Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
17.8 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Sammamish, WA
Wikimedia Commons
This quick 17.8-mile drive from Seattle to Sammamish, Washington, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 26 minutes to complete. With 91% of the journey on highways, it’s a straightforward trip focused on efficient travel. You'll primarily navigate WA 520 and East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast, with a brief segment on I-5. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $4, making it an economical option. This route is ideal for a quick commute or a brief excursion within the Pacific Coast region, offering a practical way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 520 | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| I 5 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Redmond Way | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Sammamish, WA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto Madison Street
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Turn right onto University Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit onto WA 520
Take the exit
Turn right onto WA 202
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto University Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto WA 520 toward WA 520: Bellevue, Kirkland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward WA 202: Redmond Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.73 one way
$7.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.91 | $7.81 |
| premium | $5.77 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.93 | $7.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 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 | 5.3 | 0 | $1.87 | $0.85 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.56 | $0.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Seattle on Tuesday
Local time
2:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Sammamish on Tuesday
Local time
2:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 91% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 12.5 miles along WA 520, offering a consistent pace. While the majority of the journey involves highway driving, the transition onto East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast introduces a change in scenery and road type as you approach your destination. This mix provides a smooth, albeit primarily fast-paced, drive.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 520 and East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
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 17.8 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (University Street): Navigation decision point.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Seattle, WA to Sammamish, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Kirkland along the way.
Kirkland
Seattle, Washington sits at one of the most beautiful spots in the United States. Occupying a narrow isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest, with 780,000 people in Seattle and over four million people in the metro area. Seen from above, carpets of evergreen trees, pristine blue waters, and snowy white mountains surround the downtown's metallic skyscrapers, earning the city its nickname The Emerald City. On the ground, you will find a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. Next to the progressive downtown and the freewheeling feel of Capitol Hill, you can find a laid-back atmosphere in the districts to the north and ethnically diverse neighborhoods to the south.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 17.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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