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Trip from Kirkland, WA to Wauna, WA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 15m

Distance

57 mi

92 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in King County, Washington, United States

Kirkland, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Wauna, WA, WA

Wauna, WA

Alok Sharma

Trip Overview

This 57-mile drive from Kirkland, WA to Wauna, WA takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes and is a straightforward, highway-focused journey. With 93% of the route on major highways like I-5, I-405, and WA-16, it’s an efficient trip that’s perfectly suited for a single day. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, making it an economical option for a quick excursion. This route is a great choice if you're looking for a direct connection within the Pacific Coast region, offering a practical way to cover ground without significant detours. Given its short duration and minimal stops, you'll likely arrive at your destination with plenty of time to spare.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 21.6 mi 27m
I 405 17.8 mi 22m
WA 16 12.5 mi 15m
State Route 302 0.9 mi 1m
Purdy Drive Northwest 0.8 mi 1m
7th Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Northeast 85th Street 0.5 mi 1m
6th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 21.6 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Wauna, 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

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland Use 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 132B Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 45 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Merge onto WA 16

13 mi · 15 min · WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn straight onto WA 302

0.8 mi · 1 min · Purdy Drive Northwest
17

Turn left onto WA 302

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Route 302
18

Turn left

67 ft · 5 sec
19

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Renton, WA

29 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.

Popular next leg

Renton, WA to Wauna, WA

41.2 mi · 55m

Pacing Suggestions

Renton, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Federal Way, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.5 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 54.8 — 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

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
6
54.8 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Take the exit toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.93 one way

$23.86 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $12.51 $25.02
premium $5.77 $12.94 $25.89
diesel $5.61 $12.58 $25.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.1 0 $5.98 $2.74
Efficient EV 14.3 0 $4.99 $2.28
EV Truck/SUV 22.8 0 $7.98 $3.65

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

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

9:24 PM

PDT

Current temp

57°F

Sunny

SSW 5 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

Destination

Wauna, WA

Night in Wauna on Saturday

Local time

9:24 PM

PDT

Current temp

59°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

2 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

1h 15m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 57-mile trip, with 93% of your time spent on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 21.6 miles on I-5, offering a chance to settle into a consistent pace. The route largely utilizes the interstate system, including I-405 and WA-16, which means generally smooth travel and higher speeds. While not a scenic tour, this highway-focused profile ensures an efficient and predictable drive. You'll primarily be navigating the well-maintained infrastructure of Washington state.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.6 mi on I 5.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57 miles you will encounter 15 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 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.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Kirkland, WA to Wauna, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bremerton along the way.

Bremerton

41.2 mi in | ~54m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 57 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.6 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 Wauna, 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 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.

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 Wauna, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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