Sterling is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States.

Alaska Route 1, the Sterling Highway, runs through the community, leading southwest 11 miles (18 km) to the center of Soldotna and east 34 miles (55 km) to Cooper Landing at the outlet of Kenai Lake.

The main industries around Sterling today are support for tourism and sport fishing and hunting.

Sterling is adjacent to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and also two Alaska state parks.

Scout Lake State Recreation Site is a 164 acres (66 ha) day-use only park.

[9] The park has a picnic shelter and a lake stocked with rainbow trout and Arctic grayling.

The park is 279 acres (113 ha) and has a campground and one of the few public access points for bank fishing on the middle Kenai River.