Palmer to Cohoe is 209.4 miles and takes about 4 hours 38 minutes via Seward Highway and AK 1, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Alaska region to the Alaska region, offering a mixed drive experience. You'll spend about 35% of your time on highways, making it a straightforward journey for a single-day adventure. Consider this route if you're looking for a manageable drive with a clear destination, perfect for a day trip or the start of a longer Alaskan exploration.
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
104.7 miles from Palmer, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Seward Highway
87.9 mi
1h 45m
AK 1
72.7 mi
1h 46m
Glenn Highway
40.1 mi
48m
North Cohoe Loop Road
5.4 mi
9m
East 5th Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
Gambell Street
1.1 mi
2m
Ness Road
0.4 mi
1m
West Evergreen Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Seward Highway
— 87.9 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, AK and Cohoe, 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
73 mi·1 hr 46 min·AK 1
10
Turn right onto North Cohoe Loop Road
5.4 mi·9 min·North Cohoe Loop Road
11
Turn right onto Ness Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Ness Road
12
Turn left
153 ft·6 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hours 38 minutes estimated drive time, starting in the morning is advisable to allow ample daylight. You'll only have one primary stop noted, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, especially considering the longest stretch without a stop is 87.9 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $45, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Palmer. Be mindful of the mixed road conditions, adjusting your speed as needed, particularly on the Seward Highway portion.
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 104.7 miles from Palmer, AK, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.9 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 46 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cohoe, 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 209.4 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 Seward Highway for about 87.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 209 — 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.
4
41.9 mi into trip|~52m in|AK 1 / Gambell Street
Turn left onto AK 1 / Gambell Street
Navigation decision point
4
203.6 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|North Cohoe Loop Road
Turn right onto North Cohoe Loop Road
Navigation decision point
4
209 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|Ness Road
Turn right onto Ness Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.38 one way
$90.77 round trip
$5.51/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.79
$47.73
$95.45
premium
$5.98
$49.30
$98.60
diesel
$5.61
$46.23
$92.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.99
$10.05
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.32
$8.38
EV Truck/SUV
83.8
1
$29.32
$13.40
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Palmer, AK
Evening
in Palmer on Saturday
Local time
6:46 PM
AKDT
Current temp
24°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cohoe, AK
Evening
in Cohoe on Saturday
Local time
6:46 PM
AKDT
Current temp
40°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.
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
16 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
4h 38m 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 presents a mixed drive, with 35% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 87.9 miles on the Seward Highway, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The roads transition between major highways like the Glenn Highway and AK 1, and the scenic Seward Highway. Expect a varied driving experience, moving from potentially faster highway sections to more winding or coastal-feeling segments as you progress south.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.9 mi on Seward Highway.
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 4h 38m drive. You will face about 8 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 41.9 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 209.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 87.9 miles on Seward 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 41.9 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Cohoe, AK, but most travelers stay overnight.
