Origin
Kent, WA
Late night in Kent on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kent, 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
34m
Distance
24.4 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 24.4-mile drive from Kent, WA to Kirkland, WA is a quick, 34-minute journey perfect for a single day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, it’s an economical option for exploring within the Pacific Coast region. The route is predominantly highway-focused, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Washington cities. Given its short duration and minimal stops, you won't need to split this into an overnight trip. Plan for a smooth, largely uninterrupted drive on major freeways.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 14.8 mi | 18m |
| Valley Freeway | 5.9 mi | 7m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Willis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Gowe Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 14.8 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Kirkland, 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: Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 405
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
14
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
7th Avenue
15
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
7th Avenue
16
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Avenue
17
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
1st Street
18
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 23.9 — 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
5
7.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 405
Merge onto I 405
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.6 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
5
23.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.11 one way
$10.21 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.36 | $10.71 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.54 | $11.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.39 | $10.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 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 | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
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
2:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Sunny
SSW 5 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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
34m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 85% of this 24.4-mile trip, primarily utilizing I-405 and the Valley Freeway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 14.8 miles on I-405, offering a consistent pace. While there are brief transitions onto local roads like Northeast 85th Street, the overall feel is that of efficient freeway travel. This route is designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss, characterized by higher speeds and straightforward navigation.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.8 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and Valley Freeway. 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 Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 24.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
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 7.7 miles (I 405): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Kent, WA
Full guide →Kent is the fourth largest city in King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington State, between Seattle and Tacoma.
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 34m. Total distance: 24.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.8 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: 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 7.7 miles (I 405): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 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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