Origin
Bothell, WA
Evening in Bothell on Sunday
Local time
8:57 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bothell, WA to Seattle, WA
Drive Time
29m
Distance
19.4 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
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.
Bothell, WA
nicholas hatherly
Seattle, WA
Josh Hild
Trip Overview
Traveling from Bothell to Seattle is a quick, 19.4-mile journey that typically takes about 29 minutes. Because this trip is entirely within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, it serves as a straightforward commute rather than a multi-day expedition. You can easily manage this drive in a single day, making it ideal for those needing to get between these two points efficiently. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an economical trip that relies on major thoroughfares. You will find that the convenience of this route makes it a simple task, whether you are heading into the city for work or leisure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
9.7 miles from Bothell, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
This highway-focused drive keeps you on the move, with 87% of your time spent on major roads like I-405, WA-520, and I-5. You will experience a steady, fast-paced rhythm as you navigate these primary arteries. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 8.3 miles on I-405, which sets the tone for the majority of the trip. Do not expect winding backroads or technical maneuvers; instead, anticipate a direct, functional experience behind the wheel. The road transitions seamlessly between these interstates, providing a consistent driving environment from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 405 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and WA 520. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 19.4 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 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 405: Bellevue, 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.
Toward I 405: Bellevue, Renton, Everett
8
9.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward WA 520 East, WA 520 West: Redmond, Seattle
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 14
Toward WA 520 East, WA 520 West: Redmond, Seatt...
8
9.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 520 West: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 14
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle
7
16.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
WA 520
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 520 toward I 5 South: Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Union Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
Towns Along This Route
Between Bothell, WA and Seattle, WA, road signs point toward Renton and Everett.
Renton
1.1 mi in
|
~3m
Everett
1.1 mi in
|
~3m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| WA 520 | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| I 5 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Woodinville Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Northeast 185th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Union Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kaysner Way | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 8.3 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bothell, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
100 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 101st Avenue Northeast
156 ft
·
14 sec
·
101st Avenue Northeast
3
Turn left onto Northeast 185th Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Northeast 185th Street
4
Turn right onto 104th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
104th Avenue Northeast
5
Continue on Kaysner Way
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Kaysner Way
6
Turn left onto WA 522
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodinville Drive
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 405: Bellevue, Renton, Everett
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn slight left onto I 405
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
I 405
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
457 ft
·
11 sec
Exit 14
Toward WA 520 East, WA 520 West: Redmond, Seattle
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 14
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto WA 520
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
WA 520
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 520
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
WA 520
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 5
Use the none lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on Union Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Union Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
18
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 29-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for overnight stays or extensive rest breaks, as the distance is easily covered in one go. Keep in mind that because you are relying heavily on I-405 and I-5, traffic flow can vary significantly throughout the day. To ensure a smooth transit, check local traffic reports before you head out to avoid potential congestion on the highway segments. Use the $4 fuel estimate as a baseline for your travel budget, though keep in mind that idling in heavy traffic might slightly increase your consumption.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 9.7 miles from Bothell, WA, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.3 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 19.4 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.7 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bothell, 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 Bothell, WA
This is one driving day of about 19.4 miles and 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bothell, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 405 for about 8.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.7 mi from Bothell, WA · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.7 miles from Bothell, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Seattle, WA
The final approach into Seattle, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Seattle, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.07 one way
$8.14 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $4.25 | $8.50 |
| premium | $5.77 | $4.41 | $8.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.31 | $8.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.04 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
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
Seattle, WA
Evening in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
8:57 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°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
3 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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bothell, WA to Seattle, WA covers 19.4 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, WA 520, I 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.7 miles from Bothell, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.07 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 19.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bothell, WA and Seattle, WA, road signs point toward Renton and Everett.
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