Origin
Redmond, WA
Night in Redmond on Saturday
Local time
11:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Redmond, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
15.1 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Redmond, WA
Harrison Reilly
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 15.1-mile drive from Redmond to Seattle, Washington, is a quick trip that can be completed in about 22 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day trip, with no need for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is a low $3, making it an economical option. You'll primarily be on WA 520 and I-5, with a short section on Leary Way. This route stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a direct connection between two key Washington cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 520 | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| I 5 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Leary Way | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Union Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northeast 76th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 164th Avenue Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
WA 520
— 10.6 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redmond, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on WA 202
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
164th Avenue Northeast
2
Enter roundabout onto Northeast 76th Street
5 ft
·
0 sec
·
Northeast 76th Street
3
Continue on Northeast 76th Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Northeast 76th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn slight left onto Leary Way
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Leary Way
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward WA 520 West
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto WA 520
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
WA 520
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Northeast 40th Street
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto WA 520
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
WA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 520
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
WA 520
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on Union Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Union Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
16
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 14.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward Northeast 40th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Northeast 40th Street
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 520 West: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle
7
12.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
WA 520
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 520 toward I 5 South: Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
7
14.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Union Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
7
14.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.16 one way
$6.32 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.31 | $6.63 |
| premium | $5.77 | $3.43 | $6.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.33 | $6.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.97 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Seattle, WA
Night in Seattle on Saturday
Local time
11:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
9 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
22m 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 an 82% highway experience on this route, characterized by fast-paced driving. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 10.6 miles along WA 520, allowing for a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of Leary Way offers a slight shift in scenery as you approach your destination. This drive is designed for efficiency, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic byways.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.6 mi on WA 520.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 520 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 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 14 decision points packed into just 15.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (WA 520): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Redmond, WA
Full guide →Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, on the Eastside of Lake Washington. It is a suburb of Seattle, 15 miles (24 km) away. Redmond is home to Microsoft Corporation, which has a large presence in the area. It is also home to Nintendo of America and numerous other companies. It is the self-proclaimed Bicycle Capital of the Northwest.
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 22m. Total distance: 15.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.6 miles on WA 520. 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 Seattle, 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 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (WA 520): 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 Seattle, 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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