How far is Ridgeway, AK from Fairbanks, AK?

The driving distance from Ridgeway, AK to Fairbanks, AK is about 508 miles (817.6 km), with a travel time of about 08h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 316 miles (508.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 16m 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
508.03 mi
08h 38m
Flight
315.99 mi
508.54 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ridgeway.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
315.99 mi
Kilometers
508.54 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
508.03 mi
Kilometers
817.59 km
Drive Time
08h 38m

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 08h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fairbanks
Mon, May 4, 8:35 AM AKDT
Return by in Ridgeway
Mon, May 4, 5:13 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ridgeway
2026-05-03T23:57
Arrive Fairbanks
Mon, May 4, 8:35 AM AKDT
Route Timing
08h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:38 PM to 4:08 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
6:44 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ridgeway
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
Talkeetna
AK

Place in Alaska

From Ridgeway
253.7 mi
04h 19m
To Fairbanks
254.3 mi
04h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
37°F
Overnight

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sun, May 3 12:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
52°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow

Starts
Sun, May 3 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    99 m · 28 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Churchill Avenue

    849 ft · 41 sec · Churchill Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Kenai Spur Highway

    3.4 mi · 7 min · Kenai Spur Highway

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Sterling Highway

    57.2 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Sterling Highway

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Seward Highway

    88.5 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Seward Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Ingra Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto East 6th Avenue

    1924 ft · 57 sec · East 6th Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on East 5th Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · East 5th Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Glenn Highway

    33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on East Parks Highway

    14.5 mi · 20 min · East Parks Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on West Parks Highway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · West Parks Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on George Parks Highway

    301.4 mi · 6 hr 1 min · George Parks Highway

  13. 13

    Take the exit straight toward East Airport Way

    1630 ft · 40 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Airport Way

    3.5 mi · 6 min · Airport Way

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Cushman Street

    635 ft · 27 sec · Cushman Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 12th Avenue

    111 m · 16 sec · 12th Avenue

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 12th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ridgeway 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
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
George Parks Highway
301 mi · 59%
Seward Highway
88.5 mi · 17%
Sterling Highway
57.2 mi · 11%
Glenn Highway
33 mi · 7%
East Parks Highway
14.5 mi · 3%
West Parks Highway
4.24 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

George Parks Highway

Continue on George Parks Highway

301 mi · 06h 01m

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
08h 38m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+192 mi
316 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Talkeetna
04h 19m from Ridgeway
Leave By
6:44 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving Ridgeway and Slight Chance Rain And Snow near Fairbanks.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 508 miles (817.6 km) and usually takes 08h 38m 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?

Talkeetna is a useful midpoint, sitting about 253.7 miles from Ridgeway and 254.3 miles from Fairbanks.

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

The direct path is about 316 miles (508.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 192 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 $88.77 one way or $177.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Ridgeway and Slight Chance Rain And Snow near Fairbanks.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ridgeway and Fairbanks. Straight-line distance: 315.99 mi (508.54 km).

Ridgeway

#1 Ridgeway

American city in Iowa

Population2,022
Coordinates60.5319400, -151.0852800
Altitude51
CountryUnited States
Fairbanks

#2 Fairbanks

City in Alaska, USA

Population30,696
Coordinates64.8377800, -147.7163900
Altitude136
CountryUnited States
Start: Churchill Avenue (-151.085342, 60.531057)
End: 12th Avenue (-147.71648, 64.838038)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 818 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.93 gal
67.86 L · about $88.77
Round trip
$177.54
35.86 gal · 135.72 L
Estimated CO2
159.3 kg one way
Round trip: 318.7 kg / 703 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $88.77 $177.54
Mid-grade $5.34 $95.71 $191.42
Premium $5.57 $99.80 $199.60
Diesel $6.37 $114.14 $228.28

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 · May 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Ridgeway and Fairbanks. The current time is 23:57:18.

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.