This 212.4-mile drive from Goldendale, WA to Kirkland, WA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, with an estimated duration of 4 hours and 6 minutes. You'll spend 97% of your time on major highways, primarily US 97 and I-82, before transitioning to I-405. With a projected fuel cost of around $44, this route offers an economical way to travel between the Pacific Coast regions of Washington. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct path with minimal detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.2 miles from Goldendale, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
149.5 mi
2h 50m
I 82
49.3 mi
54m
I 405
6.3 mi
7m
Evergreen Highway
1.8 mi
2m
East Broadway Street
1 mi
1m
Buena Way
0.8 mi
1m
South Elm Street
0.7 mi
1m
Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 149.5 mi, about 2h 50m
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 Goldendale, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on East Allyn Street
242 ft·12 sec·East Allyn Street
2
Turn right onto South Columbus Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·South Columbus Avenue
3
Turn right onto WA 142
1.0 mi·1 min·East Broadway Street
4
Turn left onto US 97
48 mi·56 min·US 97
5
Continue on WA 22
0.7 mi·1 min·South Elm Street
6
Continue on WA 22
0.8 mi·1 min·Buena Way
7
Continue on WA 22
1.8 mi·2 min·Evergreen Highway
8
Continue on WA 22
0.1 mi·11 sec·Buena Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
10
Merge onto I 82; US 12
18 mi·20 min·I 82; US 12
11
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
12
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.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 10Toward I 405: Renton, EverettUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 405 North: Everett, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 405
6.3 mi·7 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 18Toward Northeast 85th Street, KirklandUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft·6 sec
18
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft·17 sec·6th Street
20
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·7th Avenue
21
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi·50 sec·7th Avenue
22
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·7th Avenue
23
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft·11 sec·1st Street
24
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, starting your journey from Goldendale in the morning will allow you to reach Kirkland with plenty of daylight. The route is designed for efficiency, with only one suggested stop, so plan your breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on US 97, as services might be less frequent. This is a drive where you can maintain a consistent pace, so there's no need to rush. Enjoy the straightforward progress towards your destination.
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 106.2 miles from Goldendale, WA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 149.5 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.2 miles or 2h 3m 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 19m
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 Goldendale, 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 Goldendale, WA
This is one driving day of about 212.4 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Goldendale, 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 149.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 210.6 — 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 Columbus Avenue
Turn right onto South Columbus Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
102.3 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
203.6 mi into trip|~3h 52m 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
203.9 mi into trip|~3h 53m 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
8
210.6 mi into trip|~4h 1m 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
$41.38 one way
$82.75 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$43.35
$86.70
premium
$5.39
$45.08
$90.16
diesel
$4.80
$40.11
$80.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.7
0
$22.30
$10.20
Efficient EV
53.1
0
$18.59
$8.50
EV Truck/SUV
85
1
$29.74
$13.59
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Goldendale, WA
Afternoon
in Goldendale on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
PDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
W 21 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
Afternoon
in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
NNW 6 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
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
6 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
4h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 205.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip. With 97% of the route on major roads, you'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including a 149.5-mile segment on US 97. This means you'll largely be on well-maintained, high-speed routes designed for efficient travel. The character of the drive is consistent, allowing for a steady pace. While primarily highway, the transition onto I-405 near the end will bring you into a more urban driving environment.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 149.5 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 early in the drive near South Columbus Avenue.
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 16 significant decision points across 212.4 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: near the start (South Columbus Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 102.3 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 212.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 149.5 miles on US 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Columbus Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 102.3 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.6 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Kirkland, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
