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Trip from Petersburg, AK to Kenai, AK

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

49h 38m

Distance

862.8 mi

1,389 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

4-day trip

Fuel Cost

$187

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 134 min
4 AM
48h 54m ★
6 AM
49h 38m
8 AM
51h 8m
10 AM
50h 10m
12 PM
50h 1m
3 PM
50h 14m
5 PM
51h 3m
8 PM
49h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Petersburg, AK, AK

Petersburg, AK

Vitali Adutskevich

Downtown Kenai, AK, AK

Kenai, AK

John De Leon

Trip Overview

The drive from Petersburg, AK to Kenai, AK covers 862.8 miles and takes about 49h 38m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 4-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 334.5 miles on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat. At current regular gas prices, budget about $187.00 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

14 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

431.4 miles from Petersburg, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26h 20m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Solo Traveler

49h 38m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-distance drive route profile.

Drive Character

At 862.8 miles and 49h 38m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat and Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat is the longest continuous segment at about 334.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 49h 38m, 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. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 862.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 145.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 408.1 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
1 mi into trip | ~1m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

5
145.5 mi into trip | ~7h 48m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

5
408.1 mi into trip | ~24h 48m in | Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
742.6 mi into trip | ~46h 48m in | West Camp Road

At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road

Navigation decision point

5
753.8 mi into trip | ~47h 9m in | AK 1 / Seward Highway

At end of road, turn left onto AK 1 / Seward Highway

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat 334.5 mi 22h
Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat 262.6 mi 17h
Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau 144.3 mi 7h 45m
AK 1 58.4 mi 1h 26m
Seward Highway 40.7 mi 47m
Kalifornsky Beach Road 6 mi 8m
Portage Glacier Road 5 mi 7m
Portage Glacier Highway 4.7 mi 10m
Longest stretch: Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat — 334.5 mi, about 22h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Petersburg, AK and Kenai, AK.

1

Start on Fram Street

376 ft · 21 sec · Fram Street
2

Turn left onto AK 7

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Nordic Drive
3

Turn right

0.1 mi · 56 sec
4

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau

144 mi · 7 hr 45 min · Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau
5

Continue

349 ft · 32 sec
6

Turn left

175 ft · 2 sec
7

Turn straight onto Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat

263 mi · 17 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat
8

Turn sharp left onto Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat

334 mi · 22 hr · Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat
9

Continue

374 ft · 7 sec
10

At end of road, turn right onto West Camp Road

173 ft · 9 sec · West Camp Road
11

Continue on West Camp Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Camp Road
12

Continue on Portage Glacier Highway

4.7 mi · 10 min · Portage Glacier Highway
13

Continue on FFH 35

5.0 mi · 7 min · Portage Glacier Road
14

At end of road, turn left onto AK 1

41 mi · 47 min · Seward Highway
15

Take the exit onto AK 1

58 mi · 1 hr 26 min · AK 1
16

Turn right onto Kalifornsky Beach Road

6.0 mi · 8 min · Kalifornsky Beach Road
17

Turn right onto Bridge Access Road

3.3 mi · 5 min · Bridge Access Road
18

Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway

0.5 mi · 1 min · Kenai Spur Highway
19

Turn left onto Broad Street

91 ft · 5 sec · Broad Street
20

Turn right onto Frontage Road

465 ft · 20 sec · Frontage Road
21

Arrive at destination

Frontage Road

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 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 431.4 miles from Petersburg, AK, or about 26h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 334.5 miles.

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 190 miles or 10h 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 431.4 miles or 26h 20m 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 215.7 miles or 12h 21m

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 48h 9m

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 Petersburg, 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 Petersburg, AK

Aim for roughly 216 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 216 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 216 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 4

Finish the approach into Kenai, AK

Aim for roughly 216 miles and 12.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 190 miles from Petersburg, AK.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 14 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat for about 334.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 431.4 mi from Petersburg, AK · 26h 20m into the drive

Downtown Bear Creek, AK, AK

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Bear Creek, AK

285 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.

Popular next leg

Bear Creek, AK to Kenai, AK

103.2 mi · 2h 35m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Eagle River, AK

216 mi · about 12.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Eagle River, AK after about 216 miles or 12.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 2

Bear Creek, AK

431 mi · about 24.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near Bear Creek, AK after about 431 miles or 24.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Night 3

Sterling, AK

647 mi · about 37.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Sterling, AK after about 647 miles or 37.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Juneau, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 190 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Halfway reset

Meal break

The midpoint is around 431.4 miles from Petersburg, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 334.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 216 miles or 12.4 hours on the road.

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$187.00 one way

$373.99 round trip

$5.51/gal 25.4 MPG avg 302 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.79 $196.64 $393.29
premium $5.98 $203.13 $406.26
diesel $5.61 $190.50 $380.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$187

Hotel (3n)

$240–$420

Meals

$100–$200

Total

$527–$807

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 301.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $91 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 258.8 3 $90.59 $41.41
Efficient EV 215.7 2 $75.49 $34.51
EV Truck/SUV 345.1 4 $120.79 $55.22

Gas CO2

302 kg

EV CO2

101 kg (67% less)

Plan for 3 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Petersburg, AK

Evening in Petersburg on Friday

Local time

5:21 PM

AKDT

Current temp

44°F

Mostly Cloudy

NW 5 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 14 at 11:43AM AKDT until April 16 at 4:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

Destination

Kenai, AK

Evening in Kenai on Friday

Local time

5:21 PM

AKDT

Current temp

41°F

Sunny

W 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 14 at 11:43AM AKDT until April 16 at 4:00PM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

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

3 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

49h 38m 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 Petersburg, AK to Kenai, AK covers 862.8 miles and takes about 49h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Juneau-Yakutat, Alaska Marine Highway - Petersburg-Juneau. 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 216 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 431.4 miles from Petersburg, AK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $187.00 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 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 862.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 145.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 408.1 miles (Alaska Marine Highway - Whittier-Yakutat): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.

The route from Petersburg, 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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