Traveling from Benton City to Kirkland covers 207.1 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 54 minutes. This trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day journey, making it an efficient way to cross the state. You will primarily navigate via I-82, US 97, and I-405, keeping your travel time predictable. With an estimated fuel cost of $43, it is a straightforward trek that avoids the need for an overnight stay. Since both locations are situated within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, you can expect a familiar, consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It is a practical route for those prioritizing a direct, highway-focused connection between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
103.6 miles from Benton City, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
101.4 mi
1h 53m
I 82
95.4 mi
1h 43m
I 405
6.3 mi
7m
Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
1m
7th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Babs Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
1st Street
0.5 mi
1m
9th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 101.4 mi, about 1h 53m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 63 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,533 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,340
Quietest
2 AM
~135 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton City, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on WA 225
0.4 mi·57 sec·9th Street
2
Continue on WA 225
0.5 mi·1 min·Babs Avenue
3
Turn straight onto WA 225
0.4 mi·52 sec·1st Street
4
Enter roundabout
29 ft·0 sec
5
Continue
0.3 mi·19 sec
6
Merge onto I 82; US 12
64 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 82; US 12
7
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
101 mi·1 hr 53 min·US 97
Toward I 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 10Toward I 405: Renton, EverettUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 405 North: Everett, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 405
6.3 mi·7 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 18Toward Northeast 85th Street, KirklandUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft·6 sec
14
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft·17 sec·6th Street
16
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·7th Avenue
17
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi·50 sec·7th Avenue
18
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·7th Avenue
19
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft·11 sec·1st Street
20
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 54 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid peak traffic near Kirkland. While the trip is short enough to drive in one go, scheduling at least one stop is recommended to break up the monotonous highway stretches. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before starting the 101.4-mile stretch on US 97 to ensure you aren't caught off guard in remote sections. Since this is a high-speed, highway-heavy route, staying alert during the long, consistent stretches is your best strategy for a safe arrival. Use that single planned stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the lack of technical turns can lead to driver fatigue.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 103.6 miles from Benton City, WA, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 46 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.6 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kirkland, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benton City, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Benton City, WA
This is one driving day of about 207.1 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Benton City, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 97 for about 101.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 97 and 205.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
97 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 West
8
198.4 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 405: Renton, Everett
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward I 405: Renton, Everett
8
198.6 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
5
199 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|I 405
Merge onto I 405
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
205.3 mi into trip|~3h 50m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.34 one way
$80.69 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$42.27
$84.54
premium
$5.39
$43.96
$87.91
diesel
$4.80
$39.10
$78.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.1
0
$21.75
$9.94
Efficient EV
51.8
0
$18.12
$8.28
EV Truck/SUV
82.8
1
$28.99
$13.25
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Benton City, WA
Morning
in Benton City on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Kirkland, WA
Morning
in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 2 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
38 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 54m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient transit, as this route is comprised of 98% highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel on major interstates and US routes, offering a very consistent driving experience. The longest uninterrupted section hits 101.4 miles on US 97, which requires you to settle into a steady rhythm for a significant portion of the journey. Because the profile is strictly highway-focused, the character of the road remains utilitarian and fast-paced. You will find that the transition between the segments is seamless, allowing you to maintain a steady speed as you move between the main road arteries.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.4 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and I 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 97 miles in near US 97.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 207.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 97 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 207.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.4 miles on US 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kirkland, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 97 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Kirkland, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
