Visitor Info
FAQs
Answers to the following frequently asked questions about Kenai and the Kenai Peninsula cover topics from transportation to recreation with a bit of history and local services information too. If you have a specific question, consider requesting additional information or contacting our staff.
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What are the drive times and fly times from Anchorage to Kenai?
Abeare Photography
- How much of the Kenai Peninsula can I experience from Kenai?
- Can I rent a car in Kenai?
- Where can I stay in Kenai?
- Are there any RV Parks or campgrounds in Kenai?
- What kind of fishing is there?
- What else is there to do in Kenai?
- Where does the name Kenai come from?
- What is the population?
- What about earthquakes and erupting volcanoes?
- Does Kenai offer modern medical and emergency services?
Where in the world is Kenai, Alaska?
Kenai, located in Southcentral Alaska on the beautiful Kenai Peninsula, lies on the shores of Cook Inlet, at the mouth of the world famous Kenai River. Because of the close proximity to Anchorage, Kenai is easily reached from Anchorage by air or highway.What are the drive times and fly times from Anchorage to Kenai? It's just a leisurely 2.5 to 3-hour drive about 160 miles (260 kilometers) south of Anchorage along one of the most scenic highways in Alaska. Kenai is easily accessible for all types of vehicles. For air travelers, it’s just a short flight (25 minutes) on a scheduled air carrier to Kenai’s modern airport, the largest on the Kenai Peninsula. Flights leave Anchorage hourly.
TopHow much of the Kenai Peninsula can I experience from Kenai?
The beauty, central location, wealth of things to do, along with the many services available in Kenai, makes it the perfect place to stay during your visit to the Peninsula. You can travel to and from all other Peninsula locations in a day, enjoying everything the region has to offer while accessing the many businesses in the central Kenai Peninsula. Truly, you can do it all from Kenai, the place you want to be!
TopCan I rent a car in Kenai?
Several major car rental companies are located at the Kenai Municipal Airport. Prior reservations are recommended during the summer months and can be made through your travel agent or directly with a transportation company.
TopWhere can I stay in Kenai?
Kenai has many lodging choices. Several hotels and motels are conveniently located in town; numerous bed & breakfasts, cabins, lodges, and fishing camps are located in Kenai or close-by and offer accommodation styles to suit every taste. Whether you prefer modern conveniences or a more rustic, Alaskan atmosphere, you will find what you are looking for.
TopAre there any RV Parks or campgrounds in Kenai?
Kenai attracts independent travelers who boldly set out on their own. Naturally, it’s a very popular destination for those traveling by RVs. RV’ers will find several RV Parks right in Kenai. There are over 150 hook-ups available. The City of Kenai provides a tent campground convenient to all shopping and activities. Captain Cook State Park, located about 25 miles north of Kenai, with its wonderful beach and abundant wildlife, offers excellent camping opportunities to tenters and those with smaller RVs.
TopWhat kind of fishing is there?
Anything you want! Supporting the largest recreational fishery in Alaska, the Kenai River brings fisherman to the area from the world over. King salmon, red salmon, silver salmon, Dolly Varden, steelhead and rainbow trout, are some of the other species sought after by anglers. Nearby lakes and streams, some of which are stocked, add to the fishing opportunities available.
TopWhat else is there to do in Kenai?
Whether your interests lie in the outdoors, history and culture, shopping, or just taking in the beauty of the land and its wildlife, there is something for everyone in Kenai. To discover all there is to see and do, be sure to visit the Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center in Kenai. This is not your typical visitor information center! The Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center features a large cultural room where wildlife displays, Alaskan videos, and the staff can provide information on all available activities and current happenings.
TopWhere does the name Kenai come from?
The exact derivation of the name "Kenai" is unclear. The Dena’ina Athabascan Indians are the indigenous people of the area. In the Dena’ina language, "Ken" translates into "big flat." "Ken’ey" means two big flats and river cut-back, and the word "ken’e" represents trees and brush grown in a swampy marsh. Any one of these terms may been the root or origin for the name of Kenai.
TopWhat is the population?
A growing community with over 7,000 residents, Kenai is the largest city on the Kenai Peninsula. The Peninsula’s population is approximately 48,000.
TopWhat about earthquakes and erupting volcanoes?
Alaska is a seismically active place, a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Mild earthquakes are common in the state and occasionally felt in Kenai. (Don’t worry! The last major earthquake to strike Alaska that caused major destruction was the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964). Kenai offers spectacular views of the magnificent Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Spurr, and Mt. Iliamna, three active volcanoes in the Alaska Range directly across Cook Inlet. The most recent eruptions were Mt. Redoubt in 2009 and Mt. Spurr in 1992.
TopDoes Kenai offer modern medical and emergency services?
Professional and emergency services of all types are located in Kenai, including readily available doctors and dentists and several walk-in medical clinics. Central Peninsula General Hospital, the Peninsula’s largest, most advanced health care facility, is ten miles from Kenai.