Origin
Metlakatla, AK
Night in Metlakatla on Thursday
Local time
11:02 PM
AKDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Metlakatla, AK to Kenai, AK
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
39h 43m
Distance
1849.8 mi
2,977 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
4-day trip
Fuel Cost
$401
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
39h 8m
★
6 AM
39h 43m
8 AM
40h 55m
10 AM
40h 8m
12 PM
40h 1m
3 PM
40h 12m
5 PM
40h 51m
8 PM
39h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Metlakatla, AK
Wikimedia Commons
Kenai, AK
John De Leon
Trip Overview
The drive from Metlakatla, AK to Kenai, AK covers 1849.8 miles and takes about 39h 43m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Tait Street, Walden Point Road, Ferry Terminal Roas for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $400.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
11 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
924.9 miles from Metlakatla, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19h 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
39h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 1849.8 miles and 39h 43m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Tait Street and Walden Point Road.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tait Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 39h 43m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
Navigation is easy, but the length (39h 43m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Metlakatla, AK to Kenai, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tait Street | — | — |
| Walden Point Road | — | — |
| Ferry Terminal Roas | — | — |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla | — | — |
| Berth 3 Apron | — | — |
| Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road | — | — |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau | — | — |
| Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Tait Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Metlakatla, AK and Kenai, AK.
1
Start on 4th Avenue
174 ft
·
8 sec
·
4th Avenue
2
Continue on Tait Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Tait Street
3
Continue on Walden Point Road
1.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Walden Point Road
4
Turn left onto Ferry Terminal Roas
459 ft
·
34 sec
·
Ferry Terminal Roas
5
Continue on Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
19 mi
·
44 min
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Metlakatla
6
Continue on Berth 3 Apron
335 ft
·
37 sec
·
Berth 3 Apron
7
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
42 sec
8
Turn left onto Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
469 ft
·
41 sec
·
Ketchikan Ferry Terminal Road
9
Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
277 mi
·
8 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Ketchikan ↔ Juneau
10
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
263 mi
·
17 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
11
Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
334 mi
·
22 hr
·
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
12
Continue straight
374 ft
·
7 sec
13
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Camp Road
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Camp Road
14
Continue on West Camp Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Camp Road
15
Continue on Portage Glacier Highway
4.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Portage Glacier Highway
16
Continue on Portage Glacier Road
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Portage Glacier Road
17
At the end of the road, turn left onto Seward Highway
41 mi
·
47 min
·
Seward Highway
18
Take the exit slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
19
Turn right onto Kalifornsky Beach Road
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Kalifornsky Beach Road
20
Turn right onto Bridge Access Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Bridge Access Road
21
Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Kenai Spur Highway
22
Turn left onto Broad Street
92 ft
·
6 sec
·
Broad Street
23
Turn right onto Frontage Road
466 ft
·
20 sec
·
Frontage Road
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 4-day trip.
Plan roughly 11 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 924.9 miles from Metlakatla, AK, or about 19h 51m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 4h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 924.9 miles or 19h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 462.5 miles or 9h 55m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 38h 25m
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 Metlakatla, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 4-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Metlakatla, AK
Aim for roughly 462 miles and 9.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 462 miles and 9.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 462 miles and 9.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into Kenai, AK
Aim for roughly 462 miles and 9.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Metlakatla, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 11 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 924.9 mi from Metlakatla, AK · 19h 51m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
462 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Late stop town
Final reset
1387 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Kenai, AK.
Overnight Options
Night 1
462 mi · about 9.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bear Creek, AK after about 462 miles or 9.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
925 mi · about 19.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bear Creek, AK after about 925 miles or 19.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 3
1387 mi · about 29.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Sterling, AK after about 1387 miles or 29.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 924.9 miles from Metlakatla, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 462 miles or 9.9 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kenai, AK.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Kenai, AK with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$400.91 one way
$801.82 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
647 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $421.59 | $843.19 |
| premium | $5.98 | $435.50 | $871.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $408.41 | $816.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$401
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$741–$1,021
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 647.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $194 in charging · 6 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 554.9 | 6 | $194.23 | $88.79 |
| Efficient EV | 462.5 | 5 | $161.86 | $73.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 739.9 | 9 | $258.97 | $118.39 |
Gas CO2
647 kg
EV CO2
216 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 6 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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
Night in Kenai on Thursday
Local time
11:02 PM
AKDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
24°F
Sterling, AK
1387 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
15 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
39h 43m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Metlakatla, AK to Kenai, AK covers 1849.8 miles and takes about 39h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tait Street, Walden Point Road, Ferry Terminal Roas. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 4-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 462 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 924.9 miles from Metlakatla, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $400.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 11 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Navigation is easy, but the length (39h 43m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Metlakatla, AK to Kenai, AK is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Metlakatla, AK to Kenai, AK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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