Origin
Bethel, WA
Night in Bethel on Friday
Local time
11:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethel, WA to Kirkland, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
32.5 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethel, WA
cottonbro studio
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bethel, WA to Kirkland, WA covers 32.5 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southeast Sedgwick Road, WA 520, Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.5 miles on Southeast Sedgwick Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 32.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Bethel, WA to Kirkland, WA covers 32.5 miles and takes about 1h 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southeast Sedgwick Road is the longest continuous segment at about 6.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 32.5 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 0.8 miles (WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (Fauntleroy Way Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles (WA 520): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road
Turn right onto WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
12.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Fauntleroy Way Southwest
At end of road, turn left onto Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
8
23.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
WA 520
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 168B
Toward WA 520: Bellevue, Kirkland
8
29.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
7
29.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
Bellevue Way Northeast
Turn left onto Bellevue Way Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Bethel, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast along the way.
Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
29.3 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Sedgwick Road | 6.5 mi | 12m |
| WA 520 | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry | 4.8 mi | 29m |
| I 5 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Fauntleroy Way Southwest | 3.7 mi | 10m |
| West Seattle Bridge | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Bethel Road Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Southeast Sedgwick Road
— 6.5 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethel, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on Southeast Cedar Road
129 ft
·
7 sec
·
Southeast Cedar Road
2
Turn right onto Bethel Road Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bethel Road Southeast
3
Turn right onto WA 160
6.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Southeast Sedgwick Road
Use the right lane.
4
At end of road, turn right onto WA 160
171 ft
·
4 sec
·
Southeast Sedgwick Road
5
Continue on WA 160
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Southworth Ferry
6
Turn straight onto WA 160
4.8 mi
·
29 min
·
Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry
7
Continue on Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
8
At end of road, turn left onto Fauntleroy Way Southwest
3.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Continue on West Seattle Bridge
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Seattle Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 5
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto WA 520
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
WA 520
Exit 168B
Toward WA 520: Bellevue, Kirkland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast, Bellevue Way
14
Keep slight left at fork
162 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Bellevue Way Northeast
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bellevue Way Northeast
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
17
Continue on Lake Street South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street South
18
At end of road, turn left onto Central Way
312 ft
·
19 sec
·
Central Way
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
1st Street
20
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.2 mi from Bethel, WA · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.2 miles from Bethel, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kirkland, WA
The final approach into Kirkland, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.80 one way
$13.60 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.13 | $14.27 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.38 | $14.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.18 | $14.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.41 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.84 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Night in Kirkland on Friday
Local time
11:28 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
16 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
1h 23m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bethel, WA to Kirkland, WA covers 32.5 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southeast Sedgwick Road, WA 520, Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.2 miles from Bethel, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 32.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (Fauntleroy Way Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles (WA 520): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bethel, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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