The drive from Kirkland, WA to Sudden Valley, WA covers 82.1 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, I 405, South Lake Whatcom Boulevard for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.9 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.18 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.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Kirkland, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 82.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 49m highway drive covering 82.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and I 405. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.9 miles on I 5.
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 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.1 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These 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
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|7th Avenue
Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
13.1 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia
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 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Co...
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 Sudden Valley, WA, road signs point toward Vancouver British Columbia and Alger.
Vancouver British Columbia
13.1 mi in|~18m
Alger
71.6 mi in|~1h 27m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
57.9 mi
1h 7m
I 405
11.4 mi
14m
South Lake Whatcom Boulevard
3.5 mi
6m
Alger Cain Lake Road
2.8 mi
4m
Cain Lake Road
2.1 mi
3m
Sudden Valley Drive
1 mi
4m
Lake Samish Road
0.7 mi
1m
Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 57.9 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirkland, WA and Sudden Valley, 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
0.7 mi·1 min·Northeast 85th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
8
Merge onto I 405
1.1 mi·1 min·I 405
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
8.4 mi·10 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
1.9 mi·2 min·I 405
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 5
58 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Alger
14
Turn right onto Lake Samish Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Lake Samish Road
15
Continue on Alger Cain Lake Road
2.8 mi·4 min·Alger Cain Lake Road
16
Continue on Cain Lake Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Cain Lake Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto South Lake Whatcom Boulevard
3.5 mi·6 min·South Lake Whatcom Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Sudden Valley Drive
169 ft·10 sec·Sudden Valley Drive
19
Continue on Sudden Valley Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Sudden Valley Drive
20
Continue on Sudden Valley Drive
0.7 mi·2 min·Sudden Valley Drive
21
Turn left onto Lost Fork Lane
0.2 mi·40 sec·Lost Fork Lane
22
Turn right onto Tawny Circle
280 ft·6 sec·Tawny Circle
23
Arrive at destination
Tawny Circle
Trip Plan
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 41.1 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.9 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 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 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sudden Valley, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kirkland, WA
This is one driving day of about 82.1 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Kirkland, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 57.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.1 mi from Kirkland, WA
· 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.18 one way
$34.37 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$18.02
$36.04
premium
$5.77
$18.64
$37.29
diesel
$5.61
$18.13
$36.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.62
$3.94
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.18
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.49
$5.25
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kirkland, WA
Late night
in Kirkland on Saturday
Local time
12:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sudden Valley, WA
Late night
in Sudden Valley on Saturday
Local time
12:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Arlington, WA
41 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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
1h 49m 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 Sudden Valley, WA covers 82.1 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 405, South Lake Whatcom Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.1 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 $17.18 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.1 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (7th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.5 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Between Kirkland, WA and Sudden Valley, WA, road signs point toward Vancouver British Columbia and Alger.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
