How far is Fairbanks, AK from Valdez, AK?

The driving distance from Fairbanks, AK to Valdez, AK is about 363.8 miles (585.4 km), with a travel time of about 07h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 259.7 miles (417.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 30m 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
363.76 mi
07h 15m
Flight
259.68 mi
417.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fairbanks.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
259.68 mi
Kilometers
417.92 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
363.76 mi
Kilometers
585.41 km
Drive Time
07h 15m

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 07h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Valdez
Mon, May 25, 2:02 AM AKDT
Return by in Fairbanks
Mon, May 25, 9:18 AM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fairbanks
2026-05-24T18:47
Arrive Valdez
Mon, May 25, 2:02 AM AKDT
Route Timing
07h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:15 PM to 2:45 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
9:30 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fairbanks
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
Delta Junction
AK

City in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, United States

From Fairbanks
181.4 mi
03h 37m
To Valdez
182.4 mi
03h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, May 24 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph N
Destination
44°F
Today

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, May 24 7:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fairbanks and Valdez.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairbanks and Valdez.

  1. 1

    Start on 12th Avenue

    133 m · 21 sec · 12th Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Noble Street

    813 ft · 24 sec · Noble Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Airport Way

    1103 ft · 33 sec · Airport Way

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Richardson Highway

    6.6 mi · 9 min · Richardson Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on New Richardson Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · New Richardson Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Richardson Highway

    87 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Richardson Highway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Richardson Highway

    268.1 mi · 5 hr 20 min · Richardson Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on East Egan Avenue

    2134 ft · 38 sec · East Egan Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East Pioneer Drive

    661 ft · 20 sec · East Pioneer Drive

  10. 10

    Turn right

    5 m · 1 sec

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fairbanks and Valdez.

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
11 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Richardson Highway
362 mi · 99%
New Richardson Highway
1.12 mi
East Egan Avenue
0.4 mi
Airport Way
0.21 mi
Noble Street
0.15 mi
East Pioneer Drive
0.12 mi
Longest Stretch

Richardson Highway

Keep slight right to continue on Richardson Highway

268 mi · 05h 20m

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
07h 15m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+104.1 mi
259.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Delta Junction
03h 37m from Fairbanks
Leave By
9:30 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Fairbanks and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Valdez.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fairbanks to Valdez?

The road trip is about 363.8 miles (585.4 km) and usually takes 07h 15m 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?

Delta Junction is a useful midpoint, sitting about 181.4 miles from Fairbanks and 182.4 miles from Valdez.

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

The direct path is about 259.7 miles (417.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 104.1 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 $63.57 one way or $127.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 114.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Fairbanks and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Valdez.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fairbanks and Valdez. Straight-line distance: 259.68 mi (417.92 km).

Fairbanks

#1 Fairbanks

City in Alaska, USA

Population30,696
Coordinates64.8377800, -147.7163900
Altitude136
CountryUnited States
Valdez

#2 Valdez

City in Alaska, USA

Population3,843
Coordinates61.1308300, -146.3483300
Altitude30
CountryUnited States
Start: Fairbanks (-147.71639, 64.83778)
End: Valdez (-146.34833, 61.13083)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 585 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.84 gal
48.59 L · about $63.57
Round trip
$127.14
25.68 gal · 97.18 L
Estimated CO2
114.1 kg one way
Round trip: 228.2 kg / 503 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $63.57 $127.14
Mid-grade $5.34 $68.54 $137.08
Premium $5.57 $71.47 $142.93
Diesel $6.37 $81.74 $163.48

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 · May 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Fairbanks and Valdez. The current time is 18:47:15.

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.