How far is Palmer, AK from College, AK?

The driving distance from Palmer, AK to College, AK is about 324 miles (521.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 228.7 miles (368.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 14m 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
324 mi
06h 37m
Flight
228.73 mi
368.11 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Palmer.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
228.73 mi
Kilometers
368.11 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
324 mi
Kilometers
521.43 km
Drive Time
06h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in College
Fri, Apr 17, 5:52 AM AKDT
Return by in Palmer
Fri, Apr 17, 12:29 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Palmer
2026-04-16T23:15
Arrive College
Fri, Apr 17, 5:52 AM AKDT
Route Timing
06h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:37 PM to 2:07 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
10:46 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Palmer
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
Healy
AK

Census designated place

From Palmer
161.5 mi
03h 18m
To College
162.5 mi
03h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
42°F
Thursday

Chance Light Snow

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph E
Destination
41°F
Thursday

Light Snow Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Palmer and College.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palmer and College.

  1. 1

    Start on South Colony Way

    4 m · 9 sec · South Colony Way

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Evergreen Avenue

    1366 ft · 42 sec · West Evergreen Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on East Palmer Wasilla Highway

    2364 ft · 1 min · East Palmer Wasilla Highway

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto East Palmer-Wasilla Highway

    9.5 mi · 15 min · East Palmer-Wasilla Highway

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East Parks Highway

    7.6 mi · 12 min · East Parks Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on West Parks Highway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · West Parks Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on George Parks Highway

    299.2 mi · 5 hr 58 min · George Parks Highway

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Sheep Creek Road

    2164 ft · 39 sec · Sheep Creek Road

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Sheep Creek Road

    2618 ft · 52 sec · Sheep Creek Road

  10. 10

    Continue on West Tanana Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · West Tanana Drive

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Tanana Loop

    26 m · 2 sec · Tanana Loop

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Tanana Loop

    2412 ft · 48 sec · Tanana Loop

  13. 13

    Continue on Alumni Drive

    2015 ft · 42 sec · Alumni Drive

  14. 14

    Continue on College Road

    1698 ft · 37 sec · College Road

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · College Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Palmer and College.

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
15 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
George Parks Highway
299 mi · 92%
East Palmer-Wasilla Highway
9.51 mi · 3%
East Parks Highway
7.61 mi · 2%
West Parks Highway
4.24 mi · 1%
Sheep Creek Road
0.91 mi
West Tanana Drive
0.66 mi
Longest Stretch

George Parks Highway

Continue on George Parks Highway

299 mi · 05h 58m

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 37m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+95.3 mi
228.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Healy
03h 18m from Palmer
Leave By
10:46 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Light Snow leaving Palmer and Light Snow Likely near College.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Palmer to College?

The road trip is about 324 miles (521.4 km) and usually takes 06h 37m 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?

Healy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 161.5 miles from Palmer and 162.5 miles from College.

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

The direct path is about 228.7 miles (368.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 95.3 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 $56.59 one way or $113.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Snow around Palmer and Light Snow Likely near College.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Palmer and College. Straight-line distance: 228.73 mi (368.11 km).

Palmer

#1 Palmer

City in Alaska, USA

Population7,766
Coordinates61.5994100, -149.1145600
Altitude72
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 College

Census-designated place in Alaska, United States

Population12,964
Coordinates64.8569400, -147.8027800
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Start: Palmer (-149.11456, 61.59941)
End: College (-147.80278, 64.85694)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 521 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.43 gal
43.28 L · about $56.59
Round trip
$113.18
22.86 gal · 86.56 L
Estimated CO2
101.6 kg one way
Round trip: 203.2 kg / 448 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $56.59 $113.18
Mid-grade $5.34 $61.01 $122.03
Premium $5.57 $63.62 $127.24
Diesel $6.37 $72.76 $145.53

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 Palmer and College. The current time is 23:15:59.

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.