How far is Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK from Meadow Lakes, AK?

The driving distance from Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK to Meadow Lakes, AK is about 353.4 miles (568.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 242.8 miles (390.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 05m 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
353.46 mi
06h 02m
Flight
242.76 mi
390.69 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fairbanks North Star Borough.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
242.76 mi
Kilometers
390.69 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
353.46 mi
Kilometers
568.84 km
Drive Time
06h 02m

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 06h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Meadow Lakes
Sun, Apr 19, 1:33 PM AKDT
Return by in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Sun, Apr 19, 7:36 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fairbanks North Star Borough
2026-04-19T07:30
Arrive Meadow Lakes
Sun, Apr 19, 1:33 PM AKDT
Route Timing
06h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:03 PM to 1:33 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
11:54 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fairbanks North Star Borough
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
Healy
AK

Census designated place

From Fairbanks North Star Borough
177.3 mi
03h 01m
To Meadow Lakes
176.2 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
39°F
Sunday

Light Snow Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 mph SE
Destination
45°F
Sunday

Chance Light Snow

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fairbanks North Star Borough and Meadow Lakes.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairbanks North Star Borough and Meadow Lakes.

  1. 1

    Start on Nugget Cabin Winter Trail

    7.8 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Nugget Cabin Winter Trail

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Chena Hot Springs Road

    31.1 mi · 43 min · Chena Hot Springs Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Chena Hot Springs Road

    576 ft · 10 sec · Chena Hot Springs Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Chena Hot Springs Road

    32 m · 2 sec · Chena Hot Springs Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right

    1346 ft · 37 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Steese Highway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Steese Highway

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Johansen Expressway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Johansen Expressway

  8. 8

    Continue on Geist Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Geist Road

  9. 9

    Take the exit right

    1854 ft · 45 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto George Parks Highway

    299.9 mi · 5 hr 59 min · George Parks Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on West Parks Highway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · West Parks Highway

  12. 12

    Turn left onto North Pittman Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North Pittman Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Beverly Lake Road

    1.7 mi · 4 min · Beverly Lake Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Wyoming Drive

    1416 ft · 1 min · Wyoming Drive

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Starr Road

    1420 ft · 1 min · Starr Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Hess Lake Road

    922 ft · 47 sec · Hess Lake Road

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fairbanks North Star Borough and Meadow Lakes.

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
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
George Parks Highway
300 mi · 85%
Chena Hot Springs Road
31.5 mi · 9%
Nugget Cabin Winter Trail
7.78 mi · 2%
West Parks Highway
4.25 mi · 1%
Johansen Expressway
4.2 mi · 1%
Steese Highway
2.54 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

George Parks Highway

Merge slight left onto George Parks Highway

300 mi · 05h 59m

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
06h 02m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+110.6 mi
242.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Healy
03h 01m from Fairbanks North Star Borough
Leave By
11:54 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Light Snow Likely leaving Fairbanks North Star Borough and Chance Light Snow near Meadow Lakes.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fairbanks North Star Borough to Meadow Lakes?

The road trip is about 353.4 miles (568.8 km) and usually takes 06h 02m 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?

Healy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 177.3 miles from Fairbanks North Star Borough and 176.2 miles from Meadow Lakes.

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

The direct path is about 242.8 miles (390.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 110.6 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 $61.74 one way or $123.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 110.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Snow Likely around Fairbanks North Star Borough and Chance Light Snow near Meadow Lakes.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fairbanks North Star Borough and Meadow Lakes. Straight-line distance: 242.76 mi (390.69 km).

Fairbanks North Star Borough

#1 Fairbanks North Star Borough

Borough in Alaska, United States

Population95,651
Coordinates64.8333300, -146.4166700
Altitude409
CountryUnited States
Meadow Lakes

#2 Meadow Lakes

Census designated place in Alaska, United States

Population7,570
Coordinates61.6247200, -149.6011100
Altitude116
CountryUnited States
Start: Chena Hot Springs Road (-146.417305, 64.897451)
End: Hess Lake Road (-149.598156, 61.621245)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 569 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.47 gal
47.21 L · about $61.74
Round trip
$123.48
24.94 gal · 94.42 L
Estimated CO2
110.8 kg one way
Round trip: 221.6 kg / 489 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $61.74 $123.48
Mid-grade $5.34 $66.56 $133.13
Premium $5.57 $69.41 $138.82
Diesel $6.37 $79.38 $158.77

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Fairbanks North Star Borough and Meadow Lakes. The current time is 07:30:47.

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.