Drive Time
3h 43m
Distance
184 mi
296 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
Photo: Joshua Lim
The drive from Kirkland, WA to Sunnyside, WA covers 184 miles and takes about 3h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 7th Avenue, 6th Street, Northeast 85th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.62 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 43m drive with frequent turns across 184 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kirkland, WA to Sunnyside, WA is easy. At 3h 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kirkland, WA to Sunnyside, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 7th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 6th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast 85th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 405 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 205 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Padden Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Padden Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Sunnyside, WA.
Start on 1st Street
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
Exit the roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Exit the roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Turn right onto 6th Street
Turn left onto Northeast 85th Street
Take the ramp slight right toward I 405 South: Renton
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South: Portland
Merge slight left
Keep slight right
Keep slight right to continue on I 205 South: Salem
Take the exit slight right toward Padden Parkway, Northeast Andresen Road
Turn left onto Northeast Padden Parkway
Turn right onto Northeast 152nd Avenue
Continue on Northeast 78th Street
Turn right onto Northeast 162nd Avenue
Turn left onto Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard
Exit the roundabout onto Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard
Continue on Northeast 58th Street
Continue on Northeast 232nd Avenue
Continue on Northeast 54th Street
Keep slight right to continue on Northeast 237th Avenue
Turn left onto Northeast 53rd Street
Continue on Northeast Bradford Road
Continue on Northeast 53rd Street
Continue on Northeast 292nd Avenue
Turn left onto Northeast Stauffer Road
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunnyside, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kirkland, 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 Kirkland, WA
This is one driving day of about 184 miles and 3h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92 mi from Kirkland, WA · 1h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 92 miles from Kirkland, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Sunnyside, 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 Sunnyside, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$38.62 one way
$77.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $40.33 | $80.66 |
| premium | $5.77 | $41.81 | $83.61 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $40.88 | $81.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.32 | $8.83 |
| Efficient EV | 46 | 0 | $16.10 | $7.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.6 | 0 | $25.76 | $11.78 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
1:50 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Sunnyside on Sunday
Local time
1:50 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
35°F
Centralia, WA
92 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Kirkland, WA or browse trips ending in Sunnyside, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.
Explore maps for Kirkland, WA or Sunnyside, WA on MapSof.net.
