Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Sitka, AK to Willow, AK
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51h 37m
Distance
887.4 mi
1,428 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$197
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
50h 51m
★
6 AM
51h 37m
8 AM
53h 10m
10 AM
52h 10m
12 PM
52h 0m
3 PM
52h 14m
5 PM
53h 5m
8 PM
51h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sitka, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Willow, AK
Bingqian Li
Trip Overview
Sitka to Willow is 887.4 miles and takes about 51h 37m via Alaska Marine Highway, with a fuel budget near $194 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This extensive route primarily utilizes the Alaska Marine Highway system, connecting you through various Alaskan communities. Given its substantial duration, this trip is best approached as a multi-day expedition, allowing ample time to experience the ferry travel and the unique Alaskan landscape. It's a significant undertaking, ideal for those who appreciate a slower pace and the maritime aspects of travel within Alaska.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
14 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
443.7 miles from Sitka, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat | 334.5 mi | 22h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | 262.6 mi | 17h |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau | 153.9 mi | 9h 30m |
| Seward Highway | 47.2 mi | 58m |
| Glenn Highway | 33 mi | 38m |
| George Parks Highway | 16.5 mi | 23m |
| East Parks Highway | 14.5 mi | 20m |
| Halibut Point Road | 6.6 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sitka, AK and Willow, AK.
1
Start on Baranof Street
221 ft
·
15 sec
·
Baranof Street
2
Turn left onto S-933
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Sawmill Creek Road
3
Enter roundabout onto F-99
59 ft
·
1 sec
·
Halibut Point Road
4
Continue on F-99
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Halibut Point Road
5
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
48 sec
6
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
154 mi
·
9 hr 30 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
7
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
8
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
9
Continue
374 ft
·
7 sec
10
At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road
173 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Camp Road
11
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
12
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
13
Continue on FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
14
Turn right onto AK 1
47 mi
·
58 min
·
Seward Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Ingra Street
16
Turn right onto AK 1
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
17
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Avenue
18
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3
15 mi
·
20 min
·
East Parks Highway
Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on AK 3
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Parks Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on AK 3
17 mi
·
23 min
·
George Parks Highway
22
Turn right onto Willow Station Road
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Willow Station Road
23
Turn right onto West Tuxedo Avenue
43 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Tuxedo Avenue
24
Continue on West Tuxedo Avenue
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Tuxedo Avenue
25
Turn left onto Petticoat Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Petticoat Street
26
Arrive at destination
Petticoat Street
Trip Plan
Given the 51-hour duration, planning for at least 4 days is highly recommended to comfortably complete this trip. Break up the travel by utilizing the ferry system's schedule and overnight stays in the communities where you disembark. Keep a close eye on ferry schedules, as they are the backbone of this route and can influence your daily mileage. Budget approximately $194 for fuel, though this is primarily for any land-based travel connected to the ferry terminals, not the ferry cost itself. Ensure you have provisions for longer stretches, as services can be limited between ferry stops.
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 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 443.7 miles from Sitka, AK, or about 28h 3m 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 195 miles or 11h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 443.7 miles or 28h 3m 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 221.9 miles or 13h 40m
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 50h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Willow, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sitka, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
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 Sitka, AK
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 12.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 12.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 12.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Willow, AK
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 12.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 195 miles from Sitka, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 14 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.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
293 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
586 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Tanaina, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
222 mi · about 12.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 222 miles or 12.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
444 mi · about 25.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 444 miles or 25.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
666 mi · about 38.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Wasilla, AK after about 666 miles or 38.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 195 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 443.7 miles from Sitka, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 222 miles or 12.9 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 851.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road
Turn left onto S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
F-99 / Halibut Point Road
Enter roundabout onto F-99 / Halibut Point Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
160.8 mi into trip
|
~9h 43m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
423.4 mi into trip
|
~26h 43m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
851.6 mi into trip
|
~50h 45m in
|
AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Wasilla, Fairbanks
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$196.77 one way
$393.53 round trip
$5.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
311 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.95 | $208.01 | $416.03 |
| premium | $6.10 | $213.19 | $426.37 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $186.91 | $373.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$197
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$537–$817
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 310.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $93 in charging · 3 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 266.2 | 3 | $93.18 | $42.60 |
| Efficient EV | 221.9 | 2 | $77.65 | $35.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 355 | 4 | $124.24 | $56.79 |
Gas CO2
310 kg
EV CO2
104 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Sitka, AK
Morning in Sitka on Wednesday
Local time
11:05 AM
AKDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued May 31 at 9:14PM AKDT until June 2 at 8:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 31 at 2:40PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK
Destination
Willow, AK
Morning in Willow on Wednesday
Local time
11:05 AM
AKDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued May 31 at 9:14PM AKDT until June 2 at 8:00PM AKDT by NWS Juneau AK
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 31 at 2:40PM 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.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
51h 37m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Sitka National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On an island amid towering spruce and hemlock, Sitka National Historical Park preserves the site of a battle between invading Russian traders and Indigenous Kiks.ádi Tlingit. Totem poles from Tlingit...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route involves 0% highway driving, with the entire 887.4 miles covered by ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway. The longest continuous segment you'll experience is 334.5 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. Expect long stretches of open water travel, punctuated by ferry stops in different communities. You will notice a distinct lack of traditional road travel, with your experience centered around the ferry and its terminals.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 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 51h 37m, 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 early in the drive near S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 887.4 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: near the start (S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (F-99 / Halibut Point Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 160.8 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,003 ft
0 ft
Total Climb
3,003 ft
Total Descent
2,805 ft
Highest Point
3,003 ft
~760.7 mi in
Elevation Range
3,003 ft
Notable High Points
3,003 ft at ~760.7 miles
+2,664 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Sitka, AK
Full guide →Founded 1799
Sitka is a city of about 9,000 on the Pacific Ocean coast of Baranof Island in Alaska. First settled by Tlingit Aboriginal people, Sitka also has history as a Russian settlement, established in 1799 by Alexander Baranoff of the Russian American Company, which became the Russian capital of Alaska. In 1867, when Russia sold Alaska to the US, the transfer ceremony took place on Castle Hill at Sitka on October 18, a day celebrated as Alaska Day. Sitka now attracts about a quarter million visitors a year.
Top landmarks
- • St. Michael's Cathedral — historic church in Alaska, United States
- • Sitka National Historical Park — United States national park in Alaska
- • Castle Hill — National Historic Landmark and state park in Sitka, Alaska, USA
Arriving in Willow, AK
Full guide →Willow is an unincorporated community in Matanuska-Susitna Valley.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
51h 37m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
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 222 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Willow, 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 14 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area 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 (S-933 / Sawmill Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (F-99 / Halibut Point Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 160.8 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes — Sitka National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 51.6 hours each way, a round trip means 103.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Willow, AK before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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