Soldotna, Alaska
Soldotna is a city of 4,485 people in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, founded in July 1967.
Why visit Soldotna
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 26 places to eat and 10 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Soldotna Post Office and Soldotna Creek Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 66°F; January lows average 5°F.
Weather in Soldotna
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Soldotna
Soldotna is a city in the Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. At the 2020 census, the population was 4,342, up from 4,163 in 2010. It is the seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
From the Wikipedia article Soldotna, Alaska (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks3
Soldotna Post Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Single-family detached home in Alaska, United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
Restaurants and cafes26
Don Jose's Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican
8032, 44109 Sterling Highway, Soldotna
Mo-Sa 12:00-21:00
Kaladi Brothers Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop
44350 Sterling Highway, Soldotna
Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00, Sa 07:00-17:00, Su 09:00-16:00
St. Elias Brewing Co.
Bar and pub · Pizza · 0.8 mi
434 Sharkathmi Avenue, Soldotna
Su-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00
Señor Panchos
Restaurant · Mexican
44906 Sterling Highway, Soldotna
Su-Sa 11:00-21:00
14 more on the map.
Where to stay10
Best Western King Salmon Motel
Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi
35546 Kenai Spur Highway, Soldotna
History
In 1947, after World War II, the United States government withdrew a number of townships along Cook Inlet and the lower Kenai River from the Kenai National Moose Range, opening up the area to settlement under the Homestead Act. Veterans of the United States armed services were given a 90-day preference over non-veterans in selecting land and filing for property. Also in that year, the Sterling Highway right-of-way was cleared of trees from Cooper Landing to Kenai. The location of present-day Soldotna was selected as the site for the highway's bridge crossing the Kenai River.
The construction of the Sterling Highway provided a link from the Soldotna area to the outside world. More homesteads were taken and visitors came to fish in the area. The Soldotna Post Office opened in 1949 and other businesses opened in the next few years.
Oil was discovered in the Swanson River region in 1957, bringing new economic development to the area. In 1960, Soldotna was incorporated as a fourth class city with a population of 332 and an area of 7.4 square miles (4,700 acres). Then seven years later, in 1967, Soldotna was recognized as a first class city.
In 1964, the Kenai Peninsula College, the Kenai Peninsula Borough government, and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District were formed.
From the History section of Soldotna, Alaska on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship3
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 2.0 mi
33922 Polar Street, Soldotna
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.4 mi
222 West Redoubt Avenue, Soldotna
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Healthcare7
Fred Meyer Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.8 mi
43843 Sterling Highway, Soldotna
Peninsula Community Health Services
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.7 mi
230 Marydale Avenue
Map of Soldotna
86 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°F | 5°F | 1.4 in |
| Feb | 28°F | 9°F | 1.3 in |
| Mar | 35°F | 12°F | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 46°F | 24°F | 0.8 in |
| May | 56°F | 32°F | 0.8 in |
| Jun | 62°F | 40°F | 1.3 in |
| Jul | 66°F | 45°F | 2.0 in |
| Aug | 64°F | 43°F | 3.0 in |
| Sep | 55°F | 37°F | 4.0 in |
| Oct | 42°F | 26°F | 2.7 in |
| Nov | 28°F | 12°F | 1.8 in |
| Dec | 23°F | 8°F | 1.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Soldotna 5Ssw (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Kenai Peninsula Borough has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2022-07-26: Landslide (Mud/Landslide)
- 2022-01-15: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-09: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-01-31: Earthquake (Earthquake)
- 2018-11-30: Earthquake (Earthquake)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Soldotna Airport (SXQ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Ridgeway 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Kalifornsky 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Kenai 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Sterling 9 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
- Funny River 10 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Salamatof 12 mi northwest, about 19 min by car
- Kasilof 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
- Nikiski 17 mi north, about 28 min by car
- Cohoe 20 mi southwest, about 32 min by car
- Ninilchik 31 mi south, about 51 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- City of Soldotna Collage, Ajohns90, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Soldotna Post Office front view, Ozyglass, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.