Origin
Wasilla, AK
Late night in Wasilla on Friday
Local time
2:29 AM
AKDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wasilla, AK to Haines, AK
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49h 48m
Distance
779.6 mi
1,255 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$164
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
49h 3m
★
6 AM
49h 48m
8 AM
51h 18m
10 AM
50h 19m
12 PM
50h 10m
3 PM
50h 24m
5 PM
51h 13m
8 PM
49h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wasilla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Haines, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Wasilla, AK to Haines, AK is 779.6 miles and takes about 49 hours 48 minutes via Alaska Marine Highway, with a fuel budget near $160 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This extensive trip spans the state of Alaska, primarily utilizing ferry services for large portions of the journey. It's a significant undertaking, recommended for four days of travel to properly experience the route. Given the duration and the nature of the travel, it's best suited for those who enjoy a more immersive, less conventional road trip experience.
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
389.8 miles from Wasilla, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21h 8m 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 29m |
| Seward Highway | 47.1 mi | 57m |
| Glenn Highway | 33.1 mi | 38m |
| East Parks Highway | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Portage Glacier Road | 5 mi | 7m |
| Portage Glacier Highway | 4.7 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
— 334.5 mi, about 22h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wasilla, AK and Haines, 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
47 mi
·
57 min
·
Seward Highway
7
Turn left onto FFH 35
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
8
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
9
Continue on West Camp Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
10
Turn right
169 ft
·
8 sec
11
Turn left
248 ft
·
4 sec
12
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
13
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
14
Turn left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
76 mi
·
8 hr 29 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
15
Continue on Ferry Terminal - Haines {Lutak)
328 ft
·
6 sec
·
Ferry Terminal - Haines {Lutak)
16
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
this road
17
Merge onto Lutak Road
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Lutak Road
18
Continue on 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
2nd Avenue
19
Turn right onto Dalton Street
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
Dalton Street
20
Arrive at destination
Dalton Street
Trip Plan
Given the nearly 50-hour travel time, plan for at least four days to complete this route comfortably. Break up the driving and ferry segments to avoid fatigue, perhaps dedicating specific days to longer stretches. The fuel cost is estimated at $160, so budget accordingly. Keep an eye on ferry schedules and book in advance, especially during peak seasons, as this is a critical component of the trip. Ensure you have enough provisions for the longer stretches, as stops are limited on the marine highway segments.
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 389.8 miles from Wasilla, AK, or about 21h 8m 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 172 miles or 6h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 389.8 miles or 21h 8m 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 194.9 miles or 8h 19m
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 43h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Haines, 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.
+
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 Wasilla, AK
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Haines, AK
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 12.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 172 miles from Wasilla, 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
257 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.
Overnight Options
Night 1
195 mi · about 12.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gateway, AK after about 195 miles or 12.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
390 mi · about 24.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 390 miles or 24.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
585 mi · about 37.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 585 miles or 37.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 172 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 389.8 miles from Wasilla, 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 195 miles or 12.5 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 779.6 — 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
101.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
436.4 mi into trip
|
~24h 13m in
|
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
779.6 mi into trip
|
~49h 47m in
|
Dalton Street
Turn right onto Dalton Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$163.69 one way
$327.37 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
273 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.61 | $172.16 | $344.31 |
| premium | $5.80 | $178.08 | $356.16 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $171.85 | $343.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$164
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$504–$784
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 272.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $82 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 233.9 | 2 | $81.86 | $37.42 |
| Efficient EV | 194.9 | 2 | $68.22 | $31.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 311.8 | 3 | $109.14 | $49.89 |
Gas CO2
273 kg
EV CO2
91 kg (67% 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
Haines, AK
Late night in Haines on Friday
Local time
2:29 AM
AKDT
Current temp
76°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
29 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
49h 48m 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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 779.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 0% highway driving, with the majority of your travel being on the Alaska Marine Highway system. The longest continuous stretch on the water is 334.5 miles along the Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. You'll notice the unique nature of this trip as you transition between driving segments and ferry travel, covering a substantial distance across Alaska's waterways.
0% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 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 48m, 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 early in the drive near AK 3 / East Parks Highway.
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 9 significant decision points across 779.6 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: near the start (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 101.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
341 ft
0 ft
Total Climb
88 ft
Total Descent
341 ft
Highest Point
341 ft
Elevation Range
341 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Wasilla, AK
Full guide →Founded 1917
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
Arriving in Haines, AK
Full guide →Founded 1910
Haines is a small port community (population about 2,000) in Southeastern Alaska on the shores of the Lynn Canal, the state's longest fjord. It is surrounded by glacier-covered mountains of the Coast Range.
Top landmarks
- • Hammer Museum (Haines, AK)
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
49h 48m 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 195 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 Haines, 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: near the start (AK 3 / East Parks Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (AK 1 / Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 101.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 49.8 hours each way, a round trip means 99.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Haines, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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