How far is Ketchikan, AK from Gateway, AK?
The driving distance from Ketchikan, AK to Gateway, AK is about 973.4 miles (1566.6 km), with a travel time of about 49h 15m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 764.1 miles (1229.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 98h 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.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 49h 15m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Alaska, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Light Snow Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ketchikan and Gateway.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ketchikan and Gateway.
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1
Start on the route
760 ft · 34 sec
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Water Street
66 m · 12 sec · Water Street
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3
Continue on Water Street
1875 ft · 37 sec · Water Street
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4
Turn left onto Tongass Avenue
1.6 mi · 3 min · Tongass Avenue
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5
Turn left
39 m · 5 sec
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6
Turn right
131 m · 37 sec
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7
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
143 m · 41 sec · Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
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8
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
276.8 mi · 8 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
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9
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
262.6 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
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10
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334.5 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
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11
Continue straight
114 m · 7 sec
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12
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Camp Road
53 m · 9 sec · West Camp Road
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13
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road
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14
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi · 11 min · Portage Glacier Highway
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15
Continue on Portage Glacier Road
5 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road
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16
Turn right onto Seward Highway
47.2 mi · 59 min · Seward Highway
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17
Continue on Ingra Street
1 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street
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18
Turn right onto East 6th Avenue
1924 ft · 57 sec · East 6th Avenue
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19
Continue on East 5th Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · East 5th Avenue
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20
Continue on Glenn Highway
33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on East Parks Highway
1.6 mi · 2 min · East Parks Highway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward Trunk Road
1409 ft · 35 sec
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Trunk Road north
114 m · 9 sec
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24
Turn straight onto Trunk Road
940 ft · 24 sec · Trunk Road
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25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Trunk Road
33 m · 2 sec · Trunk Road
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26
Exit the roundabout onto Trunk Road
2565 ft · 42 sec · Trunk Road
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27
Turn right onto East Duchess Drive
104 m · 13 sec · East Duchess Drive
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28
Turn right onto East Cottrell-Campus Drive
29 m · 5 sec · East Cottrell-Campus Drive
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29
Turn left onto East Duchess Drive
1982 ft · 1 min · East Duchess Drive
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30
Continue on Regents Road
1124 ft · 51 sec · Regents Road
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31
Turn right onto Joanne Drive
785 ft · 34 sec · Joanne Drive
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Joanne Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ketchikan and Gateway.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi · 22h 00m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Ketchikan and Light Snow Likely near Gateway.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ketchikan to Gateway?
The road trip is about 973.4 miles (1566.6 km) and usually takes 49h 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?
Haines is a useful midpoint, sitting about 485.4 miles from Ketchikan and 488.1 miles from Gateway.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 764.1 miles (1229.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 209.3 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 $170.07 one way or $340.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 305.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ketchikan and Light Snow Likely near Gateway.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ketchikan and Gateway. Straight-line distance: 764.11 mi (1229.71 km).
#1 Ketchikan
City in Alaska, USA
| Population | 8,187 |
| Coordinates | 55.3418000, -131.6475700 |
| Altitude | 8 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Gateway
Gateway is a place in Alaska, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 61.5727800, -149.2408300 |
| Altitude | 63 |
| Country | United States |
End: Gateway (-149.24083, 61.57278)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1567 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 32h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 24h 20m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 19h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 16h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 13h 54m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 08m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $170.07 | $340.13 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $183.36 | $366.72 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $191.19 | $382.38 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $218.67 | $437.34 |
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 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.