Origin
Renton, WA
Morning in Renton on Sunday
Local time
7:37 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Renton, WA to Kirkland, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
16.7 mi
27 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 16.7-mile drive from Renton, WA to Kirkland, WA takes about 25 minutes and is easily managed as a single-day trip. With 79% of the route on highways, expect a primarily fast-paced journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $4, making it a budget-friendly option. This route stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a convenient way to navigate between these Washington cities. It's a quick connection that doesn't require an overnight stay, perfect for a day trip or a simple transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 900 | 13.2 mi | 16m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 3rd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Airport Way | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Sunset Boulevard North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Logan Avenue South | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Rainier Avenue South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
WA 900
— 13.2 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
71 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn left
98 ft
·
9 sec
4
Turn right onto Rainier Avenue South
520 ft
·
12 sec
·
Rainier Avenue South
5
Turn right onto Airport Way
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Way
6
Continue on Logan Avenue South
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Logan Avenue South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 3rd Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto WA 900
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 900
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard North
10
Take the ramp onto WA 900
13 mi
·
16 min
·
WA 900
Toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
6 sec
13
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
15
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
7th Avenue
16
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
7th Avenue
17
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Avenue
18
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
1st Street
19
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 16.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 3rd Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
WA 900
Take the ramp onto WA 900 toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
8
14.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
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 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
5
16.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.50 one way
$6.99 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.67 | $7.33 |
| premium | $5.77 | $3.79 | $7.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.69 | $7.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.46 | $0.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Kirkland, WA
Morning in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
7:37 AM
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
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
25m 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?
This highway-focused drive features a substantial 79% share of its mileage on faster roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13.2 miles on WA 900, indicating a significant portion of the journey that moves along swiftly. The route utilizes main roads like WA 900, Northeast 85th Street, and North 3rd Street, suggesting a mix of higher-speed arterial roads and some local street transitions as you near your destination. Expect a drive that prioritizes efficiency over winding scenic byways.
79% 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: 13.2 mi on WA 900.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 900 and Northeast 85th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near North 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 16.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (North 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving 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 25m. Total distance: 16.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.2 miles on WA 900. 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 Kirkland, 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 0.7 miles (North 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): 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 Kirkland, 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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