How far is Prudhoe Bay, AK from Ketchikan, AK?
The driving distance from Prudhoe Bay, AK to Ketchikan, AK is about 1500.7 miles (2415.1 km), with a travel time of about 41h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 1148.4 miles (1848.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 82h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 41h 08m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Cloudy then Areas Of Blowing Snow
Heavy Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Prudhoe Bay and Ketchikan.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prudhoe Bay and Ketchikan.
-
1
Start on the route
1.3 mi · 3 min
-
2
Continue straight
1044 ft · 29 sec
-
3
Turn slight left
53 m · 5 sec
-
4
Turn straight onto Spine Road
3 mi · 7 min · Spine Road
-
5
Turn left onto Colleen Lake Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Colleen Lake Road
-
6
Turn left onto Dalton Highway
415.8 mi · 14 hr 21 min · Dalton Highway
-
7
Continue on Elliott Highway
68.1 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Elliott Highway
-
8
Continue on Steese Highway
9 mi · 12 min · Steese Highway
-
9
Turn right onto Johansen Expressway
4.2 mi · 5 min · Johansen Expressway
-
10
Continue on Geist Road
1.5 mi · 2 min · Geist Road
-
11
Take the exit right
1854 ft · 45 sec
-
12
Merge slight left onto George Parks Highway
299.9 mi · 5 hr 59 min · George Parks Highway
-
13
Continue on West Parks Highway
18.7 mi · 26 min · West Parks Highway
-
14
Continue on Glenn Highway
33.1 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway
-
15
Continue on East 5th Avenue
1.5 mi · 3 min · East 5th Avenue
-
16
Turn left onto Gambell Street
1.1 mi · 3 min · Gambell Street
-
17
Continue on Seward Highway
47.1 mi · 58 min · Seward Highway
-
18
Turn left onto Portage Glacier Road
5 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road
-
19
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi · 11 min · Portage Glacier Highway
-
20
Continue on West Camp Road
1.5 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road
-
21
Turn right
52 m · 8 sec
-
22
Turn left
76 m · 4 sec
-
23
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334.5 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
-
24
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
262.6 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
-
25
Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
276.8 mi · 8 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
-
26
Continue on Main Berth Ramp
60 m · 34 sec · Main Berth Ramp
-
27
Continue on Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
629 ft · 19 sec · Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
-
28
At the end of the road, turn right onto Tongass Avenue
1.7 mi · 3 min · Tongass Avenue
-
29
Turn right onto Water Street
1928 ft · 39 sec · Water Street
-
30
Turn right onto Front Street
122 m · 12 sec · Front Street
-
31
Turn right
3 m · 1 sec
-
32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Prudhoe Bay and Ketchikan.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Dalton Highway
Turn left onto Dalton Highway
416 mi · 14h 21m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Cloudy then Areas Of Blowing Snow leaving Prudhoe Bay and Heavy Rain near Ketchikan.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Prudhoe Bay to Ketchikan?
The road trip is about 1500.7 miles (2415.1 km) and usually takes 41h 08m 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?
Girdwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 893.9 miles from Prudhoe Bay and 606.8 miles from Ketchikan.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 1148.4 miles (1848.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 352.3 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 $263.80 one way or $527.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 470.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Cloudy then Areas Of Blowing Snow around Prudhoe Bay and Heavy Rain near Ketchikan.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Prudhoe Bay and Ketchikan. Straight-line distance: 1148.34 mi (1848.07 km).
#1 Prudhoe Bay
This remote Alaskan outpost, situated at an elevation of 46 feet in the North Slope Borough, is a key industrial center on the Arctic coast.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 70.2552800, -148.3372200 |
| Altitude | 14 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Ketchikan
City in Alaska, USA
| Population | 8,187 |
| Coordinates | 55.3418000, -131.6475700 |
| Altitude | 8 |
| Country | United States |
End: Front Street (-131.647548, 55.341795)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 2415 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 50h 00m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 37h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 30h 00m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 25h 00m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 21h 26m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 18h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.98 | $263.80 | $527.59 |
| Mid-grade | $5.23 | $276.98 | $553.96 |
| Premium | $5.45 | $288.47 | $576.94 |
| Diesel | $6.57 | $347.88 | $695.76 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026