Origin
Tukwila, WA
Morning in Tukwila on Sunday
Local time
7:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tukwila, 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
29m
Distance
20.1 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tukwila, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 20.1-mile drive from Tukwila, WA to Kirkland, WA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 29 minutes. You'll primarily be on I 405, with a short stint on Interurban Avenue South and Northeast 85th Street, making it a highway-focused experience. With a fuel cost estimated at around $4, this is a budget-friendly option for a quick journey within the Pacific Coast region. Given its brevity and lack of designated stops, this route is ideal for a spontaneous trip or as a segment of a larger travel plan. The efficiency of this drive makes it a practical choice for local travel in Washington.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 16.7 mi | 20m |
| Interurban Avenue South | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 58th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Valley Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 141st Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 16.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tukwila, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on South 144th Street
47 ft
·
6 sec
·
South 144th Street
2
Turn left onto 58th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
58th Avenue South
3
Continue on South 141st Place
445 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 141st Place
4
Turn right onto Interurban Avenue South
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Interurban Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on WA 181
527 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Valley Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Everett
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 405
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
6 sec
10
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
12
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
7th Avenue
13
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
7th Avenue
14
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Avenue
15
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
1st Street
16
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 19.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Interurban Avenue South
Turn right onto Interurban Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 North: Renton, Everett
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Everett
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 405
Merge onto I 405
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.4 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
19.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.21 one way
$8.41 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $4.41 | $8.82 |
| premium | $5.77 | $4.56 | $9.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.44 | $8.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.76 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
7:53 AM
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
17 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
29m 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 journey, with 83% of the drive occurring on major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 16.7 miles on I 405, offering a consistent pace. Your drive begins on local roads before merging onto the interstate, where you'll experience the efficiency of freeway travel for the majority of the trip. While not a scenic tour, the reliable nature of the highway system provides a predictable driving experience. This route is designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and Interurban Avenue South. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Interurban Avenue South.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 20.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (Interurban Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 405): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Tukwila, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Everett along the way.
Everett
1.4 mi in
|
~3m
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 29m. Total distance: 20.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 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 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 0.2 miles (Interurban Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 405): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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