Kirkland to Indianola is 95.6 miles and takes about 2h 10m via WA 16 and I-5, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Pacific Coast region within Washington state, offering a predominantly highway-focused experience. You'll primarily be on major roadways, making it a straightforward journey. With a drive time under three hours, it's an ideal option for a same-day excursion, allowing for plenty of time to enjoy your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.8 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WA 16
28.3 mi
36m
I 5
21.6 mi
27m
I 405
17.8 mi
22m
State Highway 3 Northwest
15.8 mi
19m
Indianola Road Northeast
3.3 mi
6m
Bond Road Northeast
2.4 mi
4m
Northeast Gunderson Road
2.3 mi
4m
State Highway 305 Northeast
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
WA 16
— 28.3 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Indianola, 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
18 mi·22 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 South: PortlandUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 5
20 mi·25 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi·1 min·I 5
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 132BToward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, BremertonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·45 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Union AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto WA 16
28 mi·36 min·WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on WA 3
16 mi·19 min·State Highway 3 Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward WA 305 South: Poulsbo, Bainbridge IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
218 ft·5 sec
18
Turn straight onto WA 305
0.6 mi·1 min·State Highway 305 Northeast
19
Turn left onto WA 307
2.4 mi·4 min·Bond Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Northeast Gunderson Road
2.3 mi·4 min·Northeast Gunderson Road
Use the right lane.
21
At end of road, turn left onto Miller Bay Road Northeast
0.3 mi·33 sec·Miller Bay Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Indianola Road Northeast
3.3 mi·6 min·Indianola Road Northeast
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
Indianola Road Northeast
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of about 2 hours and 10 minutes, you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the busiest commute traffic on I-5 and I-405. With minimal stops recommended, plan to refuel before you leave Kirkland or keep an eye on your gauge, as the $20 fuel budget suggests a straightforward fill-up. The longest stretch on WA 16 is over 28 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that sustained driving before needing to pull over.
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 47.8 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.3 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.8 miles or 1h 3m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indianola, 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 95.6 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Kirkland, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on WA 16 for about 28.3 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 19.3 and 89.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.3 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
8
41.2 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
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 132B
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
7
41.8 mi into trip|~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
7
86.4 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward WA 305 South: Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island
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 WA 305 South: Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island
6
89.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|Northeast Gunderson Road
Turn right onto Northeast Gunderson Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.01 one way
$40.02 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$20.98
$41.97
premium
$5.77
$21.71
$43.42
diesel
$5.61
$21.11
$42.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.7
0
$10.04
$4.59
Efficient EV
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
EV Truck/SUV
38.2
0
$13.38
$6.12
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 16, 2026
Origin
Kirkland, WA
Night
in Kirkland on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Sunny
SSW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Indianola, WA
Night
in Indianola on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°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
12 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 10m 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.
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 highway-focused drive for 88% of this 95.6-mile route. You'll encounter stretches on WA 16, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 28.3 miles. The journey involves significant time on major interstates like I-5 and I-405, so be prepared for consistent highway speeds. While the primary roads are high-capacity, the overall experience is about efficiently covering ground to reach your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.3 mi on WA 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 95.6 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 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.8 miles: 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 Kirkland, WA and Indianola, WA, road signs point toward Bremerton and Bainbridge Island.
Bremerton
41.2 mi in|~54m
Bainbridge Island
86.4 mi in|~1h 52m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 95.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m 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 28.3 miles on WA 16. 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 Indianola, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.8 miles: 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 Indianola, WA before heading back.
