Origin
Fircrest, WA
Evening in Fircrest on Sunday
Local time
8:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fircrest, WA to Kirkland, WA
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
44.8 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fircrest, WA
Alex Stone
Kirkland, WA
Spencer Lee Eiseman
Trip Overview
Spanning 44.8 miles, this straightforward trip from Fircrest to Kirkland is an efficient connection across the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 1 minute behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. Because the route is so compact, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you total flexibility in your schedule. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the drive remains an affordable way to navigate between these two points. Since the path is entirely highway-focused, you will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, this route provides a direct, no-nonsense path through the heart of the region.
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
22.4 miles from Fircrest, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a highly efficient commute, as 90% of this journey is comprised of highway driving. You will navigate a sequence of major arteries, primarily utilizing WA 16, I-5, and I-405 to reach your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during your 20.9-mile transit on I-5, where you can settle into a steady rhythm. Because this route is heavily focused on interstate travel, it maintains a consistent pace rather than shifting into technical or winding local roads. You should anticipate a standard highway experience that prioritizes speed and connectivity over scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 44.8 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
7
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
25.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
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 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma...
9
25.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
8
43 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Fircrest, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
25.1 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 20.9 mi | 26m |
| I 405 | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| WA 16 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Columbia Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Alameda Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Orchard Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 20.9 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fircrest, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on Alameda Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Alameda Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Columbia Avenue
3
Continue on South 19th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South 19th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto South Orchard Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Orchard Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto WA 16
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
WA 16
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 5
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 5
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit
448 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 405
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 405
Use the none lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
6 sec
16
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
Use the none lane.
18
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
7th Avenue
19
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
7th Avenue
20
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Avenue
21
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
1st Street
22
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1-hour duration, your biggest challenge will be timing your departure to avoid peak traffic congestion common on I-5 and I-405. Since the entire trip is relatively short, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your personal schedule best. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the distance is easily managed in one go. To keep your travel costs near the $9 fuel estimate, ensure your tank is topped off before merging onto the highway system. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to monitor live traffic apps before you depart, as incidents on these high-traffic interstates can quickly add time to your hour-long journey.
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 22.4 miles from Fircrest, WA, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.9 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 44.8 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.4 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
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 Fircrest, 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 Fircrest, WA
This is one driving day of about 44.8 miles and 1h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fircrest, 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 5 for about 20.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.4 mi from Fircrest, WA · 30m 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 44.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Fircrest, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kirkland, 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
$9.40 one way
$18.81 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $9.82 | $19.64 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.95 | $19.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 Sunday
Local time
8:17 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
1h 1m 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 Fircrest, WA to Kirkland, WA covers 44.8 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 405, WA 16. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.4 miles from Fircrest, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.40 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 19 significant decision points across 44.8 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Fircrest, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
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