Airports / Alaska / DRF
Drift River Airport.
Kenai, Alaska · 30 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.8/5
Google rating
212 ratings
0
Operators based
30
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#45 / 225
Alaska airports by Google rating
4.8★ across 212 Google ratings , ranked against 225 rated AK fields.
27 nm
To the nearest alternate
Kenai Municipal Airport (ENA), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Kenai, Alaska, Drift River Airport (DRF) operates as a general aviation field. Field elevation is 30 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list DRF as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Kenai Municipal Airport (ENA, 27 nm), Soldotna Airport (SXQ, 34 nm), and Homer Airport (HOM, 60 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 4,100-foot unpaved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to turboprops.
Trip costs from DRF are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from DRF to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
3AK5
IATA
DRF
FAA / Local
3AK5
Elevation
30 ft
Coordinates
60.5889° N · 152.1620° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Small
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs AK fields
state range 2–3,318 ft
At 30 ft, DRF sits lower than 76% of the 285 Alaska fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 4,100 ft
- 05/234,100 ft × 150 ftGravelLighted
- H140 ft × 20 ftGravelUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 4,100 ft
DRF's 4,100 ft runway typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 27nmENAKenai Municipal AirportKenai
- 34nmSXQSoldotna AirportSoldotna
- 60nmHOMHomer AirportHomer
- 68nmPTAPort Alsworth AirportPort Alsworth
- 70nmSOVSeldovia AirportSeldovia
- 73nmANCTed Stevens Anchorage International AirportAnchorage
Location
Open the full map3AK5 · Drift River Airport · Kenai, AK
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from DRF on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,297 nm | 3h 25m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 1,778 nm | 4h 32m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 1,791 nm | 4h 34m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 1,888 nm | 4h 47m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,036 nm | 5h 8m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 2,049 nm | 5h 10m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 2,084 nm | 5h 15m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 2,106 nm | 5h 18m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use DRF?
- Drift River Airport's longest runway is 4,100 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at DRF?
- Drift River Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 4,100 ft and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to DRF?
- The closest alternate is Kenai Municipal Airport (ENA), about 27 nm away, followed by Soldotna Airport (SXQ) at 34 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from DRF to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Seattle about 3h 25m (1,297 nm), San Francisco about 4h 32m (1,778 nm), Jackson Hole about 4h 34m (1,791 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.