Origin
Wasilla, AK
Night in Wasilla on Saturday
Local time
9:59 PM
AKDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wasilla, 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
55m
Distance
43.5 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wasilla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Anchorage, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This relatively short 43.5-mile drive from Wasilla to Anchorage, Alaska, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 55 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Glenn Highway and East Parks Highway, with a brief stretch on East 5th Avenue as you reach your destination. The fuel cost is estimated at a modest $9, making it an economical option for a quick trip. Given its nature as a turn-heavy local drive, it’s a straightforward journey within the state of Alaska. This route is ideal for those looking for a direct and efficient transfer between these two Alaskan communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Glenn Highway | 33.1 mi | 38m |
| East Parks Highway | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| East 5th Avenue | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| I Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Glenn Highway
— 33.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wasilla, AK and Anchorage, AK.
1
Start on Main Street
15 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto AK 3
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
East Parks Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on AK 1
33 mi
·
38 min
·
Glenn Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on AK 1
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto I Street
358 ft
·
17 sec
·
I Street
6
Turn left onto West 4th Avenue
120 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
7
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
8
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Wasilla, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 43.5 — 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
|
AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Turn left onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
43.4 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I Street
Turn right onto I Street
Navigation decision point
5
43.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
West 4th Avenue
Turn left onto West 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
43.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.43 one way
$18.86 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
| premium | $5.98 | $10.24 | $20.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Anchorage, AK
Night in Anchorage on Saturday
Local time
9:59 PM
AKDT
Current temp
27°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
26°F
Gateway, AK
22 mi in
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
55m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the majority of this 43.5-mile trip. While you'll be on the Glenn Highway and East Parks Highway for significant portions, the route doesn't feature a high percentage of pure highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.1 miles on the Glenn Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent speed before you transition to more local road conditions closer to Anchorage. The character of the road shifts from a more open highway feel to a more integrated urban approach as you near your destination.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.1 mi on Glenn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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 early in the drive near AK 3 / East Parks Highway.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Wasilla, AK to Anchorage, AK is easy. At 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 miles (I Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.5 miles (West 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 43.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.1 miles on Glenn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 miles (I Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.5 miles (West 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Anchorage, 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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