How far is Petersburg, AK from Ketchikan, AK?

The driving distance from Petersburg, AK to Ketchikan, AK is about 154 miles (247.8 km), with a travel time of about 09h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 113.5 miles (182.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 32m 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
153.96 mi
09h 16m
Flight
113.44 mi
182.56 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
113.44 mi
Kilometers
182.56 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
153.96 mi
Kilometers
247.78 km
Drive Time
09h 16m

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 09h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ketchikan
Wed, Apr 15, 1:05 PM AKDT
Return by in Petersburg
Wed, Apr 15, 10:22 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Petersburg
2026-04-15T03:49
Arrive Ketchikan
Wed, Apr 15, 1:05 PM AKDT
Route Timing
09h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:16 PM to 4:46 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
5:28 PM 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
Coffman Cove
AK

City in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States

From Petersburg
75.6 mi
04h 38m
To Ketchikan
78.3 mi
04h 38m

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
47°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 - Wrangell-Petersburg

    46.2 mi · 3 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg

  5. 5

    Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell

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

  6. 6

    Continue on Main Berth Ramp

    60 m · 34 sec · Main Berth Ramp

  7. 7

    Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

    629 ft · 19 sec · Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Tongass Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Tongass Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Water Street

    1928 ft · 39 sec · Water Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Front Street

    122 m · 12 sec · Front Street

  11. 11

    Turn right

    3 m · 1 sec

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell
102 mi · 66%
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
46.2 mi · 30%
Tongass Avenue
1.66 mi · 1%
North Nordic Drive
0.9 mi · 1%
Water Street
0.37 mi
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
0.12 mi
Longest Stretch

Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Wrangell

Turn sharp 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
09h 16m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.5 mi
113.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Coffman Cove
04h 38m from Petersburg
Leave By
5:28 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Petersburg and Mostly Sunny near Ketchikan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 154 miles (247.8 km) and usually takes 09h 16m 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?

Coffman Cove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.6 miles from Petersburg and 78.3 miles from Ketchikan.

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

The direct path is about 113.5 miles (182.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.5 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 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 $26.88 one way or $53.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Snow Showers around Petersburg and Mostly Sunny near Ketchikan.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Petersburg and Ketchikan. Straight-line distance: 113.44 mi (182.56 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Petersburg

Petersburg is a place in Alaska, United States.

Population0
Coordinates56.8125000, -132.9555600
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Ketchikan

#2 Ketchikan

City in Alaska, USA

Population8,187
Coordinates55.3418000, -131.6475700
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Start: Fram Street (-132.955561, 56.812478)
End: Front Street (-131.647548, 55.341795)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 248 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.43 gal
20.57 L · about $26.88
Round trip
$53.77
10.86 gal · 41.14 L
Estimated CO2
48.3 kg one way
Round trip: 96.5 kg / 213 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $26.88 $53.77
Mid-grade $5.34 $28.99 $57.97
Premium $5.57 $30.22 $60.45
Diesel $6.37 $34.57 $69.13

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 Ketchikan. The current time is 03:49:14.

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.