How far is Soldotna, AK from Fairbanks, AK?

The driving distance from Soldotna, AK to Fairbanks, AK is about 507.7 miles (817 km), with a travel time of about 08h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 318.6 miles (512.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 37m 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
507.68 mi
08h 48m
Flight
318.61 mi
512.75 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Soldotna.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
318.61 mi
Kilometers
512.75 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
507.68 mi
Kilometers
817.03 km
Drive Time
08h 48m

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 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fairbanks
Thu, Apr 23, 3:55 AM AKDT
Return by in Soldotna
Thu, Apr 23, 12:44 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Soldotna
2026-04-22T19:06
Arrive Fairbanks
Thu, Apr 23, 3:55 AM AKDT
Route Timing
08h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:49 PM to 4:19 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
6:22 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Soldotna
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 Soldotna
251.8 mi
04h 24m
To Fairbanks
255.8 mi
04h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
46°F
Wednesday

Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E
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 Soldotna and Fairbanks.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    86 m · 22 sec

  2. 2

    Merge slight right onto Sterling Highway

    57 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Sterling Highway

  3. 3

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

    88.5 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Seward Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Ingra Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto East 6th Avenue

    1924 ft · 57 sec · East 6th Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on East 5th Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · East 5th Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Glenn Highway

    33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on East Parks Highway

    14.5 mi · 20 min · East Parks Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on West Parks Highway

    4.2 mi · 6 min · West Parks Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on George Parks Highway

    301.4 mi · 6 hr 1 min · George Parks Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit straight toward East Airport Way

    1630 ft · 40 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Airport Way

    3.5 mi · 6 min · Airport Way

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Cushman Street

    635 ft · 27 sec · Cushman Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 12th Avenue

    111 m · 16 sec · 12th Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 12th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Soldotna 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
15 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
George Parks Highway
301 mi · 59%
Seward Highway
88.5 mi · 17%
Sterling Highway
57 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 48m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+189.1 mi
318.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Talkeetna
04h 24m from Soldotna
Leave By
6:22 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Light Rain leaving Soldotna 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 Soldotna to Fairbanks?

The road trip is about 507.7 miles (817 km) and usually takes 08h 48m 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 251.8 miles from Soldotna and 255.8 miles from Fairbanks.

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

The direct path is about 318.6 miles (512.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 189.1 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 $88.67 one way or $177.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain around Soldotna and Chance Light Snow near Fairbanks.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Soldotna and Fairbanks. Straight-line distance: 318.61 mi (512.75 km).

Soldotna

#1 Soldotna

City in Alaska, USA

Population4,790
Coordinates60.4877800, -151.0583300
Altitude33
CountryUnited States
Fairbanks

#2 Fairbanks

City in Alaska, USA

Population30,696
Coordinates64.8377800, -147.7163900
Altitude136
CountryUnited States
Start: Kenai Spur Highway (-151.059038, 60.48716)
End: 12th Avenue (-147.71648, 64.838038)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 817 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 27m
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
17.91 gal
67.81 L · about $88.67
Round trip
$177.34
35.82 gal · 135.62 L
Estimated CO2
159.2 kg one way
Round trip: 318.3 kg / 702 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $88.67 $177.34
Mid-grade $5.34 $95.60 $191.21
Premium $5.57 $99.69 $199.37
Diesel $6.37 $114.02 $228.03

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 Soldotna and Fairbanks. The current time is 19:06:43.

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.