Origin
Diamond Ridge, AK
Afternoon in Diamond Ridge on Friday
Local time
12:39 PM
AKDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Diamond Ridge, AK to Kenai, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
81.7 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Diamond Ridge, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Kenai, AK
John De Leon
Trip Overview
The drive from Diamond Ridge, AK to Kenai, AK covers 81.7 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sterling Highway, Kalifornsky Beach Road, Diamond Ridge Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.9 miles on Sterling Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.71 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Diamond Ridge, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 81.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 59m drive with frequent turns across 81.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sterling Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 55.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near Diamond Ridge Road.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Diamond Ridge, AK to Kenai, AK is easy. At 1h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Diamond Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (AK 1 / Sterling Highway): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles (Bridge Access Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Diamond Ridge Road
Turn right onto Diamond Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
AK 1 / Sterling Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AK 1 / Sterling Highway
Navigation decision point
4
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
Bridge Access Road
Turn left onto Bridge Access Road
Navigation decision point
4
81.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
Kenai Spur Highway
Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway
Navigation decision point
4
81.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
Frontage Road
Turn right onto Frontage Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling Highway | 55.9 mi | 1h 17m |
| Kalifornsky Beach Road | 16.2 mi | 22m |
| Diamond Ridge Road | 4.8 mi | 10m |
| Bridge Access Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Skyline Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Kenai Spur Highway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Autumn Star Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Frontage Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sterling Highway
— 55.9 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Diamond Ridge, AK and Kenai, AK.
1
Start on Autumn Star Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Autumn Star Street
2
Turn straight onto Skyline Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Skyline Drive
3
Turn right onto Diamond Ridge Road
4.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Diamond Ridge Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto AK 1
56 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Sterling Highway
5
Turn left onto Kalifornsky Beach Road
16 mi
·
22 min
·
Kalifornsky Beach Road
6
Turn left onto Bridge Access Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Bridge Access Road
7
Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Kenai Spur Highway
8
Turn left onto Broad Street
91 ft
·
5 sec
·
Broad Street
9
Turn right onto Frontage Road
465 ft
·
20 sec
·
Frontage Road
10
Arrive at destination
Frontage Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.9 miles from Diamond Ridge, AK, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenai, AK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Diamond Ridge, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Diamond Ridge, AK
This is one driving day of about 81.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Diamond Ridge, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sterling Highway for about 55.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.9 mi from Diamond Ridge, AK · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.9 miles from Diamond Ridge, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kenai, AK
The final approach into Kenai, AK usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.71 one way
$35.41 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $18.62 | $37.24 |
| premium | $5.98 | $19.23 | $38.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.04 | $36.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.44 | $5.23 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kenai, AK
Afternoon in Kenai on Friday
Local time
12:39 PM
AKDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Diamond Ridge, AK to Kenai, AK covers 81.7 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sterling Highway, Kalifornsky Beach Road, Diamond Ridge Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.9 miles from Diamond Ridge, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Diamond Ridge, AK to Kenai, AK is easy. At 1h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (Diamond Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (AK 1 / Sterling Highway): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles (Bridge Access Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Diamond Ridge, AK to Kenai, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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