Wasilla, AK to Cohoe, AK is 209.9 miles and takes about 4h 37m via AK 1 and Seward Highway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects two locations within Alaska, traversing varied terrain. You'll primarily be on major highways, offering a straightforward path between these points. With a recommended one-day drive, you can expect a manageable trip focused on covering the distance efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105 miles from Wasilla, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Seward Highway
87.9 mi
1h 45m
AK 1
72.7 mi
1h 46m
Glenn Highway
33.1 mi
38m
East Parks Highway
7.9 mi
10m
North Cohoe Loop Road
5.4 mi
9m
East 5th Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
Gambell Street
1.1 mi
2m
Ness Road
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Seward Highway
— 87.9 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wasilla, AK and Cohoe, 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
1.5 mi·3 min·East 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn left onto AK 1
1.1 mi·2 min·Gambell Street
6
Continue on AK 1
88 mi·1 hr 45 min·Seward Highway
7
Take the exit onto AK 1
73 mi·1 hr 46 min·AK 1
8
Turn right onto North Cohoe Loop Road
5.4 mi·9 min·North Cohoe Loop Road
9
Turn right onto Ness Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Ness Road
10
Turn left
153 ft·6 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour-plus duration, leaving Wasilla in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. The drive can be completed in one day, so flexibility is key. Plan for one significant stop, perhaps around the halfway point or where the highway section ends, to rest and refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto surface roads, and budget around $43 for gas. Remember that the longest stretch without a major road change is nearly 88 miles, so ensure you're comfortable before embarking on that segment.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105 miles from Wasilla, AK, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.9 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 46 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cohoe, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wasilla, 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 Wasilla, AK
This is one driving day of about 209.9 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Wasilla, 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 Seward Highway for about 87.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 209.9 — 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
42.5 mi into trip|~52m in|AK 1 / Gambell Street
Turn left onto AK 1 / Gambell Street
Navigation decision point
4
204.1 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|North Cohoe Loop Road
Turn right onto North Cohoe Loop Road
Navigation decision point
4
209.5 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|Ness Road
Turn right onto Ness Road
Navigation decision point
4
209.9 mi into trip|~4h 37m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.10 one way
$94.21 round trip
$5.70/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.03
$49.83
$99.66
premium
$6.22
$51.38
$102.77
diesel
$6.28
$51.86
$103.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63
0
$22.04
$10.08
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.37
$8.40
EV Truck/SUV
84
1
$29.39
$13.43
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Wasilla, AK
Late night
in Wasilla on Saturday
Local time
4:11 AM
AKDT
Current temp
36°F
Sunny
W 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Warning
Coastal Flood Warning issued October 22 at 8:43AM AKDT until October 25 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Blizzard Warning
Blizzard Warning issued October 22 at 6:02AM AKDT until October 24 at 10:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Destination
Cohoe, AK
Late night
in Cohoe on Saturday
Local time
4:11 AM
AKDT
Current temp
35°F
Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Warning
Coastal Flood Warning issued October 22 at 8:43AM AKDT until October 25 at 10:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK
Blizzard Warning
Blizzard Warning issued October 22 at 6:02AM AKDT until October 24 at 10:00AM 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.
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
1 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
4h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 features 35% highway driving, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 87.9 miles, likely on the Seward Highway, before you transition to other road types. Expect a mix of highway cruising and potentially more local traffic as you approach your destination. You'll notice the change from higher-speed highway travel to surface roads as the route progresses.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.9 mi on Seward Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AK 3 / East Parks Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 37m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 204.1 miles (North Cohoe Loop Road): Navigation decision point.
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 87.9 miles on Seward Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 204.1 miles (North Cohoe Loop Road): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Cohoe, AK, but most travelers stay overnight.
