Connecting Kirkland to Olympia is a straightforward 69.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Since this is a quick trip within the Pacific Coast region, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will rely primarily on I-405 and I-5 to navigate through the corridor, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Washington hubs. With an estimated fuel cost of only $15, the route is as budget-friendly as it is convenient. Whether you are heading south for business or a quick getaway, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay for this manageable distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.6 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
48.3 mi
1h
I 405
17.8 mi
22m
7th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Northeast 85th Street
0.5 mi
1m
14th Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi
<1m
Capitol Way South
0.2 mi
<1m
6th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
1st Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 48.3 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Olympia, 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
28 mi·34 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward State Capitol, Olympia City Center
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Port of Olympia
14
Turn straight onto 14th Avenue Southeast
0.1 mi·22 sec·14th Avenue Southeast
15
Enter roundabout onto 14th Avenue Southeast
120 ft·2 sec·14th Avenue Southeast
16
Continue on 14th Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·24 sec·14th Avenue Southeast
17
Turn right onto Capitol Way South
0.2 mi·14 sec·Capitol Way South
18
Arrive at destination
Capitol Way South
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 1-hour and 30-minute commute, try to plan your departure around local peak traffic hours, as highway congestion can significantly impact your travel time on I-5. Since there are no mandatory stops required for this 69.2-mile distance, you have the flexibility to drive straight through or break up the journey based on your own schedule. Keep that $15 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure, and ensure your tank is ready for the high-speed stretches. A pro tip for this route: keep a close eye on real-time traffic updates for the I-405 and I-5 interchange, as this is where you are most likely to encounter delays.
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 34.6 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.3 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 15 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.6 miles or 45m 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 Olympia, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kirkland, WA
This is one driving day of about 69.2 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Kirkland, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 48.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 39.9 — 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
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
6
39.9 mi into trip|~52m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.48 one way
$28.97 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$15.19
$30.38
premium
$5.77
$15.71
$31.43
diesel
$5.61
$15.28
$30.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.27
$3.32
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.69
$4.43
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 12, 2026
Origin
Kirkland, WA
Evening
in Kirkland on Saturday
Local time
7:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olympia, WA
Evening
in Olympia on Saturday
Local time
7:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 2 mph10% chanceLive 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
5 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
1h 30m 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 high-speed, interstate-focused experience, as 95% of your travel time is spent on major highways. The personality of this drive is dictated by the flow of traffic on I-5, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 48.3 miles. You will start on I-405 before merging onto the main arterial, eventually transitioning onto 7th Avenue as you reach your destination. Because this is a highway-heavy route, you should prepare for a consistent, functional drive rather than a winding backroads adventure. The road remains fast-paced and efficient, prioritizing speed and direct navigation over recreational driving conditions.
95% 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: 48.3 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 7th Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.2 miles you will encounter 14 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
455 ft19 ft
Total Climb
1,143 ft
Total Descent
1,206 ft
Highest Point
455 ft
~28.8 mi in
Elevation Range
436 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 69.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.3 miles on I 5. 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 Olympia, 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Olympia, WA before heading back.
