Kenai Travel Guide

Welcome to Kenai!

Located 157 mi (253 km) southwest of Anchorage, Kenai is situated in the central region of the Kenai Peninsula and is the self-proclaimed outdoor playground of Alaska. Long before it became a recreational mecca, however, it was home to the Dena’ina Athabascan peoples and later Russian fur traders. Evidence of both can still be seen today. The Russian Orthodox Church was built in 1884 and is still in use while the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center promotes the history, arts and culture of the region. Nevertheless, it is usually Kenai’s dramatic scenery that draws Alaskans and visitors alike to its door. Close by is the Cook Inlet and its “Ring of Fire”–four active volcanoes, which can be experienced via sightseeing flights and boat trips. Photographers, sea kayakers and anglers also relish the inlet for its abundance of Beluga whales, brown bears and salmon. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge likewise teems with animals, and together with the Kenai Canoe Trails, offers canoeing, hiking and camping among some of Alaska’s most pristine wilderness. When daylight fades, Aurora Borealis makes Kenai’s nighttime sky as awe-inspiring as its earthly landscapes, and for visitors who are drawn to the space beyond, Kenai’s Challenger Learning Center offers simulated space flights.

Tourist Attractions

Hotels & Motels

Tour Operators