Trip from Kodiak, AK to Tanaina, AK

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

12h 22m

Distance

410.5 mi

661 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$80

one way

EV Charging

Good

5 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

12h 12m ★

6 AM

12h 23m

8 AM

12h 45m

10 AM

12h 31m

12 PM

12h 28m

3 PM

12h 32m

5 PM

12h 44m

8 PM

12h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Kodiak, AK

Wikimedia Commons

Tanaina, AK

Katie Spencer

Trip Overview

Kodiak to Tanaina is 410.5 miles and takes about 12 hours 22 minutes via Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak, Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay, and Seward Highway, with a fuel budget near $92 and requires an overnight stay. This trip stays within Alaska, moving from the island of Kodiak to the mainland. Because the route relies heavily on the Alaska Marine Highway, expect a significant portion of your travel to involve ferry crossings. With a recommended two days for this drive, you'll have time to break up the ferry legs and driving, making it a manageable, albeit long, adventure.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

205.2 miles from Kodiak, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak	225.4 mi	5h 30m
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay	79.1 mi	4h 30m
Seward Highway	47.2 mi	58m
Glenn Highway	33 mi	38m
East Parks Highway	8.3 mi	11m
Portage Glacier Road	5 mi	6m
Portage Glacier Highway	4.7 mi	10m
North Lucille Street	3.1 mi	6m

Longest stretch: Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak — 225.4 mi, about 5h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kodiak, AK and Tanaina, AK.

Start on Mill Bay Road

20 ft · 6 sec · Mill Bay Road

Turn left onto Center Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Center Street

At end of road, turn left onto Marine Way East

89 ft · 5 sec · Marine Way East

Turn right

186 ft · 13 sec

Turn left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak

225 mi · 5 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay

79 mi · 4 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay

Continue

374 ft · 7 sec

At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road

173 ft · 9 sec · West Camp Road

Continue on West Camp Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road

Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

4.7 mi · 10 min · Portage Glacier Highway

Continue on FFH 35

5.0 mi · 6 min · Portage Glacier Road

Turn right onto AK 1

47 mi · 58 min · Seward Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on AK 1

1.0 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street

Turn right onto AK 1

0.4 mi · 56 sec · East 6th Avenue

Continue on AK 1

1.0 mi · 1 min · East 5th Avenue

Continue on AK 1

33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3

8.3 mi · 11 min · East Parks Highway

Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto North Lucille Street

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Lucille Street

Use the right lane.

Enter roundabout onto North Lucille Street

94 ft · 1 sec · North Lucille Street

Continue on North Lucille Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Lucille Street

At end of road, turn right onto East Schrock Road

0.2 mi · 36 sec · East Schrock Road

Turn left onto McCormick

0.1 mi · 33 sec · McCormick

At end of road, turn left onto East McAdoo Way

0.1 mi · 30 sec · East McAdoo Way

Turn right onto Barra Loop

467 ft · 20 sec · Barra Loop

Turn right onto Loch Ness Court

348 ft · 15 sec · Loch Ness Court

Arrive at destination

Loch Ness Court

Trip Plan

Given the 12-hour 22-minute duration and recommended two days, plan to split this drive into two segments. Consider departing Kodiak in the morning to take advantage of the first ferry leg. You'll want to book your ferry passage in advance, especially if traveling during peak season. For fuel, the estimated cost is $92, so ensure you have enough to cover the distance, and be aware that fuel availability can be limited in some remote areas along the marine highway. Look for designated rest stops and towns along the Seward Highway for breaks and potential overnight accommodation.

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 205.2 miles from Kodiak, AK, or about 5h 1m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.4 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 90 miles or 2h 12m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 205.2 miles or 5h 1m 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 205.2 miles or 5h 1m

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 11h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tanaina, AK than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 205 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Tanaina, AK

Aim for roughly 205 miles and 6.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Kodiak, AK.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak for about 225.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Eagle River, AK

205 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Eagle River, AK

Overnight Options

Night 1

Eagle River, AK

205 mi · about 6.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 205 miles or 6.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Seward, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bear Creek, AK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 205.2 miles from Kodiak, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 205 miles or 6.2 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop

Kodiak Hana Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Kodiak, Alaska

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11:30 am–2 pm

+19074811088

Visit website

ANKO

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kodiak, Alaska

0.1 mi

Aquamarine RESTAURANT

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Kodiak, Alaska

0.1 mi

Best coffee break

Harborside Coffee & Goods

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kodiak, Alaska

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+19074865862

Visit website

The Islander Bookshop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kodiak, Alaska

0.1 mi

Bearfoot Bakery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kodiak, Alaska

0.1 mi

Kodiak Hana Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 11:30 am–2 pm

+19074811088

Visit website

ANKO

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+19075120511

Visit website

Aquamarine RESTAURANT

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+19074862999

Visit website

Nuniaq

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+19074811660

Visit website

Caboose Bar B Que

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 11:30 am–7 pm

+19079425571

Visit website

Chart Room

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+19074865712

Visit website

McDonald's

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route Inexpensiv

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+19074863030

Visit website

The Piza Pit

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+19074864848

Visit website

Harborside Coffee & Goods

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+19074865862

Visit website

The Islander Bookshop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+19079427560

Visit website

Bearfoot Bakery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 7 am–5:30 pm

+19075126836

Visit website

Bean and Bloom Coffeehouse

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+19075125442

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Chugiak, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Chevrolet Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour

Wasilla, Alaska

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+18003239935

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Wasilla, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Gateway Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Chugiak, Alaska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19499452000

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the end, ~10 min detour

0.1 mi from route

Kodiak, Alaska

Hours: Closed

+19074863364

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 398.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Center Street

Turn left onto Center Street

Navigation decision point

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

225.6 mi into trip | ~5h 31m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay

Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

304.7 mi into trip | ~10h 1m in | West Camp Road

At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road

Navigation decision point

398.5 mi into trip | ~12h 3m in | AK 3 / East Parks Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway toward Wasilla, Fairbanks

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$80.26 one way

$160.52 round trip

$4.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 144 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.28	$85.30	$170.60
premium	$5.46	$88.16	$176.32
diesel	$4.80	$77.51	$155.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$80

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$210–$320

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 143.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	123.2	1	$43.10	$19.70
Efficient EV	102.6	1	$35.92	$16.42
EV Truck/SUV	164.2	2	$57.47	$26.27

Gas CO2

144 kg

EV CO2

48 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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Kodiak, AK

Evening in Kodiak on Saturday

Local time

7:41 PM

AKDT

Current temp

54°F

Light Rain

SE 15 to 20 mph 91% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:11AM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 9:56PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK

Destination

Tanaina, AK

Evening in Tanaina on Saturday

Local time

7:41 PM

AKDT

Current temp

59°F

Light Rain Likely

0 mph 64% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:11AM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 9:56PM 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

5 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

12h 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is not highway-intensive, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 410.5 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 225.4 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak. You'll notice the shift from ferry travel to land-based driving as you transition between the marine highway segments and the Seward Highway. Expect varied driving conditions as you navigate between coastal ferry routes and mainland roads.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 225.4 mi on Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Center Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 410.5 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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 225.6 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

493 ft 0 ft

Total Climb

505 ft

Total Descent

41 ft

Highest Point

493 ft

~410.5 mi in

Elevation Range

493 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Kodiak, AK

Full guide →

Founded 1940

Kodiak Island is in southwestern Alaska, in the Gulf of Alaska, 250 miles south of Anchorage. It is Alaska's largest island and second largest in the US, after the Big Island in Hawaii. The City of Kodiak is situated on the east shore of Kodiak Island.

Top landmarks

• Holy Resurrection Church — historic church in Alaska, United States
• Kodiak History Museum — museum in Kodiak, Alaska

Arriving in Tanaina, AK

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

12h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 225.4 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak. 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 205 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 Tanaina, 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 3 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 12.4 hours each way, a round trip means 24.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tanaina, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Kodiak, AK to Tanaina, AK

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Kodiak Hana Restaurant

Harborside Coffee & Goods

Kodiak Hana Restaurant

ANKO

Aquamarine RESTAURANT

Nuniaq

Caboose Bar B Que

Chart Room

McDonald's

The Piza Pit

Harborside Coffee & Goods

The Islander Bookshop

Bearfoot Bakery

Bean and Bloom Coffeehouse

Near Island Coffee

Harborside Wheel Watch

ISLAND ESPRESSO

Harborside Fly-by Coffee

Tesla Supercharger

Chevrolet Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EV Gateway Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Rest Area

Henry's Great Alaskan Restaurant

Tony's Bar

Alutiiq Museum

Double Shovel Cider Kodiak

Village Bar

B & B Bar

Kodiak Marketplace

The Mecca Lounge

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Kodiak, AK

Tanaina, AK

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

12h 22m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Kodiak, AK

Arriving in Tanaina, AK

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Will I have cell service along this route?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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