Kenai, Alaska Information

The Inuit word Kenai means black bear. Kenai is also a town of about 7,500 people located on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula near the mouth of the Kenai River and the Cook Inlet. Kenai is a true Alaskan town set in the wilds of Alaska with an industry driven by tourism, oil, and commercial fishing. It is one of Alaska's man playgrounds.

Over 90% of the Kenai Peninsula Borough is wilderness area. The Kenai Peninsula is over 15,000 square miles of wild terrain. You'll see some absolutely spectacular scenery. Kenai has views of oceans, mountains, rivers, and forests all right from town. There is pristine shoreline to take a leisurely stroll or endless rivers to canoe. It is an awesome spot to see wildlife or escape from the hustle and bustle of the 9 to 5 job. You'll see plenty of bear and moose just from your car window when you drive here from Anchorage, which is 156 miles away.

Kenai is an outdoor lovers ultimate destination. Very close by are the famous Captain Cook State Park, the Swanson River canoe system, and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is 1.92 million acres designed to protect the wildlife in their natural habitat of birch forests, glacial lakes, wetlands, and mountains. On a trip through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, you'll find booming herds of caribou, moose wandering the forests, bald eagles soaring the coastline looking for dinner, black bears snacking on berries, grizzly bears plodding across the plains, untouched salmon spawning grounds, wildflower filled alpine meadows and peaceful blue lakes. It's amazing.

Did You Know?
The Kenai Peninsula is home to one black bear per square mile.

The first big oil discovery in Alaska was found close to Kenai. This caused the city to prosper. Besides the oil industry, the town is a hotspot for commercial fishing. And in recent years, the Kenai has become a great place for tourism as well. Kenai is any angler's dream destination. With an abundance of rivers to fish, you'll be smiling everyday. The Kenai is famous with big game hunters too. Moose, caribou, mountain goat, sheep, brown bear, black bear, hares, spruce grouse, and ptarmigan are all trophies you may bring home from Kenai.

Town Information:

Kenai City Government
http://www.ci.kenai.ak.us/

Kenai Convention & Visitors Bureau
http://www.visitkenai.com/

Population: 7,686 (2007 census)
Location: On the Cook Inlet, just north of the mouth of the Kenai River
Annual Precipitation: 18.95 in.
July Averages: Temperature - 62 F; precipitation - 1.75 in.

Lodging:

The Duck Inn
43187 Kalifornsky Beach Rd., Soldotna, AK
(907) 262-1849

Historic Kenai Landing
2101 Bowpicker Ln., Kenai, AK
(907) 335-2500
http://www.kenailanding.com/

Aspen Hotel Soldotna
326 Binley Cir., Soldotna, AK
(907) 260-7736 / (888) 308-7848
http://www.aspenhotelak.com/

Great Alaska Adventure Lodge
Moose River, 33881 Sterling Hwy., Sterling, AK
(907)262-4515
http://www.greatalaska.com/

Harborside Cottages B & B
13 Riverview Dr. (PO Box 942), Kenai, AK
(907) 283-6162 / (888) 283-6162
http://www.harborsidecottages.com/

Log Cabin Inn
49860 Eider Rd. (PO Box 2886), Kenai, AK
(907) 283-3653
http://www.acsalaska.net/~ted.titus

All Seasons B & B
37915 Loriwood Dr., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-7050
http://www.allseasonsbnb.com/

Uptown Motel
47 Spur View Dr., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-3660 / (800) 777-3650
http://www.uptownmotel.com/

Best Western King Salmon Motel
35546-A Kenai Spur Hwy., Soldotna, AK
(907) 262-5857 / (888) 262-5857
http://www.bestwestern.com/

Camping:

Captain Cook State Recreation Area
End of North Road, Nikiski
(907) 262-5581
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/captcook.htm

Beluga Lookout Lodge & RV Park
929 Mission Pkwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-5999
http://belugalookout.com/

Did You Know?
The Kenai River is home to the largest salmon on earth.
The world record King Salmon was caught in 1985 and weighed over 97 pounds.

What to See:

Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church
1106 Mission Ave., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-4122

Restaurants & Bars:

Charlotte’s Bakery, Cafe, Espresso
115 S. Willow, Kenai, AK
(907) 283-2777
http://www.charlottesrestaurant.net/

Sal's Klondike Diner
44619 Sterling Hwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 262-2220

Mykel's
35041 Kenai Spur Hwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 256-4305
http://www.mykels.com/

Paradisos (several locations)
Kenai, AK
(907) 283-2222

Suzie’s Cafe
Mile 87.2, Sterling Hwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 260-5751

Buckets Sports Grill
43960 Sterling Hwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 262.7220
http://bucketssportsgrill.com/

Transportation:

Car Rentals: Hertz, Avis, Budget & Payless @ Kenai Airport

Alaska Cab
(907) 283-6000 Kenai; (907) 262-1555 (Soldotna)

Did You Know?
The Kenai River has large runs of salmon every year -
80,000 kings, 300,000 silvers, 1,000,000 reds, and 1,000,000+ pinks.

Airport:

Kenai Municipal Airport
427 N. Willow St., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-7951
http://www.kenaiairport.com/

Chamber of Commerce:

Kenai Chamber of Commerce
402 Overland Ave., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-7989
http://www.kenaichamber.org/

AK Employment Service:

Alaska Job Center Network
11312 Kenai Spur Hwy. #2, Kenai, AK
(907) 283-2900

Local Newspaper:

Peninsula Clarion
PO Box 3009, Kenai, AK
(907) 283-7551
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/

Hospital:

Central Peninsula General
130 S. Willow St., Kenai, AK
(907) 262-4404
http://www.cpgh.org/

Fish & Game:

Alaska Department of Fish & Game
43961 Kalifornsky Beach Rd. #B, Soldotna, AK
(907) 262-9368 / (907) 262-2737
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/

Did You Know?
Kenai is nicknamed the "Oil Capital of Alaska."

Internet Access:

Kenai Public Library
163 Main St. Loop, Kenai, AK
(907) 283-4378
http://www.kenailibrary.org/

 

The Kenai Peninsula is a place that many Alaskans go for vacation. The Kenai is referred to as "Alaska's Playground." That should tell you something about the wilderness adventures that are there. The Kenai atmosphere is exciting and if you like the outdoors it's a place you will love. Kenai is Alaska at its finest.