Origin
Kirkland, WA
Night in Kirkland on Sunday
Local time
9:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirkland, WA to Frederickson, WA
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, WA
Spencer Lee Eiseman
Trip Overview
Traveling from Kirkland to Frederickson covers 48.3 miles through the heart of the Pacific Coast region. You can expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of about $10, it is a budget-friendly commute or excursion within Washington state. Because the route is highly efficient, you gain the flexibility to spend your time at your destination rather than on the road. Whether you are traveling for business or personal errands, the straightforward nature of this journey allows for predictable scheduling.
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
24.1 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 48.3-mile route is a highway-focused drive, with 83% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of I-405, the Valley Freeway, and WA-161 to complete the trek. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Valley Freeway, where you will spend 19.9 miles maintaining highway speeds. Expect a practical, utilitarian driving experience that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding scenic backroads. While the transit is steady, the transition between these major arterial roads defines the character of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 19.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Valley Freeway and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.2 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 48.3 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 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
16.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
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 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue Sou...
7
16.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
7
37 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward WA 512 West, WA 161 South: Puyallup, Olympia
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 512 West, WA 161 South: Puyallup, Oly...
7
43.4 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward Canyon Road, Summit
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 Canyon Road, Summit
6
43.7 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
Canyon Road East
Turn left onto Canyon Road East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Kirkland, WA and Frederickson, WA, road signs point toward Rainier Avenue South, Olympia and Summit.
Rainier Avenue South
16.2 mi in
|
~22m
Olympia
37 mi in
|
~49m
Summit
43.4 mi in
|
~57m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 19.9 mi | 24m |
| I 405 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| WA 161 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Canyon Road East | 4.3 mi | 8m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Valley Freeway
— 19.9 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Frederickson, 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
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 405 South: Renton
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 405
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 405
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto WA 167
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 512 West, WA 161 South: Puyallup, Olympia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on WA 161; WA 512
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
WA 161; WA 512
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward Canyon Road, Summit
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Canyon Road East
4.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Canyon Road East
Use the left lane.
16
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
46 sec
17
Turn right
305 ft
·
22 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 7-minute drive, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always wise when navigating the I-405 corridor. With zero planned stops required, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to stretch your legs. Keep your $10 fuel budget in mind as you prepare, and ensure your tank is topped off before merging onto the Valley Freeway to avoid mid-trip detours. Prioritize checking real-time traffic reports for the I-405 section before you leave to ensure your transit remains within the expected duration.
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 24.1 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.9 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 48.3 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.1 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frederickson, 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 48.3 miles and 1h 7m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Valley Freeway for about 19.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from Kirkland, WA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 48.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Kirkland, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Frederickson, WA
The final approach into Frederickson, 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 Frederickson, 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
$10.14 one way
$20.27 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $10.59 | $21.17 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Frederickson, WA
Night in Frederickson on Sunday
Local time
9:00 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
4 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
1h 7m 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 Kirkland, WA to Frederickson, WA covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Valley Freeway, I 405, WA 161. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 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 $10.14 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 13 significant decision points across 48.3 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 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kirkland, WA and Frederickson, WA, road signs point toward Rainier Avenue South, Olympia and Summit.
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