Origin
Burien, WA
Late night in Burien on Sunday
Local time
1:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burien, WA to Kirkland, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
23.6 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burien, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 23.6-mile drive from Burien, WA to Kirkland, WA is designed for a single day, taking approximately 32 minutes to complete. With 90% of the journey on the highway, you'll primarily be navigating I 405 and State Route 518. The estimated fuel cost for this short trip is around $5, making it an economical option. Since the origin and destination are both within the Pacific Coast region, you won't experience a shift in regional scenery. This route is perfect for a quick commute or a short hop between these Washington cities, offering a practical and efficient way to get from point A to point B without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 17.6 mi | 21m |
| State Route 518 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 148th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| WA 518 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 17.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burien, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on Southwest 148th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 148th Street
2
Continue on WA 518
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 518
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 518
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
WA 518
Toward I 405 North: Renton
Use the slight left lane.
4
Continue on I 405
18 mi
·
21 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
6 sec
7
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
9
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
7th Avenue
10
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
7th Avenue
11
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Avenue
12
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
1st Street
13
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 23.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WA 518
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 518 toward I 405 North: Renton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: Renton
8
21.9 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
5
23.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
23.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
23.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
1st Street
Turn right onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.94 one way
$9.88 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.18 | $10.36 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.36 | $10.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.21 | $10.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
Kirkland, WA
Late night in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
1:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 23.6-mile trip. With a 90% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on major thoroughfares like I 405 and State Route 518. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.6 miles on I 405, allowing for a consistent pace. While this route prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours, it offers a direct and unfettered path between Burien and Kirkland. The drive is characterized by its straightforward nature, designed for smooth, albeit non-scenic, transit.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.6 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and State Route 518. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near WA 518.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 23.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (WA 518): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 23.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.6 miles on I 405. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (WA 518): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kirkland, WA before heading back.
How this page is built
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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