Palmer to Anchor Point is 247.6 miles and takes about 5h 28m via AK 1, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip spans the Alaska region, taking you from the interior towards the Kenai Peninsula. The route primarily follows major highways, offering a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day. It's a practical option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently within Alaska.
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
123.8 miles from Palmer, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AK 1
116.7 mi
2h 47m
Seward Highway
87.9 mi
1h 45m
Glenn Highway
40.1 mi
48m
East 5th Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
Gambell Street
1.1 mi
2m
West Evergreen Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
East Parks Highway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Bates Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
AK 1
— 116.7 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, AK and Anchor Point, AK.
1
Start on South Colony Way
12 ft·8 sec·South Colony Way
2
Turn left onto West Evergreen Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·West Evergreen Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto AK 1
7.0 mi·10 min·Glenn Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto AK 3
516 ft·6 sec·East Parks Highway
5
Continue on AK 1
33 mi·38 min·Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on AK 1
1.5 mi·3 min·East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn left onto AK 1
1.1 mi·2 min·Gambell Street
8
Continue on AK 1
88 mi·1 hr 45 min·Seward Highway
9
Take the exit onto AK 1
117 mi·2 hr 47 min·AK 1
10
Turn left onto Bates Avenue
280 ft·12 sec·Bates Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Bates Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 28m duration, leaving Palmer in the morning allows ample time to reach Anchor Point before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can tailor your breaks to your needs, perhaps taking a longer pause around the midpoint. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 116.7-mile stretch on AK 1, as services might be less frequent. The $53 fuel estimate is based on average prices, so be prepared for potential fluctuations.
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 123.8 miles from Palmer, AK, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.7 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 54 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.8 miles or 2h 31m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anchor Point, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palmer, 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 Palmer, AK
This is one driving day of about 247.6 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Palmer, 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 AK 1 for about 116.7 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 130.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Evergreen Avenue
Turn left onto West Evergreen Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|AK 1 / Glenn Highway
Turn left onto AK 1 / Glenn Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
7.3 mi into trip|~10m in|AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Merge onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
41.9 mi into trip|~52m in|AK 1 / Gambell Street
Turn left onto AK 1 / Gambell Street
Navigation decision point
3
130.9 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|AK 1
Take the exit onto AK 1
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.41 one way
$96.82 round trip
$4.97/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.28
$51.45
$102.90
premium
$5.46
$53.18
$106.35
diesel
$4.80
$46.75
$93.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.3
0
$26.00
$11.88
Efficient EV
61.9
0
$21.67
$9.90
EV Truck/SUV
99
1
$34.66
$15.85
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Palmer, AK
Late night
in Palmer on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
AKDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph14% chanceLive 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
Anchor Point, AK
Late night
in Anchor Point on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
AKDT
Current temp
47°F
Chance Light Rain
S 5 mph29% chanceLive 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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 28m 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?
About 47% of this drive is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on AK 1 measuring 116.7 miles. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you progress. Expect to encounter mixed highway and surface driving conditions throughout the 5h 28m trip.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.7 mi on AK 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Evergreen Avenue.
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 28m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Evergreen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (AK 1 / Glenn Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Anchor Point is an unincorporated community on the Kenai Peninsula in Southcentral Alaska. It is the westernmost point in the North American highway system.
The longest stretch is about 116.7 miles on AK 1. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas 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.
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. There are 3 rest areas 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: near the start (West Evergreen Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (AK 1 / Glenn Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 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.
