How far is Cordova, AK from Kenai, AK?

The driving distance from Cordova, AK to Kenai, AK is about 539.7 miles (868.6 km), with a travel time of about 13h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 186.8 miles (300.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 26h 25m 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
539.75 mi
13h 12m
Flight
186.78 mi
300.6 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cordova.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
186.78 mi
Kilometers
300.6 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
539.75 mi
Kilometers
868.65 km
Drive Time
13h 12m

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 13h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kenai
Thu, Apr 23, 12:35 PM AKDT
Return by in Cordova
Fri, Apr 24, 1:48 AM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cordova
2026-04-22T23:23
Arrive Kenai
Thu, Apr 23, 12:35 PM AKDT
Route Timing
13h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
7:13 PM to 8:43 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
9:34 AM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cordova
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
Whittier
AK

City in Alaska, USA

From Cordova
114.6 mi
06h 36m
To Kenai
425.1 mi
06h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
42°F
Wednesday

Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E
Destination
42°F
Wednesday

Light Rain

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 Cordova and Kenai.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Adams Avenue

    1 m · 6 sec · Adams Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 1st Street

    2561 ft · 43 sec · 1st Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Ocean Dock Road

    629 ft · 11 sec · Ocean Dock Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Orca Inlet Road

    861 ft · 15 sec · Orca Inlet Road

  5. 5

    Continue on New England Cannery Road

    996 ft · 17 sec · New England Cannery Road

  6. 6

    Turn slight right onto Ferry Terminal Access Road

    121 m · 12 sec · Ferry Terminal Access Road

  7. 7

    Turn left

    158 m · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova

    108.6 mi · 6 hr 45 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    114 m · 7 sec

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Camp Road

    53 m · 9 sec · West Camp Road

  11. 11

    Continue on West Camp Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

    4.7 mi · 11 min · Portage Glacier Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Portage Glacier Road

    5 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road

  14. 14

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

    40.7 mi · 48 min · Seward Highway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Kalifornsky Beach Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Kalifornsky Beach Road

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Bridge Access Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Bridge Access Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway

    2847 ft · 1 min · Kenai Spur Highway

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    28 m · 6 sec · Broad Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Frontage Road

    142 m · 20 sec · Frontage Road

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Frontage Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cordova 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
21 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova
109 mi · 20%
Seward Highway
99.1 mi · 18%
Kalifornsky Beach Road
5.98 mi · 1%
Portage Glacier Road
5.03 mi · 1%
Portage Glacier Highway
4.69 mi · 1%
Bridge Access Road
3.27 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova

Turn right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Cordova

109 mi · 06h 45m

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
13h 12m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
26h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+352.9 mi
186.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Whittier
06h 36m from Cordova
Leave By
9:34 AM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Light Rain leaving Cordova and Light Rain near Kenai.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 539.7 miles (868.6 km) and usually takes 13h 12m 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?

Whittier is a useful midpoint, sitting about 114.6 miles from Cordova and 425.1 miles from Kenai.

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

The direct path is about 186.8 miles (300.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 352.9 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 $94.32 one way or $188.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 169.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain around Cordova and Light Rain near Kenai.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cordova and Kenai. Straight-line distance: 186.78 mi (300.6 km).

Cordova

#1 Cordova

City in Alaska, USA

Population2,152
Coordinates60.5432000, -145.7586700
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Kenai

#2 Kenai

City in Alaska

Population7,890
Coordinates60.5544400, -151.2583300
Altitude22
CountryUnited States
Start: Adams Avenue (-145.758666, 60.543218)
End: Frontage Road (-151.258293, 60.554244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 869 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)17h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)13h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
19.05 gal
72.1 L · about $94.32
Round trip
$188.63
38.1 gal · 144.2 L
Estimated CO2
169.3 kg one way
Round trip: 338.6 kg / 746 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $94.32 $188.63
Mid-grade $5.34 $101.69 $203.38
Premium $5.57 $106.03 $212.06
Diesel $6.37 $121.27 $242.54

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 Cordova and Kenai. The current time is 23:23:01.

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.