Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34h 16m
Distance
933.7 mi
1,503 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$196
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wasilla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
King Cove, AK
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Wasilla, AK to King Cove, AK covers 933.7 miles and takes about 34h 16m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik, Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak, Alaska Marine Highway - Chignik to Sand Point for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 288.4 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik. At current regular gas prices, budget about $196.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
9 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
466.8 miles from Wasilla, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13h 34m into the drive .
| 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 - 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 |
| Seward Highway | 47.1 mi | 57m |
| Glenn Highway | 33.1 mi | 38m |
| East Parks Highway | 7.9 mi | 10m |
Step-by-step road directions between Wasilla, AK and King Cove, AK.
Start on Main Street
Turn left onto AK 3
Continue on AK 1
Continue on AK 1
Turn left onto AK 1
Continue on AK 1
Turn left onto FFH 35
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
Continue on West Camp Road
Turn right
Turn left
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Chenega Bay
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chignik to Sand Point
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sand Point to King Cove
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway Terminak King Cove
Turn right onto Harbor Road
Continue on Ram's Creek Road
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 205 miles or 7h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 466.8 miles or 13h 34m 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 233.4 miles or 7h 59m
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 30h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near King Cove, AK than in the middle of the route.
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 233 miles and 8.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 233 miles and 8.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 233 miles and 8.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into King Cove, AK
Aim for roughly 233 miles and 8.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
308 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.
Night 1
233 mi · about 8.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gateway, AK after about 233 miles or 8.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
467 mi · about 17.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Anchorage, AK after about 467 miles or 17.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
700 mi · about 25.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 700 miles or 25.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 205 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 466.8 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 - Kodiak to Chignik if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 288.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 233 miles or 8.6 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 837.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto AK 3 / East Parks Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Chignik to Sand Point
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sand Point to King Cove
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$196.04 one way
$392.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.61 | $206.19 | $412.37 |
| premium | $5.80 | $213.28 | $426.56 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $205.82 | $411.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$196
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$536–$816
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 326.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $98 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 280.1 | 3 | $98.04 | $44.82 |
| Efficient EV | 233.4 | 2 | $81.70 | $37.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 373.5 | 4 | $130.72 | $59.76 |
Gas CO2
327 kg
EV CO2
109 kg (67% less)
Plan for 3 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Wasilla on Wednesday
Local time
7:36 AM
AKDT
Current temp
33°F
Clear
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 31 at 5:10PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK
Destination
Morning in King Cove on Wednesday
Local time
7:36 AM
AKDT
Current temp
54°F
Chance Rain Showers
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 31 at 5:10PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
933.7 mi / 34h 16m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik.
At 34h 16m, 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 933.7 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 181.1 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Chenega Bay-Kodiak): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 406.5 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Kodiak to Chignik): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
14 ft
Total Descent
341 ft
Highest Point
341 ft
Elevation Range
341 ft
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
Founded 1949
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Solo Traveler
34h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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