Traveling from Kodiak to Anchor Point covers 173 miles and requires roughly 9 hours and 37 minutes of travel time. Because this journey relies heavily on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system between Kodiak and Homer, it is best approached as a two-day trip rather than a single-day sprint. You will navigate via the Homer Spit Road and the Sterling Highway once you reach the mainland. Plan for a fuel budget of approximately $38 to cover your vehicle's needs throughout the trek. Given the ferry logistics, this route is a unique cross-region connection that demands careful scheduling. It is a practical choice if you are looking to bridge the gap between Kodiak Island and the Kenai Peninsula.
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
86.5 miles from Kodiak, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
151.3 mi
9h
Sterling Highway
15.2 mi
22m
Homer Spit Road
4.3 mi
8m
Homer Bypass Road
0.9 mi
2m
Ocean Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Lake Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Coast Guard Access
0.1 mi
<1m
Center Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
— 151.3 mi, about 9h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kodiak, AK and Anchor Point, AK.
1
Start on Mill Bay Road
20 ft·6 sec·Mill Bay Road
2
Turn left onto Center Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Center Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Marine Way East
89 ft·5 sec·Marine Way East
4
Turn right
186 ft·14 sec
5
Turn left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
151 mi·9 hr·Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry
6
Turn right onto Ferry Access
168 ft·12 sec·Ferry Access
7
Continue on Coast Guard Access
0.1 mi·48 sec·Coast Guard Access
8
Turn right onto AK 1
4.3 mi·8 min·Homer Spit Road
9
Continue on AK 1
0.5 mi·1 min·Ocean Drive
10
Continue on AK 1
0.4 mi·56 sec·Lake Street
11
Turn straight onto AK 1
0.9 mi·2 min·Homer Bypass Road
12
Continue on AK 1
15 mi·22 min·Sterling Highway
13
Turn right onto Bates Avenue
280 ft·12 sec·Bates Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Bates Avenue
Trip Plan
Pacing is essential for this route, so I recommend splitting the trip over two days to account for ferry schedules and travel fatigue. Since you have two stops planned, use them to manage your energy levels and ensure you aren't rushing the transition from the ferry to the Sterling Highway. Always double-check the ferry departure times well in advance, as these dictate your entire itinerary. Keep your $38 fuel budget in mind, but remember to verify local gas prices, as they can fluctuate significantly in these remote areas. A solid tip for this specific drive is to arrive at the ferry terminal early to ensure a stress-free boarding process before your long stretch on the water.
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 86.5 miles from Kodiak, AK, or about 5h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.3 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 38 miles or 2h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.5 miles or 5h 9m 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 86.5 miles or 5h 9m
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 8h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anchor Point, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Kodiak, 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 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kodiak, AK
Aim for roughly 87 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Anchor Point, AK
Aim for roughly 87 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Kodiak, 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 - Homer - Kodiak Ferry for about 151.3 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 172.9 — 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|Center Street
Turn left onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Marine Way East
At end of road, turn left onto Marine Way East
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
151.4 mi into trip|~9h in|Ferry Access
Turn right onto Ferry Access
Navigation decision point
4
172.9 mi into trip|~9h 37m in|Bates Avenue
Turn right onto Bates Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.49 one way
$74.99 round trip
$5.51/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.79
$39.43
$78.86
premium
$5.98
$40.73
$81.46
diesel
$5.61
$38.20
$76.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$167–$277
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.30
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.14
$6.92
EV Truck/SUV
69.2
0
$24.22
$11.07
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kodiak, AK
Evening
in Kodiak on Saturday
Local time
6:48 PM
AKDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Anchor Point, AK
Evening
in Anchor Point on Saturday
Local time
6:48 PM
AKDT
Current temp
37°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
6 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
9h 37m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience that shifts significantly once you leave the water. While the route spans 173 miles, the vast majority—151.3 miles—consists of the open-water transit on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry. Once you dock, the character of the road changes to standard highway travel. You will encounter zero percent highway share on the local transit portions, focusing instead on technical, localized maneuvering. This mix of maritime transit and terrestrial driving creates a distinct rhythm, requiring you to transition from ferry deck protocols to active driving on the Sterling Highway.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.3 mi on Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry.
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 early in the drive near Center 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 9h 37m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Marine Way East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
290 ft0 ft
Total Climb
290 ft
Total Descent
157 ft
Highest Point
290 ft
~165.8 mi in
Elevation Range
290 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 37m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.3 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Homer - Kodiak Ferry. 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 87 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 Anchor Point, 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: near the start (Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Marine Way East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.6 hours each way, a round trip means 19.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Anchor Point, AK before the return drive.
