Prudhoe Bay, AK to Wasilla, AK is 815 miles and takes about 22 hours and 47 minutes via Dalton Highway and George Parks Highway, with a fuel budget near $176 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive crosses from the Arctic region of Alaska down to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. It's a significant undertaking, primarily on remote highways, and is best suited for experienced drivers comfortable with extended periods on the road. Consider this trip if you're looking for an adventurous drive through Alaska's vast interior.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
6 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
407.5 miles from Prudhoe Bay, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 14h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dalton Highway
415.8 mi
14h 20m
George Parks Highway
299.9 mi
5h 58m
Elliott Highway
68.1 mi
1h 38m
West Parks Highway
10.7 mi
15m
Steese Highway
9 mi
12m
Johansen Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
Spine Road
3 mi
7m
Geist Road
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dalton Highway
— 415.8 mi, about 14h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prudhoe Bay, AK and Wasilla, AK.
1
Start on this road
1.3 mi·3 min·this road
2
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·28 sec·this road
3
Turn slight left
174 ft·4 sec
4
Turn straight onto Spine Road
3.0 mi·7 min·Spine Road
5
Turn left onto Colleen Lake Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Colleen Lake Road
6
Turn left onto AK 11
416 mi·14 hr 20 min·Dalton Highway
7
Continue on AK 2
68 mi·1 hr 38 min·Elliott Highway
8
Continue on AK 2
9.0 mi·12 min·Steese Highway
9
Turn right onto Johansen Expressway
4.2 mi·5 min·Johansen Expressway
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on Geist Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Geist Road
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
12
Merge onto AK 3
300 mi·5 hr 58 min·George Parks Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on AK 3
11 mi·15 min·West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto Main Street
15 ft·0 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 22-hour driving time, plan for at least three days to complete this trip comfortably. Start your drive early in the morning to maximize daylight. The longest stretch is over 400 miles on the Dalton Highway, so ensure you have ample fuel before embarking on that segment. The 6 planned stops are helpful for breaking up the drive, but be aware that services can be spread out. It's wise to carry extra water and snacks, especially when driving the Dalton Highway.
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 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 6 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 407.5 miles from Prudhoe Bay, AK, or about 14h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 415.8 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 179 miles or 6h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 407.5 miles or 14h 5m 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 271.7 miles or 9h 24m
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 21h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wasilla, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Prudhoe Bay, 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.
+
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 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Prudhoe Bay, AK
Aim for roughly 272 miles and 7.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 272 miles and 7.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Wasilla, AK
Aim for roughly 272 miles and 7.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 179 miles from Prudhoe Bay, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 6 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dalton Highway for about 415.8 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 4.5 and 815 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.5 mi into trip|~11m in|Colleen Lake Road
Turn left onto Colleen Lake Road
Navigation decision point
4
498.4 mi into trip|~16h 24m in|Johansen Expressway
Turn right onto Johansen Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
504.1 mi into trip|~16h 32m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
504.4 mi into trip|~16h 33m in|AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Merge onto AK 3 / George Parks Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
815 mi into trip|~22h 47m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$159.34 one way
$318.68 round trip
$4.97/gal25.4 MPG avg285 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.28
$169.35
$338.71
premium
$5.46
$175.03
$350.06
diesel
$4.80
$153.89
$307.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$159
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$394–$589
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 285.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: sparse
Chevrolet Charging Station
Wasilla, Alaska
Other
1 DCFC
ReCharge Alaska Charging Station
Denali National Park and Preserve, AK
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Wasilla, Alaska
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Wasilla, Alaska
Blink
1 DCFC
Other: 2
ChargePoint: 1
Blink: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $86 in charging
· 3 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
244.5
3
$85.58
$39.12
Efficient EV
203.8
2
$71.31
$32.60
EV Truck/SUV
326
4
$114.10
$52.16
Gas CO2
285 kg
EV CO2
95 kg (67% less)
Plan for 3 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 19, 2026
Origin
Prudhoe Bay, AK
Night
in Prudhoe Bay on Saturday
Local time
11:52 PM
AKDT
Current temp
34°F
Patchy Fog
NE 5 to 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 6:04PM AKDT until July 20 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued July 18 at 6:01PM AKDT until July 20 at 12:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Destination
Wasilla, AK
Night
in Wasilla on Saturday
Local time
11:52 PM
AKDT
Current temp
49°F
Light Rain
E 10 mph76% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 6:04PM AKDT until July 20 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued July 18 at 6:01PM AKDT until July 20 at 12:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
66°F
Chickaloon, AK
269 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.
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
15 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
22h 47m 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 100% highway, meaning you'll be on paved roads for the entire 815 miles. The longest stretch without a significant break is 415.8 miles on the Dalton Highway. You'll experience extended periods of rural cruising, with few services between the major points. Expect long stretches where you won't see many other vehicles.
1% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 415.8 mi on Dalton Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
At 22h 47m, 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 4.5 miles in near Colleen Lake 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 6 significant decision points across 815 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 4.5 miles (Colleen Lake Road): Navigation decision point; at 498.4 miles (Johansen Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 504.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Wasilla is a city of 9,000 people (2020) in Alaska. Wasilla is the last city of significant size on the Parks Highway northward; therefore, it is a frequent stopping point if traveling by car to Denali National Park, Fairbanks or other points north. It is most famous as the home town of Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who served as mayor of the city for six years.
Top landmarks
•Wasilla Depot — railway station in Wasilla, the United States of America
•Wasilla Elementary School — school building in Wasilla, United States of America
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 415.8 miles on Dalton Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 3-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 272 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
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 Wasilla, 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 6 meaningful breaks. There are 5 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: at 4.5 miles (Colleen Lake Road): Navigation decision point; at 498.4 miles (Johansen Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 504.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 22.8 hours each way, a round trip means 45.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wasilla, AK before the return drive.
