Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Frederickson, WA
Mykhailo Petrenko
Traveling from Kirkland to Frederickson covers 48.3 miles through the heart of the Pacific Coast region. You can expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of about $10, it is a budget-friendly commute or excursion within Washington state. Because the route is highly efficient, you gain the flexibility to spend your time at your destination rather than on the road. Whether you are traveling for business or personal errands, the straightforward nature of this journey allows for predictable scheduling.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 19.9 mi | 24m |
| I 405 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| WA 161 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Canyon Road East | 4.3 mi | 8m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Frederickson, WA.
Start on 1st Street
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
Continue on 7th Avenue
Continue on 7th Avenue
Turn right onto 6th Street
Turn left onto Northeast 85th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 405
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto WA 167
Take the exit
Continue on WA 161; WA 512
Take the exit
Turn left onto Canyon Road East
Turn slight right
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Kirkland, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.2 and 43.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 512 West, WA 161 South: Puyallup, Olympia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Canyon Road, Summit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Canyon Road East
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$10.11 one way
$20.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $10.60 | $21.20 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.97 | $21.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.66 | $21.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
10:29 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Frederickson on Sunday
Local time
10:29 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This 48.3-mile route is a highway-focused drive, with 83% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of I-405, the Valley Freeway, and WA-161 to complete the trek. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Valley Freeway, where you will spend 19.9 miles maintaining highway speeds. Expect a practical, utilitarian driving experience that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding scenic backroads. While the transit is steady, the transition between these major arterial roads defines the character of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Valley Freeway and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.2 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
771 ft
Total Descent
537 ft
Highest Point
473 ft
~44.8 mi in
Elevation Range
445 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kirkland, WA and Frederickson, WA, road signs point toward Rainier Avenue South, Olympia and Summit.
Rainier Avenue South
Olympia
Summit
Kirkland is a charming city of 93,000 (2019) in King County, Washington, across from Seattle on the east side of Lake Washington.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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