Meadow Lakes to Valdez is 272.4 miles and takes about 5h 41m via Glenn Highway and Richardson Highway, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Alaska, connecting two distinct regions. It's a drive best suited for a single day, offering a direct path without requiring an overnight stay. Expect a local driving experience with a significant number of turns throughout the 5h 41m journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
136.2 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Glenn Highway
137.7 mi
2h 50m
Richardson Highway
117.1 mi
2h 20m
East Seldon Road
4 mi
6m
West Seldon Road
3.7 mi
5m
East Bogard Road
3.1 mi
4m
Palmer-Fishhook Road
2.4 mi
3m
Trunk Road
2.2 mi
3m
Beverly Lake Road
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Glenn Highway
— 137.7 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meadow Lakes, AK and Valdez, AK.
1
Start on this road
225 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Continue on Hess Lake Road
0.1 mi·35 sec·Hess Lake Road
3
Turn left onto Starr Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Starr Road
4
Turn right onto Wyoming Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Wyoming Drive
5
Turn left onto Beverly Lake Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Beverly Lake Road
6
Continue on Windy Bottem Road
0.2 mi·16 sec·Windy Bottem Road
7
Turn straight onto West Seldon Road
3.7 mi·5 min·West Seldon Road
8
Enter roundabout onto East Seldon Road
90 ft·1 sec·East Seldon Road
9
Continue on East Seldon Road
4.0 mi·6 min·East Seldon Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Enter roundabout onto East Bogard Road
69 ft·3 sec·East Bogard Road
11
Continue on East Bogard Road
3.1 mi·4 min·East Bogard Road
12
Enter roundabout onto Trunk Road
243 ft·4 sec·Trunk Road
13
Continue on Trunk Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Trunk Road
14
Turn right onto Palmer-Fishhook Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Palmer-Fishhook Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto AK 1
138 mi·2 hr 50 min·Glenn Highway
16
At end of road, turn right onto AK 4
117 mi·2 hr 20 min·Richardson Highway
17
Continue on AK 4
0.4 mi·37 sec·East Egan Avenue
18
Turn right onto East Pioneer Drive
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Pioneer Drive
19
Turn right
17 ft·1 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 41m duration and the recommendation for a single day, departing Meadow Lakes in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 137.7-mile stretch on the Glenn Highway, as services may be spaced out. The total fuel cost is estimated at $59, so plan accordingly and consider topping up before leaving Meadow Lakes.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 136.2 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 60 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.2 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valdez, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Meadow Lakes, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Meadow Lakes, AK
This is one driving day of about 272.4 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Meadow Lakes, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Glenn Highway for about 137.7 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 0.2 and 272.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Starr Road
Turn left onto Starr Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Wyoming Drive
Turn right onto Wyoming Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip|~3m in|Beverly Lake Road
Turn left onto Beverly Lake Road
Navigation decision point
5
17.2 mi into trip|~28m in|AK 1 / Glenn Highway
At end of road, turn left onto AK 1 / Glenn Highway
Navigation decision point
5
272.4 mi into trip|~5h 41m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.04 one way
$118.08 round trip
$5.51/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.79
$62.08
$124.17
premium
$5.98
$64.13
$128.26
diesel
$5.61
$60.14
$120.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.7
1
$28.60
$13.08
Efficient EV
68.1
0
$23.83
$10.90
EV Truck/SUV
109
1
$38.14
$17.43
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Meadow Lakes, AK
Evening
in Meadow Lakes on Saturday
Local time
6:51 PM
AKDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Valdez, AK
Evening
in Valdez on Saturday
Local time
6:51 PM
AKDT
Current temp
29°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
24°F
Palmer, AK
136 mi in
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.
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
3 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
5h 41m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll be navigating a series of turns rather than cruising on a consistent highway. With 0% highway share, this is a ground-level experience from start to finish. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 137.7 miles on the Glenn Highway, offering a substantial segment of driving before the turns become more frequent. As you progress, the road will likely feel more intimate and less like a high-speed transit.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.7 mi on Glenn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 0.2 miles in near Starr Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 41m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Starr Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Wyoming Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Beverly Lake Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 272.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 137.7 miles on Glenn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 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 0.2 miles (Starr Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Wyoming Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Beverly Lake Road): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Valdez, AK before the return drive.
