This 85.8-mile drive from Kirkland, WA, to Bellingham, WA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll primarily be on major highways, with 95% of the journey utilizing the interstate system, making it a straightforward drive. The estimated fuel cost is around $18, which is quite reasonable for this distance. Given the short duration and highway focus, this route is ideal for a quick getaway, offering flexibility for when you choose to depart and how you structure your travel time. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll remain in a familiar, coastal environment throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 85.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, as 95% of the drive is on major interstates. You'll navigate through I-405 and then merge onto I-5 for the majority of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 70.2 miles on I-5, providing a consistent, fast-paced drive. While predominantly interstate, the initial and final segments may involve surface streets like Northeast 85th Street, offering a brief change of pace before returning to high-speed travel. This profile suggests a route optimized for efficiency rather than winding scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 70.2 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 0.1 miles in near 7th Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|7th Avenue
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
13.1 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia
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 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Co...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kirkland, WA to Bellingham, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Vancouver British Columbia along the way.
Vancouver British Columbia
13.1 mi in|~18m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
70.2 mi
1h 22m
I 405
11.4 mi
14m
Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
1m
East Holly Street
0.6 mi
1m
7th Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Dupont Street
0.5 mi
1m
Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi
1m
Prospect Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 70.2 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Bellingham, WA.
1
Start on 1st Street
399 ft·16 sec·1st Street
2
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·7th Avenue
3
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi·52 sec·7th Avenue
4
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·7th Avenue
5
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft·14 sec·6th Street
6
Turn left onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Northeast 85th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
8
Merge onto I 405
1.1 mi·1 min·I 405
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
8.4 mi·10 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
1.9 mi·2 min·I 405
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 5
70 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·27 sec
Exit 253Toward Lakeway Drive
14
Turn right onto King Street
471 ft·9 sec·King Street
15
Turn right onto Lakeway Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Lakeway Drive
16
Continue on East Holly Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Holly Street
17
Turn right onto Bay Street
77 ft·2 sec·Bay Street
18
Turn left onto Prospect Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Prospect Street
19
Continue on Dupont Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Dupont Street
20
Arrive at destination
Dupont Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under two hours, this drive offers considerable flexibility. You can easily make this a day trip, departing at your leisure. Consider leaving Kirkland in the late morning to avoid the most intense rush hour traffic on I-405 and I-5. There are no specific recommended stops noted for this route, so plan your fuel and rest breaks as needed, keeping in mind the longest stretch on I-5 is over 70 miles. A good tip for this route is to monitor traffic conditions on I-5 northbound before you depart, as congestion can significantly impact your 1 hour and 47-minute estimated travel time.
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 42.9 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.2 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 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellingham, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kirkland, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kirkland, WA
This is one driving day of about 85.8 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Kirkland, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 70.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.9 mi from Kirkland, WA
· 53m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.96 one way
$35.91 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$18.83
$37.66
premium
$5.77
$19.48
$38.97
diesel
$5.61
$18.94
$37.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$9.01
$4.12
Efficient EV
21.5
0
$7.51
$3.43
EV Truck/SUV
34.3
0
$12.01
$5.49
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Kirkland, WA
Afternoon
in Kirkland on Friday
Local time
12:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bellingham, WA
Afternoon
in Bellingham on Friday
Local time
12:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:29PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:29PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
58°F
Arlington, WA
43 mi in
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
8 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 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kirkland, WA to Bellingham, WA covers 85.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 405, 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 42.9 miles from Kirkland, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.96 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 85.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from Kirkland, WA to Bellingham, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Vancouver British Columbia along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical 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.
