How far is Sitka, AK from Fairbanks, AK?

The driving distance from Sitka, AK to Fairbanks, AK is about 885.5 miles (1425.1 km), with a travel time of about 36h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 677.2 miles (1089.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 72h 30m 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
885.5 mi
36h 15m
Flight
677.24 mi
1089.91 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sitka.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
677.24 mi
Kilometers
1089.91 km
Flight Time
01h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
885.5 mi
Kilometers
1425.08 km
Drive Time
36h 15m

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 36h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fairbanks
Fri, Apr 24, 10:35 AM AKDT
Return by in Sitka
Sat, Apr 25, 10:50 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sitka
2026-04-22T22:19
Arrive Fairbanks
Fri, Apr 24, 10:35 AM AKDT
Route Timing
36h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
6:15 PM to 7:45 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
11:30 AM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sitka
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
Skagway
AK

City in Alaska, United States

From Sitka
440.4 mi
18h 07m
To Fairbanks
445.2 mi
18h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
38°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Snow

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
40°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Snow

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Baranof Street

    67 m · 15 sec · Baranof Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Sawmill Creek Road

    744 ft · 15 sec · Sawmill Creek Road

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Halibut Point Road

    18 m · 1 sec · Halibut Point Road

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Halibut Point Road

    6.6 mi · 12 min · Halibut Point Road

  5. 5

    Turn left

    662 ft · 48 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau

    153.9 mi · 9 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau

  7. 7

    Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines

    76.4 mi · 8 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines

  8. 8

    Continue on Ferry Terminal - Haines {Lutak)

    100 m · 6 sec · Ferry Terminal - Haines {Lutak)

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    708 ft · 10 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto Lutak Road

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Lutak Road

  11. 11

    Continue on 2nd Avenue

    1652 ft · 23 sec · 2nd Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 48 sec · Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Haines Hwy Cut-Off

    921 ft · 12 sec · Haines Hwy Cut-Off

  14. 14

    Continue on Haines Highway

    84.8 mi · 1 hr 48 min · Haines Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Haines Road

    62.4 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Haines Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Alaska Highway

    291 mi · 6 hr 30 min · Alaska Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Alaska Hwy

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Alaska Hwy

  18. 18

    Continue on Alaska Highway

    103.7 mi · 2 hr · Alaska Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Alaska Hwy 2

    2572 ft · 46 sec · Alaska Hwy 2

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto Alaska Highway

    1766 ft · 43 sec · Alaska Highway

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Richardson Highway

    94.7 mi · 1 hr 53 min · Richardson Highway

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Airport Way

    1183 ft · 31 sec · Airport Way

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Noble Street

    813 ft · 28 sec · Noble Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto 12th Avenue

    133 m · 19 sec · 12th Avenue

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 12th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sitka 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
25 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Highway
395 mi · 45%
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
154 mi · 17%
Richardson Highway
94.7 mi · 11%
Haines Highway
84.8 mi · 10%
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines
76.4 mi · 9%
Haines Road
62.4 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Alaska Highway

Turn left onto Alaska Highway

291 mi · 06h 30m

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
36h 15m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
72h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+208.3 mi
677.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Skagway
18h 07m from Sitka
Leave By
11:30 AM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Light Snow leaving Sitka and Chance Light Snow near Fairbanks.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 885.5 miles (1425.1 km) and usually takes 36h 15m 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?

Skagway is a useful midpoint, sitting about 440.4 miles from Sitka and 445.2 miles from Fairbanks.

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

The direct path is about 677.2 miles (1089.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 208.3 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 $154.72 one way or $309.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 277.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Light Snow around Sitka and Chance Light Snow near Fairbanks.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sitka and Fairbanks. Straight-line distance: 677.24 mi (1089.91 km).

Sitka

#1 Sitka

City-borough in Alaska, USA

Population8,493
Coordinates57.0531500, -135.3308800
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Fairbanks

#2 Fairbanks

City in Alaska, USA

Population30,696
Coordinates64.8377800, -147.7163900
Altitude136
CountryUnited States
Start: Baranof Street (-135.330703, 57.053171)
End: 12th Avenue (-147.71648, 64.838038)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1425 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)29h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)22h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)17h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)14h 45m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)12h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)11h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
31.25 gal
118.28 L · about $154.72
Round trip
$309.44
62.5 gal · 236.56 L
Estimated CO2
277.7 kg one way
Round trip: 555.4 kg / 1224 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $154.72 $309.44
Mid-grade $5.34 $166.81 $333.63
Premium $5.57 $173.94 $347.88
Diesel $6.37 $198.94 $397.88

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Sitka and Fairbanks. The current time is 22:19:53.

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.