How far is Sitka, AK from Palmer, AK?
The driving distance from Sitka, AK to Palmer, AK is about 959 miles (1543.4 km), with a travel time of about 38h 02m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 576.8 miles (928.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 76h 04m 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 38h 02m.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Light Rain Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sitka and Palmer.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sitka and Palmer.
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1
Start on Baranof Street
67 m · 15 sec · Baranof Street
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2
Turn left onto Sawmill Creek Road
744 ft · 15 sec · Sawmill Creek Road
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3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Halibut Point Road
18 m · 1 sec · Halibut Point Road
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4
Exit the roundabout onto Halibut Point Road
6.6 mi · 12 min · Halibut Point Road
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5
Turn left
662 ft · 48 sec
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6
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
153.9 mi · 9 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
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7
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
262.6 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
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8
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334.5 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
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9
Continue straight
114 m · 7 sec
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10
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Camp Road
53 m · 9 sec · West Camp Road
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11
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road
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12
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi · 11 min · Portage Glacier Highway
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13
Continue on Portage Glacier Road
5 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road
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14
Turn right onto Seward Highway
47.2 mi · 59 min · Seward Highway
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15
Continue on Ingra Street
1 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street
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16
Turn right onto East 6th Avenue
1924 ft · 57 sec · East 6th Avenue
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17
Continue on East 5th Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · East 5th Avenue
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18
Continue on Glenn Highway
33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Glenn Highway
7.2 mi · 10 min · Glenn Highway
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20
Turn right onto West Evergreen Avenue
1367 ft · 49 sec · West Evergreen Avenue
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21
Turn right onto South Colony Way
4 m · 1 sec · South Colony Way
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Colony Way
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sitka and Palmer.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Sitka and Light Rain Likely near Palmer.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sitka to Palmer?
The road trip is about 959 miles (1543.4 km) and usually takes 38h 02m 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?
Haines is a useful midpoint, sitting about 428.3 miles from Sitka and 530.7 miles from Palmer.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 576.8 miles (928.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 382.2 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 $167.54 one way or $335.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 300.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Sitka and Light Rain Likely near Palmer.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sitka and Palmer. Straight-line distance: 576.79 mi (928.26 km).
#1 Sitka
City-borough in Alaska, USA
| Population | 8,493 |
| Coordinates | 57.0531500, -135.3308800 |
| Altitude | 8 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Palmer
City in Alaska, USA
| Population | 7,766 |
| Coordinates | 61.5994100, -149.1145600 |
| Altitude | 72 |
| Country | United States |
End: West Evergreen Avenue (-149.114582, 61.599443)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1543 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 31h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 23h 58m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 19h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 15h 59m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 13h 42m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 11h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $167.54 | $335.08 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $180.64 | $361.28 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $188.35 | $376.71 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $215.43 | $430.85 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.