Origin
Burien, WA
Evening in Burien on Friday
Local time
5:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burien, 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
32m
Distance
23.6 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burien, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 23.6-mile drive from Burien, WA to Kirkland, WA is designed for a single day, taking approximately 32 minutes to complete. With 90% of the journey on the highway, you'll primarily be navigating I 405 and State Route 518. The estimated fuel cost for this short trip is around $5, making it an economical option. Since the origin and destination are both within the Pacific Coast region, you won't experience a shift in regional scenery. This route is perfect for a quick commute or a short hop between these Washington cities, offering a practical and efficient way to get from point A to point B without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 23.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 23.6-mile trip. With a 90% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on major thoroughfares like I 405 and State Route 518. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.6 miles on I 405, allowing for a consistent pace. While this route prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours, it offers a direct and unfettered path between Burien and Kirkland. The drive is characterized by its straightforward nature, designed for smooth, albeit non-scenic, transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 17.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and State Route 518. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near WA 518.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 23.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (WA 518): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WA 518
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 518 toward I 405 North: Renton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: Renton
8
21.9 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
23.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
23.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
23.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
1st Street
Turn right onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 17.6 mi | 21m |
| State Route 518 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Southwest 148th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| WA 518 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 17.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burien, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on Southwest 148th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 148th Street
2
Continue on WA 518
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 518
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 518
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
WA 518
Toward I 405 North: Renton
Use the slight left lane.
4
Continue on I 405
18 mi
·
21 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
6 sec
7
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
9
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
7th Avenue
10
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
7th Avenue
11
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Avenue
12
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
1st Street
13
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.94 one way
$9.88 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.18 | $10.36 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.36 | $10.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.21 | $10.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Evening in Kirkland on Friday
Local time
5:48 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
32m 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 Burien, WA to Kirkland, WA covers 23.6 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, State Route 518, Northeast 85th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.8 miles from Burien, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.94 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 short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 23.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (WA 518): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Burien, WA to Kirkland, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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