How far is Ketchikan, AK from Wrangell, AK?

The driving distance from Ketchikan, AK to Wrangell, AK is about 105.1 miles (169.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 83 miles (133.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 15m 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
105.15 mi
06h 07m
Flight
82.96 mi
133.51 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
82.96 mi
Kilometers
133.51 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
105.15 mi
Kilometers
169.22 km
Drive Time
06h 07m

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 06h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wrangell
Wed, Apr 15, 7:57 AM AKDT
Return by in Ketchikan
Wed, Apr 15, 2:05 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ketchikan
2026-04-15T01:49
Arrive Wrangell
Wed, Apr 15, 7:57 AM AKDT
Route Timing
06h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:08 PM to 1:38 PM AKDT

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

Leave by
11:44 PM 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
Thorne Bay
AK

City in Alaska, United States

From Ketchikan
52.4 mi
03h 03m
To Wrangell
52.7 mi
03h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
47°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
39°F
Wednesday Night

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 10:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 slight right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell

    102.1 mi · 6 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    121 m · 11 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on 2nd Street

    1115 ft · 31 sec · 2nd Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Church Street

    1884 ft · 58 sec · Church Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Bennett Street

    94 m · 10 sec · Bennett Street

  13. 13

    Turn right

    27 m · 7 sec

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
102 mi · 97%
Tongass Avenue
1.62 mi · 2%
Water Street
0.4 mi
Church Street
0.36 mi
2nd Street
0.21 mi
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
0.09 mi
Longest Stretch

Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell

Turn slight right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell

102 mi · 06h 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
06h 07m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.1 mi
83 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thorne Bay
03h 03m from Ketchikan
Leave By
11:44 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ketchikan and Chance Light Rain near Wrangell.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 105.1 miles (169.2 km) and usually takes 06h 07m 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?

Thorne Bay is a useful midpoint, sitting about 52.4 miles from Ketchikan and 52.7 miles from Wrangell.

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

The direct path is about 83 miles (133.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.1 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 $18.37 one way or $36.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ketchikan and Wrangell. Straight-line distance: 82.96 mi (133.51 km).

Ketchikan

#1 Ketchikan

City in Alaska, USA

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

#2 Wrangell

City in Alaska, United States

Population2,502
Coordinates56.4708300, -132.3766700
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Start: Ketchikan (-131.64757, 55.3418)
End: Wrangell (-132.37667, 56.47083)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 169 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.71 gal
14.05 L · about $18.37
Round trip
$36.74
7.42 gal · 28.1 L
Estimated CO2
33 kg one way
Round trip: 65.9 kg / 145 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $18.37 $36.74
Mid-grade $5.34 $19.80 $39.61
Premium $5.57 $20.65 $41.30
Diesel $6.37 $23.62 $47.24

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

There is no time difference between Ketchikan and Wrangell. The current time is 01:49:34.

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.