How far is Ketchikan, AK from Skagway, AK?

The driving distance from Ketchikan, AK to Skagway, AK is about 371.2 miles (597.4 km), with a travel time of about 17h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 315.3 miles (507.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 34h 45m 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
371.24 mi
17h 22m
Flight
315.36 mi
507.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ketchikan.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
315.36 mi
Kilometers
507.53 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
371.24 mi
Kilometers
597.45 km
Drive Time
17h 22m

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 17h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Skagway
Fri, Apr 17, 10:49 PM AKDT
Return by in Ketchikan
Sat, Apr 18, 4:12 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ketchikan
2026-04-17T05:27
Arrive Skagway
Fri, Apr 17, 10:49 PM AKDT
Route Timing
17h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:23 PM to 12:53 AM AKDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
1:14 AM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ketchikan
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
Kake
AK

City in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States

From Ketchikan
185.2 mi
08h 41m
To Skagway
186 mi
08h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
42°F
Friday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
40°F
Friday

Rain And Snow

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ketchikan and Skagway.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ketchikan and Skagway.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    760 ft · 34 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Water Street

    66 m · 12 sec · Water Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Water Street

    1875 ft · 37 sec · Water Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Tongass Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Tongass Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left

    39 m · 5 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right

    131 m · 37 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

    143 m · 41 sec · Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

    276.8 mi · 8 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

  9. 9

    Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines

    76.4 mi · 8 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines

  10. 10

    Turn sharp right onto Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway

    14.8 mi · 45 min · Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    140 m · 6 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    157 m · 7 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Broadway

    1037 ft · 19 sec · Broadway

  14. 14

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue

    111 m · 7 sec · 1st Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto State Street

    2100 ft · 32 sec · State Street

  16. 16

    Turn left

    63 m · 15 sec

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ketchikan and Skagway.

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
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
1 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi · 75%
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
76.4 mi · 21%
Alaska State Ferry Haines-Skagway
15 mi · 4%
Tongass Avenue
1.62 mi
State Street
0.4 mi
Water Street
0.4 mi
Longest Stretch

Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau

277 mi · 08h 00m

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
17h 22m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
34h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.9 mi
315.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kake
08h 41m from Ketchikan
Leave By
1:14 AM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving Ketchikan and Rain And Snow near Skagway.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ketchikan to Skagway?

The road trip is about 371.2 miles (597.4 km) and usually takes 17h 22m 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?

Kake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 185.2 miles from Ketchikan and 186 miles from Skagway.

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

The direct path is about 315.3 miles (507.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.9 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 $64.86 one way or $129.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 116.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Ketchikan and Rain And Snow near Skagway.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ketchikan and Skagway. Straight-line distance: 315.36 mi (507.53 km).

Ketchikan

#1 Ketchikan

City in Alaska, USA

Population8,187
Coordinates55.3418000, -131.6475700
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Skagway

City in Alaska, United States

Population1,183
Coordinates59.4583300, -135.3138900
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Start: Ketchikan (-131.64757, 55.3418)
End: Skagway (-135.31389, 59.45833)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 597 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.1 gal
49.59 L · about $64.86
Round trip
$129.72
26.2 gal · 99.18 L
Estimated CO2
116.4 kg one way
Round trip: 232.8 kg / 513 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $64.86 $129.72
Mid-grade $5.34 $69.93 $139.86
Premium $5.57 $72.91 $145.83
Diesel $6.37 $83.39 $166.79

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Ketchikan and Skagway. The current time is 05:27:17.

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.