How far is Ketchikan, AK from Tanaina, AK?

The driving distance from Ketchikan, AK to Tanaina, AK is about 982 miles (1580.4 km), with a travel time of about 49h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 771.3 miles (1241.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 98h 55m 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
982 mi
49h 27m
Flight
771.28 mi
1241.25 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
771.28 mi
Kilometers
1241.25 km
Flight Time
01h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
982 mi
Kilometers
1580.38 km
Drive Time
49h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tanaina
Fri, Apr 24, 9:26 PM AKDT
Return by in Ketchikan
Sun, Apr 26, 10:54 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ketchikan
2026-04-22T19:58
Arrive Tanaina
Fri, Apr 24, 9:26 PM AKDT
Route Timing
49h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
7:28 AM to 8:58 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
9:04 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
Haines
AK

City in Alaska, USA

From Ketchikan
489.6 mi
24h 43m
To Tanaina
492.4 mi
24h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
47°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NW
Destination
45°F
Wednesday

Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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-Yakutat

    262.6 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

  10. 10

    Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

    334.5 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    114 m · 7 sec

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Camp Road

    53 m · 9 sec · West Camp Road

  13. 13

    Continue on West Camp Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

    4.7 mi · 11 min · Portage Glacier Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Portage Glacier Road

    5 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Seward Highway

    47.2 mi · 59 min · Seward Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Ingra Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East 6th Avenue

    1924 ft · 57 sec · East 6th Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on East 5th Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · East 5th Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on Glenn Highway

    33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on East Parks Highway

    8.3 mi · 11 min · East Parks Highway

  22. 22

    Turn right onto North Lucille Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Lucille Street

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Lucille Street

    29 m · 1 sec · North Lucille Street

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto North Lucille Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · North Lucille Street

  25. 25

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Schrock Road

    1152 ft · 37 sec · East Schrock Road

  26. 26

    Turn left onto McCormick

    697 ft · 33 sec · McCormick

  27. 27

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East McAdoo Way

    662 ft · 30 sec · East McAdoo Way

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Barra Loop

    142 m · 21 sec · Barra Loop

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Loch Ness Court

    106 m · 15 sec · Loch Ness Court

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Loch Ness Court

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
19 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
335 mi · 34%
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi · 28%
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi · 27%
Seward Highway
47.2 mi · 5%
Glenn Highway
33 mi · 3%
East Parks Highway
8.31 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
49h 27m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
98h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+210.7 mi
771.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Haines
24h 43m from Ketchikan
Leave By
9:04 AM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ketchikan and Light Rain near Tanaina.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 982 miles (1580.4 km) and usually takes 49h 27m 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 489.6 miles from Ketchikan and 492.4 miles from Tanaina.

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

The direct path is about 771.3 miles (1241.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 210.7 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 $171.55 one way or $343.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 307.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ketchikan and Light Rain near Tanaina.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ketchikan and Tanaina. Straight-line distance: 771.28 mi (1241.25 km).

Ketchikan

#1 Ketchikan

City in Alaska, USA

Population8,187
Coordinates55.3418000, -131.6475700
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Tanaina

#2 Tanaina

Census-designated place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

Population8,197
Coordinates61.6269400, -149.4280600
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: Ketchikan (-131.64757, 55.3418)
End: Tanaina (-149.42806, 61.62694)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1580 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)32h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)24h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)19h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)16h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)14h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)12h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
34.65 gal
131.17 L · about $171.55
Round trip
$343.10
69.3 gal · 262.34 L
Estimated CO2
307.9 kg one way
Round trip: 615.9 kg / 1358 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $171.55 $343.10
Mid-grade $5.34 $184.96 $369.92
Premium $5.57 $192.86 $385.72
Diesel $6.37 $220.58 $441.16

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Ketchikan and Tanaina. The current time is 19:58:39.

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.