How far is Kenai, AK from Sitka, AK?

The driving distance from Kenai, AK to Sitka, AK is about 1160.2 miles (1867.1 km), with a travel time of about 52h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 617.3 miles (993.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 104h 53m 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
1160.17 mi
52h 26m
Flight
617.24 mi
993.35 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kenai.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
617.24 mi
Kilometers
993.35 km
Flight Time
01h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
1160.17 mi
Kilometers
1867.11 km
Drive Time
52h 26m

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 52h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sitka
Sat, Apr 25, 12:49 AM AKDT
Return by in Kenai
Mon, Apr 27, 5:15 AM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kenai
2026-04-22T20:22
Arrive Sitka
Sat, Apr 25, 12:49 AM AKDT
Route Timing
52h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
10:27 AM to 11:57 AM AKDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
3:06 AM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Kenai
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
Tok
AK

City in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, United States of America

From Kenai
576.5 mi
26h 13m
To Sitka
583.7 mi
26h 13m

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 NE
Destination
38°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Snow

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Frontage Road

    142 m · 25 sec · Frontage Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    28 m · 6 sec · Broad Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Kenai Spur Highway

    2847 ft · 1 min · Kenai Spur Highway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Bridge Access Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Bridge Access Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Kalifornsky Beach Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Kalifornsky Beach Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Sterling Highway

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 26 min · Sterling Highway

  7. 7

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

    88.5 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Seward Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Ingra Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Ingra Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East 6th Avenue

    1924 ft · 57 sec · East 6th Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on East 5th Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · East 5th Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Glenn Highway

    33 mi · 38 min · Glenn Highway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Glenn Highway

    146.9 mi · 3 hr 5 min · Glenn Highway

  13. 13

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

    14 mi · 16 min · Richardson Highway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Tok Cutoff

    122.4 mi · 2 hr 33 min · Tok Cutoff

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Alaska Highway

    291 mi · 6 hr 30 min · Alaska Highway

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Haines Road

    62.4 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Haines Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Haines Highway

    84.8 mi · 1 hr 48 min · Haines Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Haines Hwy Cut-Off

    921 ft · 12 sec · Haines Hwy Cut-Off

  19. 19

    Continue on Main Street

    1.1 km · 53 sec · Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

    1652 ft · 21 sec · 2nd Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn slight right onto Lutak Road

    4 mi · 5 min · Lutak Road

  22. 22

    Turn right

    26 m · 5 sec

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    839 ft · 15 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Ferry Terminal - Haines {Lutak)

    63 m · 3 sec · Ferry Terminal - Haines {Lutak)

  25. 25

    Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines

    76.4 mi · 8 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Haines

  26. 26

    Turn sharp right onto Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau

    153.9 mi · 9 hr 30 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau

  27. 27

    Continue straight

    662 ft · 50 sec

  28. 28

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Halibut Point Road

    6.6 mi · 12 min · Halibut Point Road

  29. 29

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Sawmill Creek Road

    36 m · 2 sec · Sawmill Creek Road

  30. 30

    Exit the roundabout onto Sawmill Creek Road

    752 ft · 17 sec · Sawmill Creek Road

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Baranof Street

    67 m · 10 sec · Baranof Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Baranof Street

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
21 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Highway
291 mi · 25%
Glenn Highway
180 mi · 16%
Alaska Marine Highway - Sitka-Juneau
154 mi · 13%
Tok Cutoff
122 mi · 11%
Seward Highway
88.5 mi · 8%
Haines Highway
84.8 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Alaska Highway

Turn right onto Alaska Highway

291 mi · 06h 30m

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
52h 26m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
104h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+542.9 mi
617.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tok
26h 13m from Kenai
Leave By
3:06 AM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Light Rain leaving Kenai and Slight Chance Light Snow near Sitka.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 1160.2 miles (1867.1 km) and usually takes 52h 26m 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?

Tok is a useful midpoint, sitting about 576.5 miles from Kenai and 583.7 miles from Sitka.

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

The direct path is about 617.3 miles (993.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 542.9 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 $202.69 one way or $405.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 363.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain around Kenai and Slight Chance Light Snow near Sitka.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kenai and Sitka. Straight-line distance: 617.24 mi (993.35 km).

Kenai

#1 Kenai

City in Alaska

Population7,890
Coordinates60.5544400, -151.2583300
Altitude22
CountryUnited States
Sitka

#2 Sitka

City-borough in Alaska, USA

Population8,493
Coordinates57.0531500, -135.3308800
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Start: Frontage Road (-151.258293, 60.554244)
End: Baranof Street (-135.330703, 57.053171)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1867 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)38h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)29h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)23h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)19h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)16h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)14h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
40.94 gal
154.97 L · about $202.69
Round trip
$405.39
81.88 gal · 309.94 L
Estimated CO2
363.8 kg one way
Round trip: 727.7 kg / 1604 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $202.69 $405.39
Mid-grade $5.34 $218.54 $437.08
Premium $5.57 $227.87 $455.74
Diesel $6.37 $260.62 $521.25

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 Kenai and Sitka. The current time is 20:22:33.

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.