Origin
Fritz Creek, AK
Evening in Fritz Creek on Saturday
Local time
6:48 PM
AKDT
Current temp
25°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fritz Creek, AK to Kenai, AK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
95.5 mi
154 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fritz Creek, AK
Frank Krasznavolgyi
Kenai, AK
John De Leon
Trip Overview
Fritz Creek to Kenai is 95.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 24 minutes via Sterling Highway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Alaska, connecting two points in the Kenai Peninsula region. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, making it a more engaging journey than a straight highway cruise. With minimal stops suggested, this trip is easily achievable within a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.7 miles from Fritz Creek, AK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling Highway | 61.2 mi | 1h 26m |
| Kalifornsky Beach Road | 16.2 mi | 22m |
| East End Road | 11.8 mi | 20m |
| Bridge Access Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Hutler Road | 1.3 mi | 5m |
| East Pioneer Avenue | 1 mi | 3m |
| Kenai Spur Highway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Frontage Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sterling Highway
— 61.2 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fritz Creek, AK and Kenai, AK.
1
Start on Hutler Road
1.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Hutler Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto East End Road
12 mi
·
20 min
·
East End Road
3
Continue on East Pioneer Avenue
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Pioneer Avenue
4
At end of road, turn right onto AK 1
61 mi
·
1 hr 26 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
Given the relatively short distance of 95.5 miles and a drive time of just over two hours, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any early rush and to enjoy the daylight. There are no specific stops recommended, so feel free to take spontaneous breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition onto Kalifornsky Beach Road and East End Road, as services might be less frequent than on the main Sterling Highway. This short trip allows you to easily make it a same-day adventure.
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 47.7 miles from Fritz Creek, AK, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.2 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 21 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.7 miles or 1h 16m 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 59m
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 Fritz Creek, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fritz Creek, AK
This is one driving day of about 95.5 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fritz Creek, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sterling Highway for about 61.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.7 miles from Fritz Creek, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Sterling Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 95.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
East End Road
At end of road, turn right onto East End Road
Navigation decision point
4
14.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
AK 1 / Sterling Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AK 1 / Sterling Highway
Navigation decision point
4
91.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
Bridge Access Road
Turn left onto Bridge Access Road
Navigation decision point
4
94.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
Kenai Spur Highway
Turn left onto Kenai Spur Highway
Navigation decision point
4
95.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
Frontage Road
Turn right onto Frontage Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.70 one way
$41.40 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $21.77 | $43.53 |
| premium | $5.98 | $22.48 | $44.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.09 | $42.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.03 | $4.58 |
| Efficient EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.36 | $3.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.37 | $6.11 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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
Evening in Kenai on Saturday
Local time
6:48 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter frequent directional changes rather than long, straight stretches. With a highway share of 0%, you'll be navigating local roads for the entire 95.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted segment is 61.2 miles along the Sterling Highway, offering a brief period of consistent travel before the road becomes more winding. This driving style requires consistent attention and can feel more involved than a typical interstate journey.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.2 mi on Sterling Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 1.3 miles in near East End Road.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fritz Creek, AK to Kenai, AK is easy. At 2h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (East End Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.2 miles (AK 1 / Sterling Highway): Navigation decision point; at 91.5 miles (Bridge Access Road): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Kenai, AK
Full guide →Kenai is a town of 8,000 people (2018) in Southcentral Alaska.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 95.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.2 miles on Sterling Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through AK can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (East End Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.2 miles (AK 1 / Sterling Highway): Navigation decision point; at 91.5 miles (Bridge Access Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kenai, AK before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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