Origin
Kirkland, WA
Evening in Kirkland on Friday
Local time
7:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirkland, WA to Kent, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
23.6 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 23.6-mile drive from Kirkland, WA to Kent, WA is a quick trip, estimated to take around 34 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll navigate local roads like 7th Avenue, 6th Street, and Northeast 85th Street, with no highway segments to speak of. Budget approximately $5 for fuel for this short journey. The route offers a straightforward local transit experience within the Pacific Coast region.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 23.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this entire 23.6-mile stretch. With 0% highway share, you'll be constantly engaging with city streets and intersections. The route doesn't feature any long, uninterrupted stretches, meaning you'll be managing speed and direction frequently. This drive is characterized by its urban navigation, making it feel more like a series of local commutes rather than a continuous journey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 405 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and Valley Freeway. 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 Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 23.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese 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
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
21.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward 84th Avenue South, North Central Avenue
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 84th Avenue South, North Central Avenue
6
22.1 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
Central Avenue North
Turn left onto Central Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kirkland, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Rainier Avenue South and 84Th Avenue South.
Rainier Avenue South
16.2 mi in
|
~22m
84Th Avenue South
21.8 mi in
|
~30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| Valley Freeway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Central Avenue North | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Gowe Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 14.7 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Kent, 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 straight / slight right lanes.
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
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward 84th Avenue South, North Central Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Central Avenue North
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Avenue North
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto East Gowe Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Gowe Street
15
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
2nd Avenue South
16
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.94 one way
$9.88 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.18 | $10.36 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.36 | $10.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.21 | $10.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Kent, WA
Evening in Kent on Friday
Local time
7:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
34m 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 Kent, WA covers 23.6 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, Valley Freeway, Central Avenue North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.8 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 $4.94 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 23.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
Between Kirkland, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Rainier Avenue South and 84Th Avenue South.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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