Kent, WA to Arlington Heights, WA is 71 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via I-405 and I-5, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip primarily within Washington State, connecting two points in the Pacific Coast region. Given its short duration and highway profile, it's an ideal same-day excursion, perfect for a quick commute or a short hop north. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a practical choice for efficient travel without significant scenic detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.5 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 405
26.9 mi
33m
I 5
25.7 mi
31m
Valley Freeway
5.9 mi
7m
Oso Slide Memorial Highway
2.6 mi
3m
State Highway 530 Northeast
2.3 mi
3m
115th Avenue Northeast
2 mi
4m
WA 530
1.5 mi
2m
228th Street Northeast
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 26.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Arlington Heights, WA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue South
10 ft·4 sec·2nd Avenue South
2
Turn right onto West Gowe Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·West Gowe Street
3
Turn left onto 4th Avenue South
0.2 mi·23 sec·4th Avenue South
4
Turn slight right
182 ft·6 sec
5
Turn straight onto WA 516
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Willis Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Renton
7
Merge onto WA 167
5.9 mi·7 min·Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 405 North: BellevueUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 405
17 mi·20 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
8.4 mi·10 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
1.9 mi·2 min·I 405
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 5
26 mi·31 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 208Toward WA 530 East: Arlington, DarringtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto WA 530
2.3 mi·3 min·State Highway 530 Northeast
16
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
51 ft·0 sec·WA 530
17
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi·26 sec·WA 530
18
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
89 ft·1 sec·WA 530
19
Continue on WA 530
1.1 mi·1 min·WA 530
20
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
96 ft·2 sec·West Division Street
21
Continue on West Division Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·West Division Street
22
Enter roundabout onto East Division Street
65 ft·2 sec·East Division Street
23
Continue on East Division Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·East Division Street
24
Turn left onto Manhattan Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·Manhattan Avenue
25
At end of road, turn right onto WA 530
517 ft·17 sec·East Burke Avenue
26
Continue on WA 530
0.1 mi·13 sec·Talcott Street
27
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi·34 sec·State Route 530 Northeast
28
Continue on WA 530
2.6 mi·3 min·Oso Slide Memorial Highway
29
Turn right onto 115th Avenue Northeast
2.0 mi·4 min·115th Avenue Northeast
30
Turn left onto 228th Street Northeast
0.6 mi·1 min·228th Street Northeast
31
Arrive at destination
228th Street Northeast
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short, 1-hour-and-35-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Aiming to leave mid-morning or early afternoon can help you avoid the peak commute hours. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need to worry too much about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach the I-5 corridor, as congestion can impact your travel time on this route.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.5 miles from Kent, WA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.9 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.5 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington Heights, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kent, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kent, WA
This is one driving day of about 71 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Kent, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 405 for about 26.9 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 60.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|WA 167 / Valley Freeway
Merge onto WA 167 / Valley Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North: Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Bellevue
6
24.4 mi into trip|~31m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.7 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia
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.
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Co...
8
60.9 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington
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 208
Toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.86 one way
$29.72 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$15.58
$31.17
premium
$5.77
$16.12
$32.25
diesel
$5.61
$15.68
$31.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
Efficient EV
17.8
0
$6.21
$2.84
EV Truck/SUV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.54
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kent, WA
Late night
in Kent on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington Heights, WA
Late night
in Arlington Heights on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°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
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 35m 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.
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 19.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 88% of the journey taking place on major freeways like I-405 and I-5, including the Valley Freeway. Expect a mostly smooth, high-speed experience for the majority of the trip. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 26.9 miles on I-405, offering an uninterrupted flow. The character of the road remains consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over winding backroads or varied terrain.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.9 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 around 1 miles in near WA 167 / Valley Freeway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71 miles you will encounter 22 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 1 miles (WA 167 / Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kent, WA and Arlington Heights, WA, road signs point toward Vancouver British Columbia and Darrington.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 71 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.9 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 Arlington Heights, 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 1 miles (WA 167 / Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Arlington Heights, WA before heading back.
