Origin
Buckley, WA
Morning in Buckley on Friday
Local time
10:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buckley, WA to Bellevue, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
43.3 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buckley, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Buckley, WA to Bellevue, WA is 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 2m via Valley Freeway and I 405, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Washington state, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. It’s a straightforward, mostly highway trip that’s easily manageable for a single day. You’ll find it a practical option for getting between these two points, especially if you're looking for efficiency.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 43.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey on freeways. You'll experience long stretches of consistent driving, including an uninterrupted 18.7 miles on the Valley Freeway. Expect the character of the drive to be dominated by the flow of interstate travel, offering a direct and often fast connection between your starting point and destination. The main roads you'll navigate include the Valley Freeway, State Route 410 East, and I 405.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Valley Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Valley Freeway and State Route 410 East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Cottage Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.3 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: near the start (North Cottage Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Cottage Street
Turn left onto North Cottage Street
Navigation decision point
7
12.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167 North: Seattle
6
31.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North: Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Bellevue
8
41.7 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue Southeast
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 12
Toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue South...
8
41.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 116th Avenue Southeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward 116th Avenue Southeast
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 18.7 mi | 23m |
| State Route 410 East | 10.1 mi | 15m |
| I 405 | 9.5 mi | 11m |
| Elhi Hill Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 116th Avenue Southeast | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Cottage Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Valley Freeway
— 18.7 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckley, WA and Bellevue, WA.
1
Start on this road
88 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto North Cottage Street
119 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Cottage Street
3
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto WA 410
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
State Route 410 East
5
Enter roundabout onto WA 410
95 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Route 410 East
6
Continue on WA 410
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 410 East
7
Continue on WA 410
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Elhi Hill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on WA 410
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 410 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Seattle
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto WA 167
19 mi
·
23 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 405 North: Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 405
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 12
Toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue Southeast
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward 116th Avenue Southeast
Use the left / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto 116th Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
116th Avenue Southeast
16
Turn left onto Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right
45 ft
·
3 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.6 mi from Buckley, WA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Buckley, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bellevue, WA
The final approach into Bellevue, 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
$9.06 one way
$18.12 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.50 | $19.01 |
| premium | $5.77 | $9.83 | $19.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bellevue, WA
Morning in Bellevue on Friday
Local time
10:23 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
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 2m 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 Buckley, WA to Bellevue, WA covers 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Valley Freeway, State Route 410 East, I 405. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.6 miles from Buckley, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.06 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 43.3 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: near the start (North Cottage Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Buckley, WA to Bellevue, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park and Mount Rainier National 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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