How far is Petersburg, AK from Fairbanks, AK?

The driving distance from Petersburg, AK to Fairbanks, AK is about 869.4 miles (1399.1 km), with a travel time of about 29h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 741.2 miles (1192.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 58h 01m 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
869.37 mi
29h 00m
Flight
741.15 mi
1192.77 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Petersburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
741.15 mi
Kilometers
1192.77 km
Flight Time
01h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
869.37 mi
Kilometers
1399.11 km
Drive Time
29h 00m

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 29h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fairbanks
Thu, Apr 16, 9:07 AM AKDT
Return by in Petersburg
Fri, Apr 17, 2:08 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Petersburg
2026-04-15T04:06
Arrive Fairbanks
Thu, Apr 16, 9:07 AM AKDT
Route Timing
29h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:01 AM to 12:31 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
1:58 AM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Petersburg
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
Cordova
AK

City in Alaska, USA

From Petersburg
578.6 mi
14h 30m
To Fairbanks
290.8 mi
14h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Petersburg Weather
AK
Live fallback forecast
37°F
Wednesday
Using Sitka as the closest live forecast in the Alaska weather hub.

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
38°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Petersburg and Fairbanks.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Petersburg and Fairbanks.

  1. 1

    Start on Fram Street

    115 m · 22 sec · Fram Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Nordic Drive

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Nordic Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right

    776 ft · 57 sec

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau

    144.3 mi · 7 hr 45 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    107 m · 32 sec

  6. 6

    Turn left

    53 m · 2 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

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

  8. 8

    Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

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

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    114 m · 7 sec

  10. 10

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

    53 m · 9 sec · West Camp Road

  11. 11

    Continue on West Camp Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

    4.7 mi · 11 min · Portage Glacier Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Portage Glacier Road

    5 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Seward Highway

    47.2 mi · 59 min · Seward Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Ingra Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East 6th Avenue

    1924 ft · 57 sec · East 6th Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on East 5th Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · East 5th Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Glenn Highway

    33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on East Parks Highway

    14.5 mi · 20 min · East Parks Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on West Parks Highway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · West Parks Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on George Parks Highway

    301.4 mi · 6 hr 1 min · George Parks Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit straight toward East Airport Way

    1630 ft · 40 sec

  23. 23

    Continue on Airport Way

    3.5 mi · 6 min · Airport Way

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Cushman Street

    635 ft · 27 sec · Cushman Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto 12th Avenue

    111 m · 16 sec · 12th Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 12th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Petersburg and Fairbanks.

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
26 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
335 mi · 38%
George Parks Highway
301 mi · 35%
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi · 30%
Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
144 mi · 17%
Seward Highway
47.2 mi · 5%
Glenn Highway
33 mi · 4%
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
29h 00m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
58h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+128.2 mi
741.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cordova
14h 30m from Petersburg
Leave By
1:58 AM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Petersburg and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain near Fairbanks.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Petersburg to Fairbanks?

The road trip is about 869.4 miles (1399.1 km) and usually takes 29h 00m 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?

Cordova is a useful midpoint, sitting about 578.6 miles from Petersburg and 290.8 miles from Fairbanks.

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

The direct path is about 741.2 miles (1192.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 128.2 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 $151.90 one way or $303.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 272.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers around Petersburg and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain near Fairbanks.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Petersburg and Fairbanks. Straight-line distance: 741.15 mi (1192.77 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Petersburg

Petersburg is a place in Alaska, United States.

Population0
Coordinates56.8125000, -132.9555600
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Fairbanks

#2 Fairbanks

City in Alaska, USA

Population30,696
Coordinates64.8377800, -147.7163900
Altitude136
CountryUnited States
Start: Fram Street (-132.955561, 56.812478)
End: 12th Avenue (-147.71648, 64.838038)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1399 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)28h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)21h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)17h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)14h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)12h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)10h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
30.68 gal
116.13 L · about $151.90
Round trip
$303.79
61.36 gal · 232.26 L
Estimated CO2
272.7 kg one way
Round trip: 545.3 kg / 1202 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $151.90 $303.79
Mid-grade $5.34 $163.77 $327.54
Premium $5.57 $170.76 $341.53
Diesel $6.37 $195.31 $390.62

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 Petersburg and Fairbanks. The current time is 04:06:49.

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.