Connecting the coastal town of Hoquiam to the suburban hub of Kirkland, this 121.1-mile journey is best approached as a simple one-day excursion. You can expect to spend approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes behind the wheel, making it an efficient trip that does not require an overnight stay. Since the route stays entirely within Washington, you will traverse the Pacific Coast region without needing to worry about significant regional climate shifts. Budgeting about $25 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the drive. Because this route avoids major highways entirely, it offers a straightforward alternative for those who prefer to stay off the interstate system.
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
60.5 miles from Hoquiam, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
49.5 mi
1h 1m
WA 8
21.1 mi
26m
Olympic Highway
19.1 mi
25m
I 405
17.4 mi
21m
US 101
5.4 mi
7m
Simpson Avenue
2.9 mi
7m
East Wishkah Street
1.4 mi
2m
West Market Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 49.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hoquiam, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on WA 109
2.9 mi·7 min·Simpson Avenue
2
Turn slight right onto US 101
0.4 mi·1 min·North Park Street
3
Turn left onto West Market Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West Market Street
4
Enter roundabout onto South F Street
21 ft·0 sec·South F Street
5
Continue on South F Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·South F Street
6
Turn left onto US 12
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Heron Street
7
Continue on US 12
474 ft·13 sec·Hornsby Way
8
Turn right onto US 12
1.4 mi·2 min·East Wishkah Street
9
Continue on US 12
19 mi·25 min·Olympic Highway
10
Continue on WA 8
21 mi·26 min·WA 8
11
Merge onto US 101
5.4 mi·7 min·US 101
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·52 sec
13
Merge onto I 5
29 mi·36 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
21 mi·25 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
448 ft·10 sec
Exit 154A-BToward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, BellevueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 154BToward I 405 North: Renton, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 405
17 mi·21 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 18Toward Northeast 85th Street, KirklandUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft·6 sec
20
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft·17 sec·6th Street
22
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·7th Avenue
23
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi·50 sec·7th Avenue
24
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·7th Avenue
25
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft·11 sec·1st Street
26
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour and 15-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows. However, because you are navigating local streets rather than highways, keep in mind that local traffic patterns will have a direct impact on your total travel time. There are no mandatory stops listed for this route, so you can easily complete the entire distance in one go. If you are prone to fatigue, take advantage of the fact that you are traveling through populated areas where amenities are readily available. A smart tip for this specific route is to double-check your turn-by-turn navigation before leaving, as the reliance on local streets like South F Street requires more frequent course corrections than a standard highway drive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.5 miles from Hoquiam, WA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.5 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 27 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.5 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
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 Hoquiam, 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 Hoquiam, WA
This is one driving day of about 121 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Hoquiam, 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 I 5 for about 49.5 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 51.9 and 119.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
51.9 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
80.7 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
101.3 mi into trip|~2h 15m 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
101.4 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
119.2 mi into trip|~2h 38m 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
$25.32 one way
$50.65 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$26.56
$53.12
premium
$5.77
$27.48
$54.95
diesel
$5.61
$26.72
$53.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.3
0
$12.70
$5.81
Efficient EV
30.3
0
$10.59
$4.84
EV Truck/SUV
48.4
0
$16.94
$7.74
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Jun 22, 2022
Origin
Hoquiam, WA
Late night
in Hoquiam on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kirkland, WA
Late night
in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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
2h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of Hoquiam and toward Kirkland. Unlike typical interstate travel, this 121.1-mile trek features a 0% highway share, meaning you will rely exclusively on local surface streets. You will spend your time navigating through North Park Street, West Market Street, and South F Street rather than cruising on high-speed freeways. This setup creates a more technical driving environment that demands your full attention at intersections and turns. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of open road, the pace remains steady and grounded in local transit patterns.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 51.9 miles in near I 5.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 121 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 51.9 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.7 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.3 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.
On the drive from Hoquiam, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
101.3 mi in|~2h 15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 121 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.5 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 51.9 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.7 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kirkland, WA before heading back.
