Origin
Fircrest, WA
Late night in Fircrest on Tuesday
Local time
1:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fircrest, WA to Kirkland, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
44.8 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fircrest, WA
Alex Stone
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 44.8 miles, this straightforward trip from Fircrest to Kirkland is an efficient connection across the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 1 minute behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. Because the route is so compact, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you total flexibility in your schedule. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the drive remains an affordable way to navigate between these two points. Since the path is entirely highway-focused, you will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, this route provides a direct, no-nonsense path through the heart of the region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 20.9 mi | 26m |
| I 405 | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| WA 16 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Columbia Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Alameda Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Orchard Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 20.9 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fircrest, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on Alameda Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Alameda Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Columbia Avenue
3
Continue on South 19th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South 19th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto South Orchard Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Orchard Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto WA 16
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 5
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
11
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.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 405
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
6 sec
16
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
18
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
7th Avenue
19
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
7th Avenue
20
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Avenue
21
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
1st Street
22
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Fircrest, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 43 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
7
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
25.1 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
25.2 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
43 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
$9.38 one way
$18.75 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.83 | $19.67 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.17 | $20.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 Tuesday
Local time
1:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°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
1h 1m 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?
Prepare for a highly efficient commute, as 90% of this journey is comprised of highway driving. You will navigate a sequence of major arteries, primarily utilizing WA 16, I-5, and I-405 to reach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during your 20.9-mile transit on I-5, where you can settle into a steady rhythm. Because this route is heavily focused on interstate travel, it maintains a consistent pace rather than shifting into technical or winding local roads. You should anticipate a standard highway experience that prioritizes speed and connectivity over scenic detours.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.9 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 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 Fircrest, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
25.1 mi in
|
~34m
About the Cities
Arriving in Kirkland, WA
Full guide →Kirkland is a charming city of 93,000 (2019) in King County, Washington, across from Seattle on the east side of Lake Washington.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 44.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m 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 20.9 miles on I 5. 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 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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