How far is Girdwood, AK from Anchorage, AK?

The driving distance from Girdwood, AK to Anchorage, AK is about 38.5 miles (61.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 31.1 miles (50 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
38.44 mi
00h 45m
Flight
31.04 mi
49.96 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Girdwood.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
31.04 mi
Kilometers
49.96 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
38.44 mi
Kilometers
61.87 km
Drive Time
00h 45m

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 00h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Anchorage
Sun, Apr 19, 4:17 AM AKDT
Return by in Girdwood
Sun, Apr 19, 5:02 AM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Girdwood
2026-04-19T03:31
Arrive Anchorage
Sun, Apr 19, 4:17 AM AKDT
Route Timing
00h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM AKDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:00 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Girdwood
10:00 PM AKDT
Flexible departure

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
Eagle River
AK

Community in Alaska, USA

From Girdwood
19.2 mi
00h 22m
To Anchorage
19.3 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
43°F
Sunday

Rain And Snow Likely then Rain And Snow

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
10 mph E
Destination
43°F
Sunday

Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And 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 Girdwood and Anchorage.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Girdwood and Anchorage.

  1. 1

    Start on Dawson Street

    132 m · 21 sec · Dawson Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Gold Street

    99 m · 20 sec · Gold Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Main Street

    154 m · 25 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Seward Highway

    35.7 mi · 45 min · Seward Highway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto East Fireweed Lane

    2696 ft · 1 min · East Fireweed Lane

  6. 6

    Turn right onto A Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · A Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto West 9th Avenue

    2881 ft · 2 min · West 9th Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn right onto I Street

    1802 ft · 1 min · I Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto West 4th Avenue

    37 m · 10 sec · West 4th Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left

    26 m · 6 sec

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Girdwood and Anchorage.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
11 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Seward Highway
35.7 mi · 93%
A Street
1.07 mi · 3%
West 9th Avenue
0.55 mi · 1%
East Fireweed Lane
0.51 mi · 1%
I Street
0.34 mi · 1%
Main Street
0.1 mi
Longest Stretch

Seward Highway

Turn right onto Seward Highway

35.7 mi · 00h 45m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 45m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.4 mi
31.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Eagle River
00h 22m from Girdwood
Leave By
7:00 PM AKDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain And Snow Likely then Rain And Snow leaving Girdwood and Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow near Anchorage.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Girdwood to Anchorage?

The road trip is about 38.5 miles (61.9 km) and usually takes 00h 45m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Eagle River is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.2 miles from Girdwood and 19.3 miles from Anchorage.

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

The direct path is about 31.1 miles (50 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM AKDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.73 one way or $13.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain And Snow Likely then Rain And Snow around Girdwood and Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow near Anchorage.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Girdwood and Anchorage. Straight-line distance: 31.04 mi (49.96 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Girdwood

City in United States of America

Population2,250
Coordinates60.9425000, -149.1663900
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Anchorage

#2 Anchorage

The most populous city in Alaska and the center of the Anchorage metropolitan area.

Population294,356
Coordinates61.2180600, -149.9002800
Altitude31
CountryUnited States
Start: Dawson Street (-149.167291, 60.941591)
End: (-149.900352, 61.218324)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 62 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.36 gal
5.14 L · about $6.73
Round trip
$13.47
2.72 gal · 10.28 L
Estimated CO2
12.1 kg one way
Round trip: 24.2 kg / 53 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $6.73 $13.47
Mid-grade $5.34 $7.26 $14.52
Premium $5.57 $7.57 $15.14
Diesel $6.37 $8.66 $17.32

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 Girdwood and Anchorage. The current time is 03:31:47.

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.