How far is Badger, AK from Sterling, AK?

The driving distance from Badger, AK to Sterling, AK is about 499.8 miles (804.4 km), with a travel time of about 08h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 311.7 miles (501.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
499.86 mi
08h 29m
Flight
311.76 mi
501.73 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Badger.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
311.76 mi
Kilometers
501.73 km
Flight Time
00h 37m

Driving Distance

Road route
499.86 mi
Kilometers
804.44 km
Drive Time
08h 29m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 08h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sterling
Thu, Apr 23, 1:41 PM AKDT
Return by in Badger
Thu, Apr 23, 10:10 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Badger
2026-04-23T05:12
Arrive Sterling
Thu, Apr 23, 1:41 PM AKDT
Route Timing
08h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:29 PM to 3:59 PM AKDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
7:02 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Badger
8:00 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Talkeetna
AK

Place in Alaska

From Badger
250.3 mi
04h 14m
To Sterling
249.6 mi
04h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Thursday

Chance Rain And Snow then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
51°F
Thursday

Light Rain

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Badger and Sterling.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Badger and Sterling.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    1171 ft · 52 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    2885 ft · 4 min

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Old Richardson Highway

    1.1 km · 2 min · Old Richardson Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Rozak Road

    603 ft · 19 sec · Rozak Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Richardson Highway

    5.9 mi · 7 min · Richardson Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    325 mi · 6 hr 34 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Glenn Highway

    33.1 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on East 5th Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · East 5th Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Gambell Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Gambell Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Seward Highway

    87.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Seward Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    46 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Great Land Street

    34 m · 5 sec · Great Land Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Great Land Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Badger and Sterling.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Richardson Highway
331 mi · 66%
Seward Highway
134 mi · 27%
Glenn Highway
33.1 mi · 7%
East 5th Avenue
1.48 mi
Gambell Street
1.11 mi
Old Richardson Highway
0.69 mi
Longest Stretch

Richardson Highway

Take the exit slight right

325 mi · 06h 34m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
08h 29m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+188.1 mi
311.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Talkeetna
04h 14m from Badger
Leave By
7:02 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain And Snow then Mostly Cloudy leaving Badger and Light Rain near Sterling.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Badger to Sterling?

The road trip is about 499.8 miles (804.4 km) and usually takes 08h 29m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Talkeetna is a useful midpoint, sitting about 250.3 miles from Badger and 249.6 miles from Sterling.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 311.7 miles (501.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 188.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $87.34 one way or $174.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 156.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain And Snow then Mostly Cloudy around Badger and Light Rain near Sterling.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Badger and Sterling. Straight-line distance: 311.76 mi (501.73 km).

Badger

#1 Badger

Census-designated place in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska

Population19,482
Coordinates64.8000000, -147.5333300
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Sterling

This Kenai Peninsula community is situated at the central western base of the peninsula, along the Kenai River.

Population0
Coordinates60.5372200, -150.7647200
Altitude67
CountryUnited States
Start: (-147.533512, 64.800115)
End: Great Land Street (-150.76507, 60.53722)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 804 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.64 gal
66.77 L · about $87.34
Round trip
$174.67
35.28 gal · 133.54 L
Estimated CO2
156.8 kg one way
Round trip: 313.5 kg / 691 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $87.34 $174.67
Mid-grade $5.34 $94.16 $188.32
Premium $5.57 $98.18 $196.37
Diesel $6.37 $112.30 $224.59

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Alaska · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Badger and Sterling. The current time is 05:12:57.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.