Where to Stay
Hotels and Lodges
The Cannery Lodge
2291 Bowpicker Ln, Kenai, AK 99611(907) 261-9499
The thing I like the best about this place is that I really like the area this lodge is set in. It’s away from the main road and it feels very peaceful around the grounds with wonderful views. The rooms are clean and cozy. I wouldn’t say it’s the best place I have every stayed but its private and nice.
Jimmie Jack’s Alaska SeaScape Lodge
37025 Kalifornsky Beach Rd, Kenai, AK 99611(907) 262-5561
A great place to stay with a wonderful view, service and meals. This place comes with fishing packages, with a promise of 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
Kenai Airport Hotel
230 N Willow St, Kenai, AK 99611(907) 283-1577
Clean and cozy rooms near the airport and helpful staff. The prices are affordable and even though the airport is across the street, you cant really hear any of the traffic from that. This place is a gem.
Main Street Hotel
10800 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai, AK 99611(907) 395-0394
A cute little hotel close to Kenai beach, with a bar and ATM inside. This place doesn’t have a website so you can click this link to book through booking.com
Aspen Extended Stay Suites
10431 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai, AK 99611(907) 283-2272
I don’t usually put chain hotels, however Kenai is such a small little place that I am adding it just in case. The staff are friendly, and the rooms are clean. Nothing but great things to say about my stay here.
Inns, Cabins and B&Bs:
Quality Inn Kenai10352 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai, AK 99611(907) 283-6060
This cozy little place has clean rooms and a little place to eat on site. The staff are really friendly and the location is convenient.
Ocean View Inn Kenai
37397 Cetacea Ln, Kenai, AK 99611(907) 690-2626
A private home with 4 beds and baths, Huge deck that over looks Mt. Redoubt with a fire pit and grill for guests.
Tanglewood Bed & Breakfast
2528 Beaver Loop Rd, Kenai, AK 99611(907) 283-6771
Such a sweet little place in kenai. The owners are knowlegable of the area and have stories for days. There is no breakfast here but access to a kitchen instead. Super flexible with check ins and the views are wonderful.
There are many other Air BNBs in this area, I would check out VRBO or Air BNB for more options. You can also check out the Soldotna page which is very close to Kenai.
RV and Camping
Kenai North Beach Vehicle Campgrounds04701025, Kenai, AK 99611
A great beach to visit, fish, bike, camp and fly a kite, see the beach, dip net (in July)
Kenai RV
39864 Kalifornsky Beach Rd, Kenai, AK 99611
(541) 941-1620
Great place to stay when dip netting, only 12 Miles to Kasilof River and 4 minutes to Kenai River. 23 sites, in a wooded area for privacy with 60 ft long spots. Pet friendly. Water and Electric hookups and ATV access to the river.
Port of Kenai
810 Childs Ave, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 740-8071
Sitting at the mouth of the Kenai River, this place sits on 20 acres with views of Mt. Redoubt and Mt. lliama. This area has 112 campspots and a stocked camp store with all the essentials firewood and ice. Wildlife including whales can be seen seasonally at this site.
K-Beach Campground & Storage
35688 Kalifornsky Beach Rd, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 953-4794
A smaller place for the RVs with 7 hookups but 25 dry camping sites. There are showers and bathrooms, fish cleaning stations and Fire rings.
What to See and Do
Kenai is such a little place that the things to do are limited. Especially with Soldotna, Homer and Anchorage so close. However, there are some specific things to do just in Kenai as well. Kenai in itself carries a rich history of Native and Russian settlements. Originally settled by Athabascans, Kenai grew with the increasing Russian fur traders around the 1790s. So you will find this history written inside all of Kenai. Most people come to Kenai to fish in the “world famous” Kenai River. Here is a little list of some other things to enjoy in the Kenai Area:
· Go check out the Kenai Visitor & Cultural Center. – houses an impressive collection of Alaska Native artifacts, art and has the largest collection of mounted bald eagles in North America
· Do a self-guided tour of “Old Town” – you can explore Kenai and see all that history I was mentioning in the above paragraph. There is a brochure about this in the Kenai Visitor & cultural Center.
· Visit the Russian Orthodox Church – A national historic landmark, built in 1894 and is the oldest Orthodox Church on mainland Alaska.
· Check out Kenai Cabin Park – Home to 5 restored cabins filled with history.
· Check out the 75 mm Howitzer cannon from World War 1
· Check out Kenai beach to go dip net fishing in July (AK Residents only)
· Go beachcombing at the nearby Captain Cook State Recreation Area
· Check out all the views of the volcanos and mountains in cook inlet Also dubbed the “Ring of Fire” made up of 5 different volcanos.
· Check out Kenai Landing, a historic fishing village
There are of course the usual tours and trips to be able to take. There are a bunch in Kenai and the surrounding areas so I would recommend doing a search online or checking with the Visitor’s center for some places that you can book through but here are a few to get you started:
Fish the Kenai River
Ak Fishing and Lodging – All the fish fishing guide, all types of trips.
Kenai Wild Fishing – Salmon, Trout, Saltwater and bear viewing charters.
Scout Lake Adventures – Family friendly, lodging, and create your own custom trips
Go bear viewing
Kenai Back Country Adventures – Bear and Bear viewing packages
Take a guided tour
Kenai Wild Fishing – Salmon, Trout, Saltwater and bear viewing charters.
Float the river
Alaska River Adventures – Float the kenai with a guided tour, goldpanning as well!
What to Eat
Louie’s Steak & Seafood47 Spur View Dr, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 283-3660
Good seafood, ambience and service. The portion sizes are large!
Paradiso’s Restaurant811 Main St, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 283-2222
The food here is really good, service is decent but the ambience is nice too. This is a good place to check out for Mexican or Italian foods.
Main Street Tap & Grill
10800 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 395-0394
Great service, great atmosphere, amazing burgers and sides. Yummy beers and sometimes live music there, depending when you go.
Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant
10672 Kenai Spur Hwy # 108, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 283-3003
A great place for Mexican food, great service, decent prices for the amount of food you get. A lot of people say this place has very authentic Mexican food.
Kamakani Kitchen
610 Attla Way Suite 12, Kenai, AK 99611
(541) 515-0820
Yummy Hawaiian and amazing Poke. The employees are so friendly and the environment is awesome!
Playa Azul
12498 Kenai Spur Hwy, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 283-2010
Mexican restaurant in Kenai. Serving vegetarian dishes, and has a great kids menu. I haven’t eaten here myself but I hear the Chimichangas are great
Charlotte’s Restaurant
115 S Willow St, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 283-2777
Great diner food, fast service and kind wait staff. Lots of options for differing diets here. Try the Biscuits and Gravy.
Burger Bus409 Overland Ave, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 283-9611
I saw this place in a list of 10 ten burger places to eat in Alaska, so I drove here and tried one. I am happy I did. The wait was alright but that was because there were so many people there getting burgers. The burger was great and I enjoyed my experience. Outdoor seating and only open in summer. Check it out!
B & H Pizza
10544 Kenai Spur Hwy C, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 335-0307
A cute little hole in the wall place with great pizza. Touted as the best pizza in Kenai
Jersey Subs – Kenai
106 S Willow St Suite #3, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 283-9898
Good food with quick service. Hot sandwiches are the best!
Brothers’ Cafe
305 N Willow St, Kenai, AK 99611
(907) 335-2233
Located in the airport, this place has great service and good. Prices range all over the place for whatever you are getting. They also serve great pastries.
Where to Hike/Camp
Not many in and around Kenai but Soldotna and the Kenai National Wildlife refuge is very close as well as many places around the area. However while you are in Kenai, if you wanted to go on a little walk or hike, you could check out:
Erik Hansen Scout Park
Resources/ websites to check out for Kenai
https://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Cities-Towns/Kenai
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenai,_Alaska
https://www.alaska.org/destination/kenai
https://www.travelalaska.com/explore-alaska/articles/6-things-do-kenai