How far is Wrangell, AK from Kenai, AK?

The driving distance from Wrangell, AK to Kenai, AK is about 1249 miles (2010.1 km), with a travel time of about 38h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 734.2 miles (1181.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 76h 48m 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
1249.01 mi
38h 24m
Flight
734.24 mi
1181.64 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wrangell.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
734.24 mi
Kilometers
1181.64 km
Flight Time
01h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
1249.01 mi
Kilometers
2010.08 km
Drive Time
38h 24m

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 38h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kenai
Fri, Apr 24, 7:31 AM AKDT
Return by in Wrangell
Sat, Apr 25, 9:56 PM AKDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wrangell
2026-04-22T17:07
Arrive Kenai
Fri, Apr 24, 7:31 AM AKDT
Route Timing
38h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM AKDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
8:24 PM to 9:54 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
7:12 AM AKDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wrangell
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
Haines
AK

City in Alaska, USA

From Wrangell
453 mi
19h 12m
To Kenai
796 mi
19h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM AKDT
Wind
5 mph NW
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 Wrangell and Kenai.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    27 m · 12 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Bennett Street

    94 m · 12 sec · Bennett Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Zimovia Highway

    104 m · 9 sec · Zimovia Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Church Street

    1543 ft · 42 sec · Church Street

  5. 5

    Continue on 2nd Street

    1512 ft · 42 sec · 2nd Street

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg

    46.2 mi · 3 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg

  7. 7

    Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau

    144.3 mi · 7 hr 45 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    107 m · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left

    53 m · 2 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

    262.6 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

  11. 11

    Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

    334.5 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    114 m · 7 sec

  13. 13

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

    53 m · 9 sec · West Camp Road

  14. 14

    Continue on West Camp Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

    4.7 mi · 11 min · Portage Glacier Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Portage Glacier Road

    5 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road

  17. 17

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

    40.7 mi · 48 min · Seward Highway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Kalifornsky Beach Road

    6 mi · 8 min · Kalifornsky Beach Road

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Bridge Access Road

    3.3 mi · 5 min · Bridge Access Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway

    2847 ft · 1 min · Kenai Spur Highway

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    28 m · 6 sec · Broad Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Frontage Road

    142 m · 20 sec · Frontage Road

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Frontage Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Wrangell 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
24 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
1.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
335 mi · 27%
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi · 21%
Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
144 mi · 12%
Seward Highway
99.1 mi · 8%
Alaska Marine Highway - Wrangell-Petersburg
46.2 mi · 4%
Kalifornsky Beach Road
5.98 mi
Longest Stretch

Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

334 mi · 22h 00m

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
38h 24m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
76h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+514.8 mi
734.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Haines
19h 12m from Wrangell
Leave By
7:12 AM AKDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Wrangell 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 Wrangell to Kenai?

The road trip is about 1249 miles (2010.1 km) and usually takes 38h 24m 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?

Haines is a useful midpoint, sitting about 453 miles from Wrangell and 796 miles from Kenai.

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

The direct path is about 734.2 miles (1181.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 514.8 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 $218.19 one way or $436.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 391.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Wrangell and Light Rain near Kenai.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wrangell and Kenai. Straight-line distance: 734.24 mi (1181.64 km).

Wrangell

#1 Wrangell

City in Alaska, United States

Population2,502
Coordinates56.4708300, -132.3766700
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Kenai

#2 Kenai

City in Alaska

Population7,890
Coordinates60.5544400, -151.2583300
Altitude22
CountryUnited States
Start: (-132.3766, 56.470942)
End: Frontage Road (-151.258293, 60.554244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 2010 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)41h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)31h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)24h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)20h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)17h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)15h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
44.07 gal
166.84 L · about $218.19
Round trip
$436.38
88.14 gal · 333.68 L
Estimated CO2
391.7 kg one way
Round trip: 783.3 kg / 1727 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $218.19 $436.38
Mid-grade $5.34 $235.25 $470.49
Premium $5.57 $245.29 $490.59
Diesel $6.37 $280.55 $561.10

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 Wrangell and Kenai. The current time is 17:07:31.

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.