Unalaska to Wasilla is 1243.1 miles and takes about 57h 51m via Alaska Marine Highway, with a fuel budget near $257 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive stays within Alaska, traversing islands and then mainland highways. With a recommended 4 days, this trip requires careful planning due to its duration and the nature of the travel. It's a significant undertaking for those looking to cover a large distance 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
16 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
621.6 miles from Unalaska, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 40h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik
288.4 mi
6h 30m
Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
225.4 mi
5h 30m
Alaska Marine Highway Akutan to Unalaska
217.1 mi
12h 26m
Alaska Marine Highway - Chignik to Sand Point
142.3 mi
9h 15m
Alaska Marine Highway - Sand Point to King Cove
95.5 mi
6h 15m
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
79.1 mi
4h 30m
Alaska Marine Highway Cold Bay to False Pass
64.1 mi
4h 15m
Seward Highway
47.2 mi
58m
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik
— 288.4 mi, about 6h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Unalaska, AK and Wasilla, AK.
1
Start on West Broadway Avenue
0.1 mi·33 sec·West Broadway Avenue
2
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·5th Street
3
Continue on Airport Beach Road
2.9 mi·7 min·Airport Beach Road
4
Turn left onto Ballyhoo Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Ballyhoo Road
5
Turn right
309 ft·22 sec
6
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway Akutan to Unalaska
217 mi·12 hr 26 min·Alaska Marine Highway Akutan to Unalaska
7
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway Cold Bay to False Pass
64 mi·4 hr 15 min·Alaska Marine Highway Cold Bay to False Pass
8
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - King Cove to Cold Bay
25 mi·6 hr 45 min·Alaska Marine Highway - King Cove to Cold Bay
9
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway Terminak King Cove
70 ft·7 sec·Alaska Marine Highway Terminak King Cove
10
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway Terminak King Cove
74 ft·5 sec·Alaska Marine Highway Terminak King Cove
11
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway - Sand Point to King Cove
96 mi·6 hr 15 min·Alaska Marine Highway - Sand Point to King Cove
12
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chignik to Sand Point
142 mi·9 hr 15 min·Alaska Marine Highway - Chignik to Sand Point
13
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
79 mi·4 hr 30 min·Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
16
Continue
374 ft·7 sec
17
At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road
173 ft·9 sec·West Camp Road
18
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi·2 min·West Camp Road
19
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi·10 min·Portage Glacier Highway
20
Continue on FFH 35
5.0 mi·6 min·Portage Glacier Road
21
Turn right onto AK 1
47 mi·58 min·Seward Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi·2 min·Ingra Street
23
Turn right onto AK 1
0.4 mi·56 sec·East 6th Avenue
24
Continue on AK 1
1.0 mi·1 min·East 5th Avenue
25
Continue on AK 1
33 mi·38 min·Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto AK 3
8.0 mi·10 min·East Parks Highway
Toward Wasilla, FairbanksUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Main Street
26 ft·0 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 57h 51m duration, splitting this trip over 4 recommended days is essential for safety and comfort. Start your days early to maximize daylight, especially if you encounter any delays with the Alaska Marine Highway segments. Keep a close eye on your fuel levels, as services can be spread out, and budget around $257 for fuel. The longest continuous stretch is 288.4 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly before you get fatigued.
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 16 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 621.6 miles from Unalaska, AK, or about 40h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 288.4 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 220 miles or 12h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 621.6 miles or 40h 47m 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 310.8 miles or 23h 38m
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 56h 36m
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 Unalaska, 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.
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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 Unalaska, AK
Aim for roughly 311 miles and 14.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 311 miles and 14.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 311 miles and 14.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Wasilla, AK
Aim for roughly 311 miles and 14.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Unalaska, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 16 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik for about 288.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 1243.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|5th Street
Turn right onto 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
221.2 mi into trip|~12h 37m in|Alaska Marine Highway Cold Bay to False Pass
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway Cold Bay to False Pass
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
285.4 mi into trip|~16h 52m in|Alaska Marine Highway - King Cove to Cold Bay
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - King Cove to Cold Bay
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
1235.1 mi into trip|~57h 40m 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
6
1243.1 mi into trip|~57h 51m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$278.96 one way
$557.93 round trip
$5.70/gal25.4 MPG avg435 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.03
$295.11
$590.23
premium
$6.22
$304.31
$608.63
diesel
$6.28
$307.15
$614.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$279
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$619–$899
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 434.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $131 in charging
· 4 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
372.9
4
$130.53
$59.67
Efficient EV
310.8
3
$108.77
$49.72
EV Truck/SUV
497.2
6
$174.03
$79.56
Gas CO2
435 kg
EV CO2
145 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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 Oct 23, 2026
Origin
Unalaska, AK
Morning
in Unalaska on Saturday
Local time
10:03 AM
AKDT
Current temp
42°F
Light Rain
S 25 to 30 mph92% chanceLive forecast
Blizzard Warning
Blizzard Warning issued October 22 at 9:39PM AKDT until October 23 at 7:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Storm Warning issued October 22 at 9:39PM AKDT until October 25 at 4:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Destination
Wasilla, AK
Morning
in Wasilla on Saturday
Local time
10:03 AM
AKDT
Current temp
19°F
Clear
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Blizzard Warning
Blizzard Warning issued October 22 at 9:39PM AKDT until October 23 at 7:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Storm Warning issued October 22 at 9:39PM AKDT until October 25 at 4:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks 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
23 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
57h 51m 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 involves 0% highway driving, with your longest stretch being 288.4 miles on the Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik. The Alaska Marine Highway segments will likely feel like extended ferry or boat travel, not typical road cruising. You'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your travel. Expect a significant amount of time spent on water-based transit before reaching the mainland roads.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 288.4 mi on Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
At 57h 51m, 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 0.1 miles in near 5th Street.
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 15 significant decision points across 1243.1 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 0.1 miles (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 221.2 miles (Alaska Marine Highway Cold Bay to False Pass): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 285.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - King Cove to Cold Bay): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Unalaska is a city on the Aleutian Islands of Unalaska and Amaknak. The part of the city on Amaknak Island is known as Dutch Harbor. It is the eleventh largest city in Alaska and has 4,400 residents (2019).
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
The longest stretch is about 288.4 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik. 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 311 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 6 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 16 meaningful breaks. There are 6 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 0.1 miles (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 221.2 miles (Alaska Marine Highway Cold Bay to False Pass): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 285.4 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - King Cove to Cold Bay): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Not recommended in a single day. At 57.9 hours each way, a round trip means 115.7 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.
