How far is Kenai, AK from Soldotna, AK?

The driving distance from Kenai, AK to Soldotna, AK is about 11.3 miles (18.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 8.2 miles (13.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
11.33 mi
00h 18m
Flight
8.21 mi
13.22 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Kenai.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
8.21 mi
Kilometers
13.22 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
11.33 mi
Kilometers
18.23 km
Drive Time
00h 18m

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 00h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Soldotna
Sun, Apr 19, 7:59 AM AKDT
Return by in Kenai
Sun, Apr 19, 8:18 AM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Kenai
2026-04-19T07:40
Arrive Soldotna
Sun, Apr 19, 7:59 AM AKDT
Route Timing
00h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:19 AM to 7:19 PM AKDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:52 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Kenai
10:00 PM AKDT
Flexible departure

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
Ridgeway
AK

American city in Iowa

From Kenai
5.7 mi
00h 09m
To Soldotna
5.7 mi
00h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
42°F
Sunday

Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
44°F
Sunday

Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Sterling Highway

  7. 7

    Turn sharp left

    86 m · 21 sec

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
8 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
70.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kalifornsky Beach Road
5.98 mi · 53%
Bridge Access Road
3.27 mi · 29%
Sterling Highway
1.37 mi · 12%
Kenai Spur Highway
0.54 mi · 5%
Frontage Road
0.09 mi · 1%
Broad Street
0.02 mi
Longest Stretch

Kalifornsky Beach Road

Turn left onto Kalifornsky Beach Road

5.98 mi · 00h 08m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 18m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.1 mi
8.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ridgeway
00h 09m from Kenai
Leave By
7:52 PM AKDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow Likely leaving Kenai and Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow Likely near Soldotna.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 11.3 miles (18.2 km) and usually takes 00h 18m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ridgeway is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5.7 miles from Kenai and 5.7 miles from Soldotna.

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

The direct path is about 8.2 miles (13.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:52 PM AKDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.98 one way or $3.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow Likely around Kenai and Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow Likely near Soldotna.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Kenai and Soldotna. Straight-line distance: 8.21 mi (13.22 km).

Kenai

#1 Kenai

City in Alaska

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

#2 Soldotna

City in Alaska, USA

Population4,790
Coordinates60.4877800, -151.0583300
Altitude33
CountryUnited States
Start: Kenai (-151.25833, 60.55444)
End: Soldotna (-151.05833, 60.48778)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 18 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.4 gal
1.51 L · about $1.98
Round trip
$3.96
0.8 gal · 3.02 L
Estimated CO2
3.6 kg one way
Round trip: 7.1 kg / 16 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $1.98 $3.96
Mid-grade $5.34 $2.14 $4.27
Premium $5.57 $2.23 $4.45
Diesel $6.37 $2.55 $5.09

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Kenai and Soldotna. The current time is 07:40:38.

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.