Traveling from West Pasco to Kirkland covers 212.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 36 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint, it is best approached as a focused one-day journey. You should budget approximately $45 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, you will stay within a consistent geographic zone throughout your transit. Planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the local navigation. Ultimately, this route offers a practical way to connect these two points if you prefer local roads over major highway systems.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.6 miles from West Pasco, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
101.4 mi
1h 53m
US 12
70.9 mi
1h 17m
I 82
31 mi
33m
I 182
8.3 mi
8m
I 405
6.3 mi
7m
Road 68
1.2 mi
2m
Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
1m
7th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 101.4 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Pasco, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on Pearl Street
0.1 mi·50 sec·Pearl Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Road 72
0.2 mi·46 sec·Road 72
3
Turn right onto West Wernett Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·West Wernett Road
4
Turn left onto Road 68
1.2 mi·2 min·Road 68
5
Take the ramp
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 182 West, US 12 West: Richland, YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 182; US 12
8.3 mi·8 min·I 182; US 12
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
71 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
8
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
101 mi·1 hr 53 min·US 97
Toward I 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 10Toward I 405: Renton, EverettUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 405 North: Everett, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 405
6.3 mi·7 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 18Toward Northeast 85th Street, KirklandUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft·6 sec
15
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft·17 sec·6th Street
17
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·7th Avenue
18
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi·50 sec·7th Avenue
19
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·7th Avenue
20
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft·11 sec·1st Street
21
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour and 36-minute drive, try to depart early in the day to avoid peak traffic on local roads. Since the route relies entirely on local streets rather than highways, your travel time can be sensitive to local congestion, so build in a little extra cushion for your arrival. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and reset, as the constant turning can be more demanding than steady highway driving. Keep your $45 fuel budget in mind and consider topping off your tank before you leave West Pasco to avoid searching for stations during the middle of the drive. Focus your attention on staying alert through the frequent turns on Road 72 and Road 68 to ensure a smooth arrival in Kirkland.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.6 miles from West Pasco, WA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.6 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kirkland, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Pasco, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Pasco, WA
This is one driving day of about 223.2 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from West Pasco, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 97 for about 101.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 221.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Road 72
At end of road, turn right onto Road 72
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
113.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 West
8
214.4 mi into trip|~4h in
Take the exit toward I 405: Renton, Everett
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 10
Toward I 405: Renton, Everett
8
214.6 mi into trip|~4h in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
8
221.4 mi into trip|~4h 9m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.71 one way
$93.43 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$48.99
$97.98
premium
$5.77
$50.69
$101.37
diesel
$5.61
$49.28
$98.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67
0
$23.44
$10.71
Efficient EV
55.8
0
$19.53
$8.93
EV Truck/SUV
89.3
1
$31.25
$14.28
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
West Pasco, WA
Night
in West Pasco on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kirkland, WA
Night
in Kirkland on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
29 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
4h 14m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a unique experience on this route, as it is defined by a turn-heavy, local-road profile rather than a standard highway cruise. With a 0% highway share, you will navigate through local thoroughfares like Road 72, West Wernett Road, and Road 68 for the entirety of the 212.5-mile distance. The lack of high-speed interstate sections means the drive requires more active attention to turns and transitions. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed transit, making the journey feel more like a series of connected local segments. Be prepared for a more technical driving experience that prioritizes local access over rapid, long-distance travel.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.4 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and US 12. 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 Road 72.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 223.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Road 72): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 113.1 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 223.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.4 miles on US 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Road 72): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 113.1 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Kirkland, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
