles and 19.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 427 miles and 19.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 427 miles and 19.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into King Cove, AK
Aim for roughly 427 miles and 19.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Ketchikan, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 22 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 876.2 — 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
279.1 mi into trip|~8h 6m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
541.7 mi into trip|~25h 6m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
876.2 mi into trip|~47h 6m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$378.70 one way
$757.39 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg598 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.95
$400.35
$800.70
premium
$6.10
$410.30
$820.60
diesel
$5.35
$359.73
$719.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$379
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$719–$999
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 597.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $179 in charging
· 6 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
512.4
6
$179.33
$81.98
Efficient EV
427
4
$149.44
$68.32
EV Truck/SUV
683.2
8
$239.11
$109.31
Gas CO2
598 kg
EV CO2
200 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 6 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Ketchikan, AK
Morning
in Ketchikan on Wednesday
Local time
10:59 AM
AKDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued May 31 at 9:14PM AKDT until June 2 at 8:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 31 at 2:40PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK
Destination
King Cove, AK
Morning
in King Cove on Wednesday
Local time
10:59 AM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 10 to 15 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued May 31 at 9:14PM AKDT until June 2 at 8:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 31 at 2:40PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage 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
4 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
79h 9m 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 involves 0% highway driving, with all 1707.9 miles covered on Alaska Marine Highway routes. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 334.5 miles along the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. Expect to spend the majority of your time on ferry vessels, transitioning between different segments of the Alaska Marine Highway system. The focus here is on the maritime leg of your travel, not traditional road cruising.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 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 79h 9m, 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 0.1 miles in near AK 7 / Water 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 12 significant decision points across 1707.9 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 0.1 miles (AK 7 / Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road): Navigation decision point; at 279.1 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
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 427 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 King Cove, 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 22 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
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 279.1 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 79.2 hours each way, a round trip means 158.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at King Cove, AK before the return drive.
