Origin
Kirkland, WA
Afternoon in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
2:54 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirkland, WA to SeaTac, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
22.3 mi
36 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
SeaTac, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 22.3-mile drive from Kirkland, WA to SeaTac, WA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 31 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of it on major freeways like I 405 and WA 518, making for a straightforward journey. You can expect a fuel cost of around $5 for this short distance. Given the minimal travel time and distance, no overnight stop is necessary. This trip is ideal for those needing to connect between these two points within the Pacific Coast region without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 17.8 mi | 22m |
| WA 518 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Airport Expressway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South 170th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 32nd Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 17.8 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and SeaTac, 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: Renton
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 405
18 mi
·
22 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on WA 518
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 518
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward WA 99 South: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Rental Car Return, State Patrol, Tukwila International Boulevard Station
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on Airport Expressway
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Airport Expressway
Use the left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Air Cargo Road, Rental Car Return, Cell Phone Lot
Use the slight left lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
135 ft
·
3 sec
Toward Rental Car Return, Air Cargo Road
15
Keep slight left at fork
344 ft
·
11 sec
Toward WA 99: International Boulevard
Use the slight left lane.
16
Turn left onto South 170th Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
South 170th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto 32nd Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
32nd Avenue South
18
Turn right
52 ft
·
5 sec
19
Turn right
140 ft
·
10 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 20.2 and 21.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
20.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward WA 99 South: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Rental Car Return, State Patrol, Tukwila International Boulevard Station
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 99 South: Seattle-Tacoma Internationa...
7
20.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
7
21.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward Air Cargo Road, Rental Car Return, Cell Phone Lot
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Air Cargo Road, Rental Car Return, Cell...
7
21.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rental Car Return, Air Cargo Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rental Car Return, Air Cargo Road
8
21.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 99: International Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward WA 99: International Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.67 one way
$9.33 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $4.89 | $9.79 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.06 | $10.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.92 | $9.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.95 | $0.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
SeaTac, WA
Afternoon in SeaTac on Sunday
Local time
2:54 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
31m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 22.3-mile trip, with 86% of your travel on major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.8 miles on I 405, offering a consistent pace. While primarily interstate, you'll transition onto WA 518 and eventually 7th Avenue as you approach your destination. This profile suggests a drive that is largely about efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, allowing you to cover ground quickly.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and WA 518. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 22.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 SeaTac, WA, road signs point toward Rental Car Return, State Patrol, Tukwila International Boulevard Station and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Rental Car Return
20.2 mi in
|
~27m
State Patrol
20.2 mi in
|
~27m
Tukwila International Boulevard Station
20.2 mi in
|
~27m
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
20.6 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Kirkland, WA
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 22.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on I 405. 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 SeaTac, 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 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at SeaTac, WA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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