Spanning 170.7 miles, this drive from Kirkland to Ephrata is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 17 minutes. You will primarily utilize I-405, I-90, and WA-283 to complete the trip. Because the total travel time is manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting approximately $36 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since both cities are located within Washington, you will stay within the same regional environment throughout your travels. It is a practical, efficient path that gets you across the state without unnecessary detours.
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
85.3 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
141.5 mi
2h 35m
WA 283
20.1 mi
27m
I 405
6 mi
7m
7th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Northeast 85th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Burke Spur
0.1 mi
<1m
6th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
1st Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 141.5 mi, about 2h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Ephrata, WA.
1
Start on 1st Street
399 ft·16 sec·1st Street
2
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·7th Avenue
3
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi·52 sec·7th Avenue
4
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·7th Avenue
5
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft·14 sec·6th Street
6
Turn left onto Northeast 85th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Northeast 85th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 405 South: RentonUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 405
6.0 mi·7 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward I 90: Spokane, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: SpokaneUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
141 mi·2 hr 35 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward WA 283 North: Ephrata, Soap Lake
13
Continue on WA 281 Spur
0.1 mi·9 sec·Burke Spur
14
Turn right onto WA 283
20 mi·27 min·WA 283
15
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue Southwest
43 ft·0 sec·3rd Avenue Southwest
16
Arrive at destination
3rd Avenue Southwest
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the trip fits easily into one day, but leaving early helps you avoid potential congestion on I-405. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever you feel the need to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that 141.5-mile stretch on I-90 to ensure you don't run low between major service points. Because the route is so highway-dependent, check traffic conditions on the interstate segments before you leave Kirkland to ensure your timing remains accurate. This direct approach allows you to reach Ephrata with minimal stress and maximum reliability.
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 85.3 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.5 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.3 miles or 1h 38m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ephrata, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kirkland, 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 Kirkland, WA
This is one driving day of about 170.7 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Kirkland, 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 90 for about 141.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|7th Avenue
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
7.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
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 11
Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
7
8 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.73 one way
$71.45 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$37.47
$74.93
premium
$5.77
$38.76
$77.53
diesel
$5.61
$37.69
$75.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.2
0
$17.92
$8.19
Efficient EV
42.7
0
$14.94
$6.83
EV Truck/SUV
68.3
0
$23.90
$10.92
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kirkland, WA
Night
in Kirkland on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ephrata, WA
Night
in Ephrata on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 17m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient commute, as 98% of this route consists of highway driving. The journey is dominated by a long, uninterrupted 141.5-mile stretch on I-90, which sets the tone for the majority of your time behind the wheel. You will find that the road maintains a consistent, high-speed pace as you transition between major interstates and the final shift onto WA-283. This is a highway-focused drive, offering a steady experience rather than a winding or technical backroads path. Staying alert during the long interstate portion is key, as the character of the road remains relatively uniform until you near your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WA 283. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 7th Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 170.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Kirkland, WA to Ephrata, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Soap Lake along the way.
Soap Lake
150 mi in|~2h 49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 17m. Total distance: 170.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 141.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Ephrata, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
