Trip from Kent, WA to Buckley, WA

Q: How long is the trip from Kent, WA to Buckley, WA?

The drive from Kent, WA to Buckley, WA covers 26.3 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Valley Freeway, State Route 410 East, WA 410. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 13.1 miles from Kent, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Drive Time

39m

Distance

26.3 mi

42 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min

4 AM

0h 36m ★

6 AM

0h 40m

8 AM

0h 46m

10 AM

0h 42m

12 PM

0h 41m

3 PM

0h 42m

5 PM

0h 46m

8 PM

0h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Buckley, WA

Ann H

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from the Kent area to Buckley, this 26.3-mile trip is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 39 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors like the Valley Freeway and State Route 410 East. Because the total duration is under an hour, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel is sufficient for the drive, making it a very economical commute within the Pacific Coast region. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Washington locations that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing.

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

13.1 miles from Kent, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 86% of this route relies on faster, multi-lane roads. The drive begins with a significant 12.3-mile stretch on the Valley Freeway, which provides a consistent, high-speed pace early on. As you transition onto WA 410, the character of the road remains centered on highway travel rather than winding local streets. This is a functional, direct drive that minimizes technical maneuvers in favor of steady cruising. You should anticipate a predictable flow, as the route maintains a professional, transit-oriented feel 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 17 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 12.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Valley Freeway and State Route 410 East. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (WA 167 / Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in

Turn left toward WA 167 South: Auburn

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward WA 167 South: Auburn

1 mi into trip | ~2m in | WA 167 / Valley Freeway

Merge onto WA 167 / Valley Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

13.3 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the exit toward WA 410 East: Sumner, Yakima

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 WA 410 East: Sumner, Yakima

26.2 mi into trip | ~39m in | North Cottage Street

Turn left onto North Cottage Street

Navigation decision point

26.3 mi into trip | ~39m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Kent, WA to Buckley, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Yakima along the way.

Yakima

13.3 mi in | ~17m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Valley Freeway	12.3 mi	15m
State Route 410 East	5.6 mi	9m
WA 410	4.7 mi	6m
Elhi Hill Road	2 mi	3m
West Willis Street	0.4 mi	<1m
Main Street	0.2 mi	<1m
4th Avenue South	0.2 mi	<1m
West Gowe Street	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Valley Freeway — 12.3 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Buckley, WA.

Start on 2nd Avenue South

10 ft · 4 sec · 2nd Avenue South

Turn right onto West Gowe Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · West Gowe Street

Turn left onto 4th Avenue South

0.2 mi · 23 sec · 4th Avenue South

Turn slight right

182 ft · 6 sec

Turn straight onto WA 516

0.4 mi · 53 sec · West Willis Street

Turn left

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward WA 167 South: Auburn Use the left lane.

Merge onto WA 167

12 mi · 15 min · Valley Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 47 sec

Toward WA 410 East: Sumner, Yakima Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on WA 410

4.7 mi · 6 min · WA 410

Use the none lane.

Continue on WA 410

2.0 mi · 3 min · Elhi Hill Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on WA 410

0.6 mi · 1 min · State Route 410 East

Use the none lane.

Enter roundabout onto WA 410

72 ft · 1 sec · State Route 410 East

Continue on WA 410

4.9 mi · 8 min · State Route 410 East

Turn right onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto North Cottage Street

119 ft · 7 sec · North Cottage Street

Turn right

88 ft · 6 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since the entire trip is just 39 minutes long, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for multiple rest stops or overnight logistics, as the short distance allows you to power through in one go. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind, and consider fueling up before you hit the highway to avoid any last-minute stress. Because this route is heavily dependent on State Route 410, checking traffic reports for that specific corridor before you leave is the smartest way to ensure a smooth arrival in Buckley. Use the agility of this short drive to your advantage by choosing a departure time that avoids peak congestion.

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 13.1 miles from Kent, WA, or about 17m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.3 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 26.3 miles or 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 13.1 miles or 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckley, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Kent, 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 Kent, WA

This is one driving day of about 26.3 miles and 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kent, 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 Valley Freeway for about 12.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 13.1 mi from Kent, WA · 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bonney Lake, WA

13 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

Bonney Lake, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bonney Lake, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 13.1 miles from Kent, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Buckley, WA

The final approach into Buckley, 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 Buckley, 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

$5.52 one way

$11.04 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.57	$5.76	$11.53
premium	$5.77	$5.98	$11.95
diesel	$5.64	$5.84	$11.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	7.9	$2.76	$1.26
Efficient EV	6.6	$2.30	$1.05
EV Truck/SUV	10.5	$3.68	$1.68

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Kent, WA

Night in Kent on Sunday

Local time

10:25 PM

PDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Buckley, WA

Night in Buckley on Sunday

Local time

10:25 PM

PDT

Current temp

36°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

2 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

39m 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 Kent, WA to Buckley, WA covers 26.3 miles and takes about 39m 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, WA 410. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 13.1 miles from Kent, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.52 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.