Kirkland to Omak is 237.4 miles and takes about 4h 57m via Sunset Highway, I 90, and US 97, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll travel within Washington state, moving from the Pacific Coast region inland. This drive is mostly on highways, making for a straightforward trip. With a recommended one day to complete, it's a manageable route for a quick getaway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
118.7 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sunset Highway
90.1 mi
1h 56m
I 90
75.8 mi
1h 25m
US 97
35.6 mi
44m
US 2
16.6 mi
22m
WA 970
9.9 mi
12m
I 405
6 mi
7m
7th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Northeast 85th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Sunset Highway
— 90.1 mi, about 1h 56m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 63 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,533 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,340
Quietest
2 AM
~135 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Omak, 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
76 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward Cle Elum, Leavenworth
13
Turn left onto WA 970
0.4 mi·33 sec·Sunset Highway
14
At end of road, turn right onto WA 970
0.1 mi·10 sec·WA 970
15
Take the exit onto WA 970
9.8 mi·12 min·WA 970
16
Continue on US 97
35 mi·44 min·US 97
17
Take the exit onto US 97
15 mi·19 min·US 2
18
Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 97
132 ft·5 sec·US 2; US 97
19
Continue on US 2; US 97
1.8 mi·3 min·US 2; US 97
20
Turn left onto US 2; US 97
3.0 mi·4 min·Sunset Highway
21
Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 97
85 ft·2 sec·Sunset Highway
22
Continue on US 2; US 97
87 mi·1 hr 50 min·Sunset Highway
23
Continue on US 97; WA 20
0.4 mi·44 sec·US 97; WA 20
24
Turn left onto WA 155
0.3 mi·48 sec·Dayton Street
25
Turn left onto WA 155 Spur
0.3 mi·1 min·Omak Avenue East
26
Turn right
56 ft·4 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 57 minute estimated drive time, leaving Kirkland in the morning should allow you to reach Omak with plenty of daylight. You have one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to Omak, as services can become more spread out. The 61% highway share means you can cover ground quickly, but be prepared for the change in road type as you transition off the main highways.
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 118.7 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.1 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 52 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.7 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Omak, 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 237.4 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 Sunset Highway for about 90.1 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 20
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
$46.25 one way
$92.49 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$48.45
$96.90
premium
$5.39
$50.39
$100.77
diesel
$4.80
$44.83
$89.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.2
0
$24.93
$11.40
Efficient EV
59.4
0
$20.77
$9.50
EV Truck/SUV
95
1
$33.24
$15.19
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Kirkland, WA
Morning
in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
9:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Sunny
WNW 1 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Omak, WA
Morning
in Omak on Sunday
Local time
9:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
91°F
Leavenworth, WA
119 mi in
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
14 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
4h 57m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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?
This route features 61% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch covering 90.1 miles on Sunset Highway. You'll spend most of your time on major roads before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a generally efficient drive with some rural cruising as you head towards Omak.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.1 mi on Sunset Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Sunset Highway and I 90. You will hit about 20 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 Effort6/10
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 237.4 miles you will encounter 20 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
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,005 ft159 ft
Total Climb
4,064 ft
Total Descent
3,380 ft
Highest Point
3,005 ft
~50.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,846 ft
Notable High Points
3,005 ft at ~50.9 miles+755 ft prominence
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 Omak, WA, road signs point toward Cle Elum and Leavenworth.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 237.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.1 miles on Sunset Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Omak, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Omak, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
