Trip from Kirkland, WA to College Place, WA

Drive Time

5h 6m

Distance

269.9 mi

434 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$57

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 53m ★

6 AM

5h 7m

8 AM

5h 34m

10 AM

5h 16m

12 PM

5h 14m

3 PM

5h 18m

5 PM

5h 33m

8 PM

4h 59m

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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Kirkland, WA

Spencer Lee Eiseman

College Place, WA

david hou

Trip Overview

Spanning 269.9 miles, the drive from Kirkland to College Place is a straightforward journey typically taking 5 hours and 6 minutes. Since the entire trip stays within Washington, you will traverse the state from the Pacific Coast region toward the interior. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, though you should budget approximately $57 for fuel to complete the trek. By utilizing a primary corridor of I-90, I-82, and US-12, you can maintain a consistent pace across the state. Whether you are heading out for work or a visit, the trip is manageable for most drivers without requiring an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

134.9 miles from Kirkland, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You should be prepared for a consistent interstate experience, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 100.5 miles on I-90. As you transition between these three major highways, expect a predictable driving environment that favors efficiency over technical maneuvering. The route maintains a high-speed personality throughout, allowing you to cover significant distance without the frequent stops associated with local roads. It is an ideal path if you prefer a steady, predictable pace behind the wheel.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 100.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. 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.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 269.9 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 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 7th Avenue

Turn left onto 7th Avenue

Navigation decision point

7.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle

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 11 Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle

8 mi into trip | ~12m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 90 East: Spokane

109 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | US 97

Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: 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 I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima

211 mi into trip | ~3h 56m in | US 12

Take the exit onto US 12 toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco

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 102 Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco

Towns Along This Route

Between Kirkland, WA and College Place, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.

I‑182 East

211 mi in | ~3h 56m | via US 12

Pasco

211 mi in | ~3h 56m | via US 12

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	100.5 mi	1h 51m
I 82	64.1 mi	1h 8m
US 12	54.8 mi	1h 2m
US 97	37.8 mi	42m
I 405	6 mi	7m
Wallula Avenue	2.1 mi	3m
Old Highway 12	1.2 mi	2m
7th Avenue	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 100.5 mi, about 1h 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and College Place, WA.

Start on 1st Street

399 ft · 16 sec · 1st Street

Turn left onto 7th Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · 7th Avenue

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.3 mi · 52 sec · 7th Avenue

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.1 mi · 20 sec · 7th Avenue

Turn right onto 6th Street

449 ft · 14 sec · 6th Street

Turn left onto Northeast 85th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Northeast 85th Street

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 405 South: Renton Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 405

6.0 mi · 7 min · I 405

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 11 Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 East: Spokane Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 90

101 mi · 1 hr 51 min · I 90

Use the none lane.

Take the exit onto US 97

38 mi · 42 min · US 97

Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12

64 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 82; US 12

Take the exit onto US 12

55 mi · 1 hr 2 min · US 12

Exit 102 Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto Spalding Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Spalding Road

Turn left onto Old Highway 12

1.2 mi · 2 min · Old Highway 12

Turn right onto Wallula Avenue

2.1 mi · 3 min · Wallula Avenue

Enter roundabout

17 ft · 0 sec

Continue

103 ft · 4 sec

Continue on North College Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · North College Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto North College Avenue

0.3 mi · 40 sec · North College Avenue

Turn left onto East Whitman Drive

61 ft · 1 sec · East Whitman Drive

Arrive at destination

East Whitman Drive

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 5-hour journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially since the route is dominated by long highway stretches. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that initial 100.5-mile segment on I-90 to ensure you are ready for the transition to I-82 and US-12. Because this route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic patterns. Always prioritize a quick stretch break at the halfway point to stay sharp for the final leg into College Place.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 134.9 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 2h 34m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.5 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 134.9 miles or 2h 34m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near College Place, 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.

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 269.9 miles and 5h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kirkland, WA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 100.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 134.9 mi from Kirkland, WA · 2h 34m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Yakima, WA

135 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

Monroe, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yakima, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.9 miles from Kirkland, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.5 miles.

Arriving in College Place, WA

The final approach into College Place, 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 College Place, WA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

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...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$56.65 one way

$113.29 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.57	$59.15	$118.31
premium	$5.77	$61.32	$122.65
diesel	$5.64	$59.96	$119.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$57

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$82–$107

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 94.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

8 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good

Fred Meyer - Tesla Supercharger

Kirkland, WA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Pierre Ford of Seattle – Parts and Service

Seattle, WA

Blink Network

6 DCFC

Fred Meyer 179 (Seattle, WA)

Seattle, WA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

QFC 807 (Seattle, WA)

Seattle, WA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Ford of Kirkland

Kirkland, WA

Blink Network

4 DCFC

QFC 828 (Kirkland, WA)

Kirkland, WA

Electrify America

3 DCFC

RAG - Alfa Romeo Kirkland

Kirkland, WA

Blink Network

2 DCFC

DC CORRIDOR SEATTLE MINI

Seattle, WA

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Blink Network: 3 Electrify America: 3 ChargePoint Network: 1 Tesla: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	81	0	$28.34	$12.96
Efficient EV	67.5	0	$23.62	$10.80
EV Truck/SUV	108	1	$37.79	$17.27

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 2 hours ago

Origin

Kirkland, WA

Evening in Kirkland on Sunday

Local time

6:09 PM

PDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 5 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Destination

College Place, WA

Evening in College Place on Sunday

Local time

6:09 PM

PDT

Current temp

37°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

25 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

5h 6m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 College Place, WA covers 269.9 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, I 82, US 12. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 134.9 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 $56.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Kirkland, WA and College Place, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.

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Trip from Kirkland, WA to College Place, WA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in College Place, WA

National Parks Near This Route

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Kirkland, WA

College Place, WA

Same local time

25 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 6m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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