Origin
Kirkland, WA
Afternoon in Kirkland on Monday
Local time
12:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirkland, WA to La Center, WA
Drive Time
3h 9m
Distance
159.5 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 58m
★
6 AM
3h 10m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 16m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirkland, WA
Spencer Lee Eiseman
La Center, WA
Julio Lopez
Trip Overview
The drive from Kirkland, WA to La Center, WA covers 159.5 miles and takes about 3h 9m 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 $33.48 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
79.8 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 9m drive with frequent turns across 159.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
7th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kirkland, WA to La Center, WA is easy. At 3h 9m 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 La Center, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| 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 |
| La Center | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest 319th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest La Center Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
7th Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and La Center, WA.
1
Start on 1st Street
400 ft
·
16 sec
·
1st Street
2
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
7th Avenue
3
Exit the roundabout onto 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
7th Avenue
4
Exit the roundabout onto 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 slight right toward I 405 South: Renton
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 405 South: Renton
8
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
22 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South: Portland
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 5 South: Portland
10
Merge slight left
20 mi
·
25 min
11
Keep slight right
117 mi
·
2 hr 12 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward La Center, Cowlitz Reservation
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
La Center, Cowlitz Reservation
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Northwest 319th Street
289 ft
·
6 sec
·
Northwest 319th Street
14
Exit the roundabout onto Northwest 319th Street
472 ft
·
12 sec
·
Northwest 319th Street
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Northwest La Center Road
154 ft
·
3 sec
·
Northwest La Center Road
16
Exit the roundabout onto Northwest La Center Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest La Center Road
17
Continue on Northwest Pacific Highway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Northwest Pacific Highway
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West 4th Street
23 ft
·
West 4th Street
19
Exit the roundabout onto West 4th Street
522 ft
·
20 sec
·
West 4th Street
20
Turn right
59 ft
·
4 sec
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 79.8 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Center, 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 159.5 miles and 3h 9m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.8 mi from Kirkland, WA · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.8 miles from Kirkland, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in La Center, WA
The final approach into La Center, 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 La Center, 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
$33.48 one way
$66.95 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $34.96 | $69.92 |
| premium | $5.77 | $36.24 | $72.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.44 | $70.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.75 | $7.66 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.33 | $10.21 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
La Center, WA
Afternoon in La Center on Monday
Local time
12:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°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
15 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
3h 9m 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 La Center, WA covers 159.5 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 7th Avenue, 6th Street, Northeast 85th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.8 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 $33.48 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Kirkland, WA to La Center, WA is easy. At 3h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kirkland, WA to La Center, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kirkland, WA to La Center, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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