How far is Soldotna, AK from Kenai, AK?

The driving distance from Soldotna, AK to Kenai, AK is about 11.2 miles (18.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 8.2 miles (13.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 31m 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
11.25 mi
00h 15m
Flight
8.21 mi
13.22 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Soldotna.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
8.21 mi
Kilometers
13.22 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
11.25 mi
Kilometers
18.11 km
Drive Time
00h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kenai
Sun, Apr 19, 6:33 AM AKDT
Return by in Soldotna
Sun, Apr 19, 6:49 AM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Soldotna
2026-04-19T06:17
Arrive Kenai
Sun, Apr 19, 6:33 AM AKDT
Route Timing
00h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM AKDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:16 AM to 7:16 PM AKDT

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

Leave by
7:58 PM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Soldotna
10:00 PM AKDT
Flexible departure

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
Ridgeway
AK

American city in Iowa

From Soldotna
5.7 mi
00h 07m
To Kenai
5.6 mi
00h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
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
Destination
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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    86 m · 27 sec

  2. 2

    Turn sharp right onto Sterling Highway

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Sterling Highway

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Kalifornsky Beach Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Kalifornsky Beach Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Bridge Access Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Bridge Access Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway

    2847 ft · 1 min · Kenai Spur Highway

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    28 m · 6 sec · Broad Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Frontage Road

    142 m · 20 sec · Frontage Road

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Frontage Road

Car Route Details

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

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 right 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 15m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3 mi
8.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ridgeway
00h 07m from Soldotna
Leave By
7:58 PM AKDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 11.2 miles (18.1 km) and usually takes 00h 15m 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 Soldotna and 5.6 miles from Kenai.

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 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 7:58 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 Soldotna and Chance Rain And Snow then Rain And Snow Likely near Kenai.

Flight Path Map

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

Soldotna

#1 Soldotna

City in Alaska, USA

Population4,790
Coordinates60.4877800, -151.0583300
Altitude33
CountryUnited States
Kenai

#2 Kenai

City in Alaska

Population7,890
Coordinates60.5544400, -151.2583300
Altitude22
CountryUnited States
Start: Kenai Spur Highway (-151.059038, 60.48716)
End: Frontage Road (-151.258293, 60.554244)

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
1.5 L · about $1.98
Round trip
$3.96
0.8 gal · 3 L
Estimated CO2
3.6 kg one way
Round trip: 7.1 kg / 16 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/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 Soldotna and Kenai. The current time is 06:17:54.

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.