How far is College, AK from Kenai, AK?

The driving distance from College, AK to Kenai, AK is about 512.2 miles (824.3 km), with a travel time of about 08h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 316.7 miles (509.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 26m 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
512.17 mi
08h 43m
Flight
316.68 mi
509.65 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from College.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
316.68 mi
Kilometers
509.65 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
512.17 mi
Kilometers
824.25 km
Drive Time
08h 43m

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 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kenai
Sat, May 2, 3:59 PM AKDT
Return by in College
Sun, May 3, 12:42 AM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave College
2026-05-02T07:15
Arrive Kenai
Sat, May 2, 3:59 PM AKDT
Route Timing
08h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:43 PM to 4:13 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
6:34 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in College
8:00 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Talkeetna
AK

Place in Alaska

From College
255.4 mi
04h 21m
To Kenai
256.8 mi
04h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Saturday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S
Destination
48°F
Saturday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Sat, May 2 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between College and Kenai.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between College and Kenai.

  1. 1

    Start on College Road

    1632 ft · 42 sec · College Road

  2. 2

    Continue on Alumni Drive

    2081 ft · 43 sec · Alumni Drive

  3. 3

    Continue on Tanana Loop

    2430 ft · 49 sec · Tanana Loop

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Tanana Drive

    43 m · 3 sec · West Tanana Drive

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto West Tanana Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · West Tanana Drive

  6. 6

    Continue on Sheep Creek Road

    2618 ft · 58 sec · Sheep Creek Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Sheep Creek Road

    2164 ft · 38 sec · Sheep Creek Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right onto George Parks Highway

    299.2 mi · 5 hr 58 min · George Parks Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on West Parks Highway

    18.7 mi · 26 min · West Parks Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Glenn Highway

    33.1 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on East 5th Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · East 5th Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Gambell Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Gambell Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Seward Highway

    87.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Seward Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Kalifornsky Beach Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Kalifornsky Beach Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Bridge Access Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Bridge Access Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway

    2847 ft · 1 min · Kenai Spur Highway

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    28 m · 6 sec · Broad Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Frontage Road

    142 m · 20 sec · Frontage Road

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Frontage Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between College and Kenai.

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
20 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
George Parks Highway
299 mi · 58%
Seward Highway
146 mi · 29%
Glenn Highway
33.1 mi · 6%
West Parks Highway
18.7 mi · 4%
Kalifornsky Beach Road
5.98 mi · 1%
Bridge Access Road
3.27 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

George Parks Highway

At the end of the road, turn right onto George Parks Highway

299 mi · 05h 58m

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 43m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
17h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+195.5 mi
316.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Talkeetna
04h 21m from College
Leave By
6:34 PM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving College and Light Rain Likely near Kenai.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from College to Kenai?

The road trip is about 512.2 miles (824.3 km) and usually takes 08h 43m 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 255.4 miles from College and 256.8 miles from Kenai.

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

The direct path is about 316.7 miles (509.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 195.5 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 $89.46 one way or $178.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 160.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around College and Light Rain Likely near Kenai.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between College and Kenai. Straight-line distance: 316.68 mi (509.65 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 College

Census-designated place in Alaska, United States

Population12,964
Coordinates64.8569400, -147.8027800
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Kenai

#2 Kenai

City in Alaska

Population7,890
Coordinates60.5544400, -151.2583300
Altitude22
CountryUnited States
Start: College Road (-147.802743, 64.856906)
End: Frontage Road (-151.258293, 60.554244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 824 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)17h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
18.07 gal
68.41 L · about $89.46
Round trip
$178.93
36.14 gal · 136.82 L
Estimated CO2
160.6 kg one way
Round trip: 321.2 kg / 708 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $89.46 $178.93
Mid-grade $5.34 $96.46 $192.92
Premium $5.57 $100.58 $201.16
Diesel $6.37 $115.03 $230.07

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 02, 2026

There is no time difference between College and Kenai. The current time is 07:15:54.

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.