Kasilof Airport - 5Ks in Soldotna, Alaska

Kasilof Airport (5KS): Central Kenai Peninsula Aviation Access

Kasilof Airport (FAA identifier: 5KS) serves the community of Kasilof on the central Kenai Peninsula, where the Kasilof River meets Cook Inlet approximately 14 miles south of Soldotna. Kasilof is a small fishing and residential community where the Kasilof River provides excellent sockeye salmon and king salmon fishing alongside the more famous Kenai River system. The airport supports general aviation access for Kasilof area residents, sport fishing guides who use aircraft to reach remote river access points, and pilots transiting the central Kenai Peninsula between Soldotna and Homer. The Kasilof area also hosts the Crooked Creek and Kasitsna Bay areas, reachable from Kasilof by aircraft for those willing to land on remote strips.

The Kenai Peninsula's aviation infrastructure supports one of Alaska's most economically productive recreation regions, where sportfishing, wildlife viewing, and outdoor adventure tourism collectively generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Small airports like Kasilof are nodes in this economic network, enabling the efficient movement of guides, equipment, and anglers to and from productive fishing locations. Alaska DOT&PF maintains Kasilof Airport within its Kenai Peninsula public airport program. The FAA Alaskan Region provides airspace management for the Cook Inlet eastern shore corridor where Kasilof sits, with Kenai Municipal Airport's Class D airspace serving as the primary ATC reference point for the region.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kasilof Airport

What is Kasilof famous for in Alaska?

Kasilof is best known for the Kasilof River, which hosts excellent sockeye and king salmon runs. The community is a base for sportfishing guides and a destination for fly-in anglers targeting central Kenai Peninsula rivers.

What other airports are near Kasilof Airport?

Soldotna Airport is approximately 14 miles north, and Kenai Municipal Airport (ENA) is about 20 miles north with commercial service to Anchorage. Homer Airport is approximately 70 miles to the southwest.

Who maintains Kasilof Airport?

Alaska DOT&PF Division of Statewide Aviation maintains Kasilof Airport as part of the state-owned public general aviation airport system on the Kenai Peninsula.

Visiting Kasilof by Air

Kasilof Airport sits in a scenic Cook Inlet shoreline setting with views across the water to the active volcanoes of the Alaska Range — Mount Redoubt, Mount Iliamna, and Mount Spurr are all visible on clear days from the central Kenai Peninsula. The area offers camping, fishing, and access to the Kasilof River State Recreation Area, and the airport provides convenient access for pilots arriving from Anchorage or Soldotna for day fishing trips. Kasilof is close enough to Anchorage by air (approximately 60 miles) for practical same-day fishing excursions that would require a longer drive commitment by road.

The FAA Alaskan Region provides navigational services for the Cook Inlet eastern shore corridor and the Kenai Peninsula. Pilots operating at Kasilof should be aware of Cook Inlet weather patterns — sea fog can move onshore rapidly from the west, reducing VFR conditions with little warning. Alaska DOT&PF invests in Kenai Peninsula airports like Kasilof as part of its commitment to supporting the region's role as one of Alaska's premier sportfishing and outdoor recreation destinations, where aviation access multiplies the value of the natural resources that draw visitors and residents from across the state and nation.