How far is Palmer, AK from Gateway, AK?

The driving distance from Palmer, AK to Gateway, AK is about 8 miles (12.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 4.5 miles (7.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
7.99 mi
00h 14m
Flight
4.54 mi
7.31 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Palmer.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
4.54 mi
Kilometers
7.31 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
7.99 mi
Kilometers
12.86 km
Drive Time
00h 14m

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 00h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gateway
Wed, Apr 15, 4:25 AM AKDT
Return by in Palmer
Wed, Apr 15, 4:40 AM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Palmer
2026-04-15T04:10
Arrive Gateway
Wed, Apr 15, 4:25 AM AKDT
Route Timing
00h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:15 AM to 7:15 PM AKDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
8:00 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Palmer
10:00 PM AKDT
Flexible departure

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
Tanaina
AK

Census-designated place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska

From Palmer
4 mi
00h 07m
To Gateway
4 mi
00h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
41°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain And Snow

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
30°F
Wednesday Night

Slight Chance Rain And Snow

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 10:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    3.4 mi · 5 min · East Palmer-Wasilla Highway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Trunk Road

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Trunk Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Trunk Road

    93 m · 5 sec · Trunk Road

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Trunk Road

    2565 ft · 42 sec · Trunk Road

  8. 8

    Turn right onto East Duchess Drive

    104 m · 13 sec · East Duchess Drive

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East Cottrell-Campus Drive

    29 m · 5 sec · East Cottrell-Campus Drive

  10. 10

    Turn left onto East Duchess Drive

    1982 ft · 1 min · East Duchess Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on Regents Road

    1124 ft · 51 sec · Regents Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Joanne Drive

    785 ft · 34 sec · Joanne Drive

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Joanne Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
162.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Palmer-Wasilla Highway
3.37 mi · 42%
Trunk Road
3.1 mi · 39%
East Palmer Wasilla Highway
0.45 mi · 6%
East Duchess Drive
0.44 mi · 6%
West Evergreen Avenue
0.26 mi · 3%
Regents Road
0.21 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

East Palmer-Wasilla Highway

Turn straight onto East Palmer-Wasilla Highway

3.37 mi · 00h 05m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 14m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.5 mi
4.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tanaina
00h 07m from Palmer
Leave By
8:00 PM AKDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain And Snow leaving Palmer and Slight Chance Rain And Snow near Gateway.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 8 miles (12.9 km) and usually takes 00h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Tanaina is a useful midpoint, sitting about 4 miles from Palmer and 4 miles from Gateway.

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

The direct path is about 4.5 miles (7.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:00 PM AKDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.39 one way or $2.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain And Snow around Palmer and Slight Chance Rain And Snow near Gateway.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Palmer and Gateway. Straight-line distance: 4.54 mi (7.31 km).

Palmer

#1 Palmer

City in Alaska, USA

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

#2 Gateway

Gateway is a place in Alaska, United States.

Population0
Coordinates61.5727800, -149.2408300
Altitude63
CountryUnited States
Start: Palmer (-149.11456, 61.59941)
End: Gateway (-149.24083, 61.57278)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 13 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.28 gal
1.07 L · about $1.39
Round trip
$2.77
0.56 gal · 2.14 L
Estimated CO2
2.5 kg one way
Round trip: 5 kg / 11 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $1.39 $2.77
Mid-grade $5.34 $1.49 $2.99
Premium $5.57 $1.56 $3.12
Diesel $6.37 $1.78 $3.56

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 Palmer and Gateway. The current time is 04:10:26.

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.