Origin
Skagway, AK
Evening in Skagway on Saturday
Local time
6:46 PM
AKDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Skagway, AK to Anchorage, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49h 41m
Distance
749.7 mi
1,207 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$162
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
48h 57m
★
6 AM
49h 42m
8 AM
51h 11m
10 AM
50h 13m
12 PM
50h 4m
3 PM
50h 17m
5 PM
51h 7m
8 PM
49h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Skagway, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Anchorage, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 749.7-mile journey from Skagway to Anchorage is a substantial road trip, taking approximately 49 hours and 41 minutes of driving time. Given its length and duration, this route is definitely not a day trip and is recommended to be split over 4 days. You'll be looking at an estimated fuel cost of $162 for the entire drive. The primary roads you'll be using are various segments of the Alaska Marine Highway, including the Whittier-Yakutat, Juneau-Yakutat, and Juneau-Haines routes. This trip offers a unique Alaskan experience, connecting two significant points within the state.
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
374.9 miles from Skagway, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27h 36m 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 - Juneau-Haines | 76.4 mi | 8h 30m |
| Seward Highway | 46.9 mi | 58m |
| Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway | 14.8 mi | 45m |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 6m |
| Portage Glacier Highway | 4.7 mi | 10m |
| West Camp Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Skagway, AK and Anchorage, AK.
1
Start on this road
206 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto AK 98
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
State Street
3
Turn left onto AK 98
365 ft
·
6 sec
·
1st Avenue
4
Turn right onto AK 98
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Broadway
5
At end of road, turn right
458 ft
·
5 sec
6
Continue on Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway
15 mi
·
45 min
·
Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway
7
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
76 mi
·
8 hr 30 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
8
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
9
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
10
Continue
374 ft
·
7 sec
11
At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road
173 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Camp Road
12
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
13
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
14
Continue on FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
15
Turn right onto AK 1
47 mi
·
58 min
·
Seward Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto East Fireweed Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Fireweed Lane
17
Turn right onto A Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
A Street
18
Turn left onto West 9th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West 9th Avenue
19
Turn right onto I Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I Street
20
Turn left onto West 4th Avenue
120 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
21
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is key for this 4-day, 749.7-mile trip. With a total driving time of nearly 50 hours, pacing your stops is crucial. You'll have 14 designated stops to utilize, so aim to break up the driving into manageable segments each day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially between ferry legs, as the estimated fuel cost is $162. A practical tip for this route is to book your Alaska Marine Highway ferry reservations well in advance, as they can fill up, especially during peak travel seasons.
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 374.9 miles from Skagway, AK, or about 27h 36m 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 165 miles or 13h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 374.9 miles or 27h 36m 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 187.4 miles or 15h 27m
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 48h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anchorage, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Skagway, 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 Skagway, AK
Aim for roughly 187 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 187 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 187 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Anchorage, AK
Aim for roughly 187 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 165 miles from Skagway, 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
247 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
495 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 Eagle River, AKOvernight Options
Night 1
187 mi · about 12.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Girdwood, AK after about 187 miles or 12.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
375 mi · about 24.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 375 miles or 24.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
562 mi · about 37.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 562 miles or 37.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 165 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 374.9 miles from Skagway, 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 187 miles or 12.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 354.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AK 98 / Broadway
Turn right onto AK 98 / Broadway
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
15.7 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
92.1 mi into trip
|
~9h 16m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
354.7 mi into trip
|
~26h 16m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$162.48 one way
$324.97 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
262 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $170.87 | $341.73 |
| premium | $5.98 | $176.50 | $353.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $165.52 | $331.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$162
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$502–$782
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 262.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $79 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 224.9 | 2 | $78.72 | $35.99 |
| Efficient EV | 187.4 | 2 | $65.60 | $29.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 299.9 | 3 | $104.96 | $47.98 |
Gas CO2
262 kg
EV CO2
88 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Destination
Anchorage, AK
Evening in Anchorage on Saturday
Local time
6:46 PM
AKDT
Current temp
27°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
17 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
49h 41m 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.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Headlines screamed "Gold!" The dream of a better life catapulted thousands of people to Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Their journey shaped them, and changed the people they encountered and the north...
11 mi from route
~27 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?
Expect a significant portion of this drive to take place on the Alaska Marine Highway system, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The character of this route is defined by its ferry segments, which means you'll be covering considerable distances on water between driving legs. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 334.5 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat segment. This suggests a driving experience that is punctuated by ferry travel, offering a different pace than a continuous road journey.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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 49h 41m, 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 0.5 miles in near AK 98 / Broadway.
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 15 significant decision points across 749.7 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 0.5 miles (AK 98 / Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 15.7 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
About the Cities
Arriving in Anchorage, AK
Full guide →Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, in the Southcentral region. Anchorage is a cosmopolitan port city with a population of 291 247 (2020). It is a consolidated city-borough referred to as a municipality. The urbanized city is defined by Muldoon Road to the east, Rabbit Creek Road to the south, and Cook Inlet to the north and west. Several small suburbs are within the Municipality of Anchorage while physically outside what most Anchorageites would call the "Anchorage" proper area. These include Eagle River and Chugiak to the north and Girdwood to the south.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
49h 41m 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 187 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 Anchorage, 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. 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 0.5 miles (AK 98 / Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 15.7 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 49.7 hours each way, a round trip means 99.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Anchorage, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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