Overview
Soldotna is a city on the banks of the Kenai River, in the center of the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska.
2 sights · 2 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Soldotna
Gary L. Freeburg Art Gallery
KPC's Kenai River Campus established the gallery in 1985 as a tribute to longtime art professor Gary L. Freeburg who retired after many years of service to the college. The gallery has an established reputation in Alaska…
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Its headquarters and visitors' center are on Funny River Road.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Aug. Summer highs reach about 66°F; winter lows dip to about 5°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Sep and Aug.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ENA Kenai Municipal Airport, Kenai — 8 mi away. Directions
- HOM Homer Airport, Homer — 60 mi away. Directions
- ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage — 60 mi away (major hub). Directions
Road access is via the Sterling Highway, which runs from the Tern Lake junction with the Seward highway, through Cooper Landing, Sterling, Soldotna, and down to Homer. Soldotna has a small airport, most scheduled commercial flights come in at the nearby Kenai Airport. Neither Kenai nor Soldotna have a deepwater port and are not serviced by ferries or cruise lines. The nearest deepwater port is at Nikiski, but it is a purely industrial port servicing resource extraction operations such as oil rigs and tankers in the Cook Inlet area.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Gary L. Freeburg Art Gallery
- Lunch Odie’s Deli
- Afternoon Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
- Dinner Brew@602
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Soldotna is the biggest town on the Kenai Peninsula and it shows. Most nationwide fast food franchises have a store in Soldotna, but there are some local eateries as well.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Understand
Soldotna is named after nearby Soldotna Creek. It was incorporated as a town in 1960.
With its central location, Soldotna is a good place to "home-base" while exploring the Kenai Peninsula.
Climate
Get in
Road access is via the Sterling Highway, which runs from the Tern Lake junction with the Seward highway, through Cooper Landing, Sterling, Soldotna, and down to Homer. Soldotna has a small airport, most scheduled commercial flights come in at the nearby Kenai Airport. Neither Kenai nor Soldotna have a deepwater port and are not serviced by ferries or cruise lines. The nearest deepwater port is at Nikiski, but it is a purely industrial port servicing resource extraction operations such as oil rigs and tankers in the Cook Inlet area.
Get around
There is a sort of hybrid public transit system known as CARTS in this area. Routes are not scheduled, you must call ahead M-F 8AM-5PM at +1 907 262-8900 for pickup and be somewhat flexible with regard to timing. You must purchase a fare card ("punch card" at the CARTS office on K-Beach, on the website and through the mail. Punch cards are not sold on board. Fares are charged by zone at $2 50 per zone (May 2020).
There are several local taxi companies. For longer distances there is the "Stage Line", a scheduled van shuttle service traveling between the Peninsula and Anchorage. Rental cars are also available.
See
See Gary L. Freeburg Art Gallery
KPC's Kenai River Campus established the gallery in 1985 as a tribute to longtime art professor Gary L. Freeburg who retired after many years of service to the college. The gallery has an established reputation in Alaska as a quality, fine art exhibition space presenting original works, in a wide range of mediums and expressions. Dedicated local and regional artists, including KRC art faculty and student artists, contribute works to be exhibited throughout the academic year.
See Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Its headquarters and visitors' center are on Funny River Road.
Do
The Kenai River Festival is a free annual three-day event held in early June. It grew out of the Kenai Watershed Forum's desire to provide a free, fun setting for the community to celebrate the river that is central to the livelihood of the local community. At the festival there are opportunities to learn how to give back to the river by keeping it healthy and productive. Legendary festival highlights include 20-foot-long Luq'A the salmon, pioneer salmon dinners, Run for the River 5/10K race, free live music riverside and more than 20 free children's activities. The Kenai River Festival is brought to the community by the generosity of local businesses and organizations. More than 10,000 people attend each year.
Buy
If you are heading on towards Homer, Soldotna is your last chance at a "big box store" in the form of the Fred Meyer store located on the highway. Nothing local or unique about it, but a good place to stock up on food or fishing and outdoor gear. Sweeny's, located about quarter mile down the Kenai Spur Highway, is another place to shop for outdoor clothing and gear.
Eat
Soldotna is the biggest town on the Kenai Peninsula and it shows. Most nationwide fast food franchises have a store in Soldotna, but there are some local eateries as well.
- Acapulco restaurant, located on the Sterling highway on the outskirts of town has great Mexican food and excellent views.
Eat Odie’s Deli
Quirky diner serving up Sasquatch-sized sandwiches on house-baked bread. A “half” sandwich at Odie’s is more than enough for one person, being the size of a large full sandwich at most other restaurants. Salads and breakfast options also available.
Eat Brew@602
Coffee and waffle shop in a refurbished railcar with a large attached gift shop.
Sleep
There are a few mid-range hotels in Soldotna, including the Best Western King Salmon and the Aspen Hotel, which has a few rooms with jacuzzis.
As with all Alaskan towns of any size there are dozens of bed-and-breakfast establishments around Soldotna that vary greatly in price and amenities.
Camping is available at Centennial Park, on the banks of the Kenai River.
Go next
Nearby
Kenai
City / town · 3 listings · 8 mi away
Nikiski
City / town · 17 mi away
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Park · 22 mi away
Cooper Landing
City / town · 1 listings · 42 mi away
Kenai Fjords National Park
Park · 5 listings · 54 mi away
Anchor Point
City / town · 2 listings · 56 mi away
Moose Pass
City / town · 2 listings · 58 mi away
Homer
City / town · 49 listings · 59 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.