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Trip from Thorne Bay, AK to Edna Bay, AK

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 30m

Distance

45.2 mi

73 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 20m ★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Thorne Bay, AK, AK

Thorne Bay, AK

Mario Vogt

Downtown Edna Bay, AK, AK

Edna Bay, AK

zeynep ışık

Trip Overview

This 45.2-mile journey from Thorne Bay to Edna Bay in Alaska is a manageable, turn-heavy local drive that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect the trip to take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, with a modest fuel cost of around $10. You'll primarily be navigating North Island Road, South Thorne Bay Road, and Sandy Beach Road. Given the relatively short distance and the character of the route, it's well-suited as a day trip without the need for an overnight stay. The entire drive stays within Alaska, offering a focused experience of the local terrain.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

22.6 miles from Thorne Bay, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Island Road 27.9 mi 1h 47m
South Thorne Bay Road 16.9 mi 40m
Sandy Beach Road 0.4 mi 1m
Scenic View Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Freeman Drive <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Island Road — 27.9 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thorne Bay, AK and Edna Bay, AK.

1

Start on Scenic View Drive

328 ft · 14 sec · Scenic View Drive
2

Turn slight right onto Freeman Drive

127 ft · 12 sec · Freeman Drive
3

Turn left onto Sandy Beach Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Sandy Beach Road
4

Continue on South Thorne Bay Road

17 mi · 40 min · South Thorne Bay Road
5

Continue on North Island Road

28 mi · 1 hr 47 min · North Island Road
6

Arrive at destination

North Island Road

Trip Plan

For this 2-hour and 30-minute drive, leaving in the morning allows you to enjoy the daylight and still have ample time for exploration or relaxation upon arrival in Edna Bay. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of just $10, you have a lot of flexibility. Pay close attention to the road names mentioned, as navigating the turns on North Island Road, South Thorne Bay Road, and Sandy Beach Road will be key. Since the longest stretch is under 30 miles, you can easily adjust your pace and make spontaneous short stops if needed.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 22.6 miles from Thorne Bay, AK, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.9 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 10 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 22.6 miles or 1h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edna Bay, AK than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Thorne Bay, 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 Thorne Bay, AK

This is one driving day of about 45.2 miles and 2h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 10 miles from Thorne Bay, 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 North Island Road for about 27.9 miles.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Reel Grind Coffee and Baked Goods

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Thorne Bay, Alaska

Hours: 5:30 am–3 pm

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

1 of 1

1 decision points cluster around mile 0.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Sandy Beach Road

Turn left onto Sandy Beach Road

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.80 one way

$19.59 round trip

$5.51/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.79 $10.30 $20.60
premium $5.98 $10.64 $21.28
diesel $5.61 $9.98 $19.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.6 0 $4.75 $2.17
Efficient EV 11.3 0 $3.96 $1.81
EV Truck/SUV 18.1 0 $6.33 $2.89

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 17, 2026

Origin

Thorne Bay, AK

Late night in Thorne Bay on Sunday

Local time

4:02 AM

AKDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Edna Bay, AK

Late night in Edna Bay on Sunday

Local time

4:02 AM

AKDT

Current temp

51°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

3 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

2h 30m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive between Thorne Bay and Edna Bay is characterized by frequent turns, making it a rather engaging local experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as there's zero highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 27.9 miles on North Island Road, offering a bit of open road before the route becomes more winding. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be actively steering and navigating, with the landscape likely unfolding in close proximity rather than sweeping vistas. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience as you transition between the various local roads.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.9 mi on North Island Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Sandy Beach Road.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Thorne Bay, AK to Edna Bay, AK is easy. At 2h 30m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 0.1 miles (Sandy Beach Road): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 45.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.9 miles on North Island Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

There is one spot that needs extra attention: at 0.1 miles (Sandy Beach Road): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Edna Bay, AK before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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