Origin
Des Moines, WA
Late night in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
3:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, 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
37m
Distance
25.6 mi
41 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Des Moines, WA to Kirkland, WA is 25.6 miles and takes about 37 minutes via I 405, I 5, and South 216th Street, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward drive primarily through the Pacific Coast region in Washington state. Given its brief duration, it's an ideal option for a quick commute or a simple hop between nearby cities. You'll be sticking to major highways for most of this trip, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. Plan for a swift journey with minimal logistical hurdles.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| I 5 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| South 216th Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Military Road South | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Marine View Drive South | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 17.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on this road
43 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South 223rd Street
70 ft
·
6 sec
·
South 223rd Street
3
Turn right onto WA 509
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Marine View Drive South
4
Turn right onto 7th Place South
366 ft
·
7 sec
·
7th Place South
Use the right lane.
5
Continue on South 216th Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South 216th Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto Military Road South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Military Road South
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 5
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
448 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 405
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use 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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 223rd Street
Turn left onto South 223rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North: Seattle
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma...
9
6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
8
23.8 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
$5.36 one way
$10.72 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.62 | $11.24 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.81 | $11.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.65 | $11.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
| Efficient EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.24 | $1.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Kirkland, WA
Late night in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
3:05 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
16 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
37m 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?
This trip leans heavily towards highway driving, with 79% of the route on major roads. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of your 25.6-mile journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.4 miles on I 405, offering a consistent pace. While the initial and final segments might involve local streets like South 216th Street, the bulk of the drive is on high-speed interstates. This means you'll be navigating traffic and maintaining highway speeds for a significant portion of the 37-minute travel time.
79% 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: 17.4 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 223rd Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 25.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 223rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Des Moines, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
5.9 mi in
|
~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 25.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.4 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: near the start (South 223rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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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