Driving route · Canada

Route from Grimshaw to Watson Lake

Interactive map, distance, and indicative drive time for the route from Grimshaw to Watson Lake — with the live planner for up-to-date turn-by-turn directions.

This page provides the map and indicative distance data for the route between Grimshaw (Alberta) and Watson Lake (Yukon). Use the live planner below to get up-to-date driving directions by car, on foot, or by bicycle.

Distance from Grimshaw to Watson Lake

The straight-line distance between Grimshaw and Watson Lake is 786.7 km. The estimated road distance by car is around 889 km, with an indicative drive time of 9 h 53 min.

Straight-line distance 786.7 km
Estimated road distance ~889 km
Indicative drive time 9 h 53 min
Note: values are approximate estimates. Road distance is calculated by multiplying the straight-line distance by a road-deviation factor (1.13–1.30 based on length). Drive time assumes ~90 km/h average. Real traffic, tolls, and conditions can vary significantly. Use the live planner for current data.

Trip cost and route type: Grimshaw – Watson Lake

Route type Long

Long route (over 300 km) — plan a break roughly every 2 hours and check highway traffic and weather.

Indicative fuel cost $100–$135

Estimate: ~889 km, 8 L/100 km, $1.65/L. ±15%. Excludes tolls.

Driving directions from Grimshaw to Watson Lake

The map shows the locations of Grimshaw (A) and Watson Lake (B). Use the form below to calculate the up-to-date road route with turn-by-turn directions, real distance, and estimated drive time.

Avoid:

Prefer another app? Open in Google Maps ↗

Driving directions from Grimshaw to Watson Lake

Real distance: 1,155.1 km  ·  Estimated time: 14 h 8 min

🗓 Calculated on June 4, 2026
  1. Drive east on 55 Avenue. 110 m
  2. Turn right onto 51 Street/2. 64.4 km
  3. Turn right onto Highway 64/64. 126.2 km
  4. Turn right onto Cecil Lake Road. 54.4 km
  5. Turn left onto Rose Prairie Road. 1.6 km
  6. Turn right onto West Bypass. 4.4 km
  7. Turn right onto 100 Avenue. 100 m
  8. Turn right onto BC 97 North/Alaska Highway. 891.4 km
  9. Turn right toward Ross River/Faro. 10.1 km
  10. Turn left onto Airport Road. 704 m

Standard car route without avoiding highways. For advanced options (motorcycle, bicycle, transit, avoid tolls) use the live planner above.

Estimate trip cost: Grimshaw – Watson Lake

Litres estimated
Fuel cost
Toll estimate
Total estimate
Range ±15%

Indicative estimates based on ~889 km. Tolls calculated at ~$0.10/km on tolled segments. The calculator updates with the live planner's real distance. Actual consumption, driving style, weather, and toll rates vary.

Origin and destination

Origin

Grimshaw

Alberta · 56.19080, -117.61200

Grimshaw is a small town in northern Alberta situated within the province’s agricultural–boreal transition. On regional maps it appears as a local waypoint where a handful of regional routes and rural approaches…

Destination

Watson Lake

Yukon · 60.11660, -128.80000

Watson Lake sits in southeastern Yukon near the British Columbia boundary. On regional maps it appears as a roadside community along a major long-distance highway corridor, serving drivers as a junction and resupply…

How to drive from Grimshaw to Watson Lake

The straight-line distance between Grimshaw (Alberta) and Watson Lake (Yukon) is about 786.7 km. The actual road distance varies by chosen route, road type, and travel conditions — especially in winter and across mountain or northern segments.

Before you leave, consider:

  • Check current traffic with a navigation app — particularly around major cities.
  • Look up any toll segments on your route (Ontario 407, select bridges).
  • In winter or at higher elevations, drive times and conditions can change quickly. Carry a charged phone, fuel reserve, and weather-appropriate gear.
  • Plan stops at service centres or towns along the way — fuel and rest stops can be sparse on remote sections.

Route description: Grimshaw – Watson Lake

The journey from Grimshaw to Watson Lake covers roughly 889 km on the road, equal to 786.7 km straight line. The trip connects Alberta to Yukon and is classified as a long route (over 300 km). Plan multiple breaks and check highway traffic, weather, and fuel availability — particularly in remote sections. Open the interactive planner for the route map, turns, and a fuel-or-EV cost calculator.

The trip starts at Grimshaw (Alberta) — coordinates 56.1908° N, -117.6120° E. The destination is Watson Lake (Yukon), at 60.1166° N, -128.8000° E.

Practical tips for the Grimshaw – Watson Lake drive

Terrain along the way

The route starts in Alberta — a province prairie in the south rising into the Canadian Rockies in the west — and reaches Watson Lake in Yukon, subarctic mountains and rivers — the territory of the Yukon River and the Klondike.

When to leave

For a long route, leave early (before 06:30) or wait until after 10:00. Avoid summer long-weekend exoduses and major holidays. Plan a break every 1.5–2 hours of driving — and check weather, especially across the Prairies and through mountain passes.

Alternatives

For this route of about 889 km, consider VIA Rail Canada — VIA's Corridor service connects many Eastern Canadian cities, and the long-distance trains (the Canadian, Ocean) run through the Prairies and the Maritimes. Cross-border trips may also include Amtrak's Adirondack or Cascades. Check schedules at viarail.ca and amtrak.com.

Explore Watson Lake

Full information about Watson Lake: interactive map, GPS coordinates, elevation, nearby cities, and routes to and from Watson Lake.

Watson Lake profile →

Explore Grimshaw

Full information about Grimshaw: map, GPS coordinates, and all routes from Grimshaw to other Canadian cities.

Grimshaw profile →

Related tools

Related routes

From Grimshaw to other cities:

To Watson Lake from other cities:

All info about Grimshaw →  ·  All info about Watson Lake →

Popular routes from Alberta

Most-searched routes from Alberta, ranked by popularity.

All cities of Alberta →

Frequently asked questions: Grimshaw – Watson Lake

What is the straight-line distance between Grimshaw and Watson Lake?

The straight-line distance between Grimshaw and Watson Lake is about 786.7 km. This is the direct geometric distance between the two coordinates, ignoring road geometry.

What is the estimated road distance from Grimshaw to Watson Lake?

The estimated road distance from Grimshaw to Watson Lake is about 889 km — derived by multiplying the straight-line distance by a road-deviation factor (1.13–1.30 based on length). For an up-to-date route, use the live planner.

How long does it take to drive from Grimshaw to Watson Lake?

Indicative drive time from Grimshaw to Watson Lake is about 9 h 53 min, based on an average highway speed of 90 km/h on a mixed motorway/highway profile. Real time depends on traffic, weather, stops, vehicle type, and conditions.

How do I get up-to-date driving directions from Grimshaw to Watson Lake?

Use the live planner on this page: select your transport mode and click "Update route". You'll see the route with turn-by-turn directions, current distance, and estimated time based on up-to-date routing data.

Does the Grimshaw–Watson Lake route involve highway tolls?

CanadaDrivingDirections.com does not provide toll details. Toll roads are limited in Canada — Ontario's 407 ETR, a few Quebec bridges, and the Confederation Bridge to PEI are the main ones. Check the operator's site for current pricing.

How does traffic affect the route from Grimshaw to Watson Lake?

Traffic varies by time of day, season, and weather. The live planner uses up-to-date routing data; for live traffic, use a navigation app before departure — especially in winter when conditions can change rapidly.

Is there an alternative route from Grimshaw to Watson Lake?

For alternative routes, use the live planner: pick between highways, secondary roads, and shorter or scenic options.

Can I open the Grimshaw–Watson Lake route in Google Maps?

Yes. Click "Open in Google Maps" on this page to view the route in the Google Maps app or browser. You can also open Google Maps directly and enter Grimshaw as origin and Watson Lake as destination.