How far is Ketchikan, AK from Prudhoe Bay, AK?
The driving distance from Ketchikan, AK to Prudhoe Bay, AK is about 1793.2 miles (2885.8 km), with a travel time of about 72h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 1148.4 miles (1848.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 144h 13m 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 72h 06m.
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 United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Cloudy then Areas Of Blowing Snow
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ketchikan and Prudhoe Bay.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ketchikan and Prudhoe Bay.
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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
14.5 mi · 20 min · East Parks Highway
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22
Continue on West Parks Highway
4.2 mi · 6 min · West Parks Highway
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23
Continue on George Parks Highway
299.8 mi · 5 hr 59 min · George Parks Highway
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24
Take the exit slight right
990 ft · 24 sec
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25
Keep slight left
1078 ft · 28 sec
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26
Turn left onto Geist Road
1.6 mi · 2 min · Geist Road
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27
Continue on Johansen Expressway
4.2 mi · 5 min · Johansen Expressway
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28
Turn left onto Steese Highway
9.1 mi · 13 min · Steese Highway
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29
Continue on Elliott Highway
68.1 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Elliott Highway
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30
Continue on Dalton Highway
415.8 mi · 14 hr 21 min · Dalton Highway
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31
At the end of the road, turn right onto Colleen Lake Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Colleen Lake Road
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32
At the end of the road, turn right onto Spine Road
3 mi · 7 min · Spine Road
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33
Keep slight right
1.4 mi · 3 min
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34
Continue straight
936 ft · 26 sec
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ketchikan and Prudhoe Bay.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Dalton Highway
Continue on Dalton Highway
416 mi · 14h 21m
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.
Heavy Rain leaving Ketchikan and Cloudy then Areas Of Blowing Snow near Prudhoe Bay.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ketchikan to Prudhoe Bay?
The road trip is about 1793.2 miles (2885.8 km) and usually takes 72h 06m 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?
Girdwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 893.9 miles from Ketchikan and 899.2 miles from Prudhoe Bay.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 1148.4 miles (1848.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 644.8 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 $315.21 one way or $630.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 562.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Heavy Rain around Ketchikan and Cloudy then Areas Of Blowing Snow near Prudhoe Bay.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ketchikan and Prudhoe Bay. Straight-line distance: 1148.34 mi (1848.07 km).
#1 Ketchikan
City in Alaska, USA
| Population | 8,187 |
| Coordinates | 55.3418000, -131.6475700 |
| Altitude | 8 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Prudhoe Bay
This remote Alaskan outpost, situated at an elevation of 46 feet in the North Slope Borough, is a key industrial center on the Arctic coast.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 70.2552800, -148.3372200 |
| Altitude | 14 |
| Country | United States |
End: Prudhoe Bay (-148.33722, 70.25528)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 2886 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 59h 44m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 44h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 35h 51m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 29h 53m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 25h 37m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 22h 22m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.98 | $315.21 | $630.42 |
| Mid-grade | $5.23 | $330.97 | $661.93 |
| Premium | $5.45 | $344.69 | $689.39 |
| Diesel | $6.57 | $415.68 | $831.37 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026