Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
52.6 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Artondale, WA
Jack Davis
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Connecting Artondale to Kirkland, this 52.6-mile trip is a straightforward journey across the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 11 minutes, the route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize WA 16, I-5, and I-405 to navigate between these two points. With fuel costs estimated at $11, it is an economical drive that does not require an overnight stay. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Pacific Coast region, the transit is consistent in its environmental feel. This is a practical, no-nonsense commute that gets you where you need to go efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 20.9 mi | 26m |
| I 405 | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| WA 16 | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| 56th Street Northwest | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Wollochet Drive Northwest | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Olympic Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Artondale, WA and Kirkland, WA.
Start on Artondale Drive Northwest
Turn left onto Wollochet Drive Northwest
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Fillmore Drive Northwest
Continue on 56th Street Northwest
Turn straight onto Olympic Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto WA 16
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 405
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
Continue on 7th Avenue
Continue on 7th Avenue
Turn right onto 1st Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from Artondale, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 50.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$11.01 one way
$22.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $11.55 | $23.09 |
| premium | $5.77 | $11.94 | $23.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.61 | $23.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.60 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Artondale on Saturday
Local time
9:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 10:35AM PDT until April 12 at 8:28PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Night in Kirkland on Saturday
Local time
9:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 88% of this journey is spent on major roadways. The drive begins with the transition onto WA 16 before merging into the heavier traffic flows of I-5 and I-405. You will encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted travel while navigating 20.9 miles along I-5. Because the route is dominated by interstates, the character of the drive is fast-paced and functional rather than winding or technical. You should be prepared for the typical rhythm of regional highway travel, where maintaining a steady pace is key to navigating the transition between these two coastal hubs.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.9 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.6 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Artondale, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 52.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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