Metlakatla to Kodiak is 1199.6 miles and takes about 57 hours 54 minutes via Alaska Marine Highway ferries, with a fuel budget near $260 and a recommended 4 days. This long-distance journey spans across Alaska, connecting two significant Alaskan communities. Prepare for a multi-day adventure that relies heavily on the Alaska Marine Highway system, offering a unique way to experience the state's coastal beauty. If you're looking for an extended trip with an emphasis on maritime travel, this route is worth considering.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
16 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
599.8 miles from Metlakatla, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 28h 28m into the drive
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Given the 57-hour 54-minute duration, splitting this trip over the recommended 4 days is essential for a comfortable experience. Plan to depart early in the day to maximize daylight hours during your ferry segments. Keep an eye on ferry schedules and book your passage in advance, especially during peak travel seasons. Fuel costs are estimated at $260, but remember that food and lodging aboard ferries or at your overnight stops will add to the overall budget. A key consideration for this route is its reliance on ferry services; ensure you have contingency plans for potential schedule changes.
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 16 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 599.8 miles from Metlakatla, AK, or about 28h 28m 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 599.8 miles or 28h 28m 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 299.9 miles or 9h 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 56h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kodiak, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Metlakatla, 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 Metlakatla, AK
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 14.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 14.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 14.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Kodiak, AK
Aim for roughly 300 miles and 14.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Metlakatla, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 16 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 21 and 974 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
21 mi into trip|~52m in|Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
Navigation decision point
5
297.9 mi into trip|~8h 53m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
560.5 mi into trip|~25h 53m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
894.9 mi into trip|~47h 53m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
974 mi into trip|~52h 23m in|Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$259.99 one way
$519.98 round trip
$5.51/gal25.4 MPG avg420 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.79
$273.40
$546.81
premium
$5.98
$282.43
$564.85
diesel
$5.61
$264.86
$529.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$260
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$600–$880
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 419.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $126 in charging
· 4 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
359.9
4
$125.96
$57.58
Efficient EV
299.9
3
$104.96
$47.98
EV Truck/SUV
479.8
5
$167.94
$76.77
Gas CO2
420 kg
EV CO2
140 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Metlakatla, AK
Evening
in Metlakatla on Saturday
Local time
5:13 PM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kodiak, AK
Evening
in Kodiak on Saturday
Local time
5:13 PM
AKDT
Current temp
43°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
2 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
57h 54m 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 route is almost entirely composed of ferry travel on the Alaska Marine Highway system, with 0% highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 334.5 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. Expect a journey defined by the rhythm of the sea rather than the winding of asphalt. The experience will be characterized by passage through various Alaskan coastal regions, with the ferries serving as your primary mode of transport and accommodation.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 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 57h 54m, 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 21 miles in near Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road.
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 10 significant decision points across 1199.6 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 21 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road): Navigation decision point; at 297.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 560.5 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
57h 54m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 300 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 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 Kodiak, 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 16 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 21 miles (Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road): Navigation decision point; at 297.9 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 560.5 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 57.9 hours each way, a round trip means 115.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kodiak, AK before the return drive.
