Trip from Kirkland, WA to Sunnyside, WA

Drive Time

3h 23m

Distance

176.8 mi

285 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

8 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 12m ★

6 AM

3h 24m

8 AM

3h 48m

10 AM

3h 32m

12 PM

3h 30m

3 PM

3h 34m

5 PM

3h 47m

8 PM

3h 17m

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

Sunnyside, WA

Joshua Lim

Trip Overview

Traveling from Kirkland to Sunnyside covers 176.8 miles of Washington landscape, typically taking about 3 hours and 23 minutes behind the wheel. This straightforward journey is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-90, US-97, and I-82 to navigate between these two Pacific Coast region locations. Budgeting approximately $37 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Because the route is compact and efficient, it serves as a practical connection for those looking to traverse the state quickly rather than taking a multi-day excursion.

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

88.4 miles from Kirkland, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 96% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a significant initial leg, with the longest uninterrupted stretch spanning 100.5 miles along I-90. The drive transitions from the bustling corridors near Kirkland into the more open, high-speed highway environment that defines the rest of the trek. You won’t encounter many technical local roads, as the route prioritizes speed and efficiency through its primary interstate connections. It is a steady, consistent drive that demands focus on maintaining pace across these expansive stretches of pavement.

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

There are about 22 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 US 97. 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 17 significant decision points across 176.8 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 0.2 miles (7th Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 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

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

Enter roundabout onto 7th Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	100.5 mi	1h 51m
US 97	37.8 mi	42m
I 82	25.8 mi	27m
I 405	6 mi	7m
Yakima Valley Highway	2.5 mi	4m
7th Avenue	0.5 mi	1m
Northeast 85th Street	0.5 mi	1m
East Edison Avenue	0.4 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 Sunnyside, 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

26 mi · 27 min · I 82; US 12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward Sunnyside, Yakima Valley Highway

Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road

0.3 mi · 30 sec · West Sunnyside Road

At end of road, turn right onto Yakima Valley Highway

2.5 mi · 4 min · Yakima Valley Highway

Turn right onto Homer Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Homer Street

Turn right onto North 1st Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · North 1st Street

Continue on Zillah Avenue

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Zillah Avenue

Continue on East Edison Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Edison Avenue

Turn sharp right onto South 9th Street

17 ft · 0 sec · South 9th Street

Arrive at destination

South 9th Street

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour and 23-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one strategic stop will help you break up the monotony of the long highway segments. Since you are spending nearly the entire trip on highways, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before hitting the road to avoid unnecessary detours. Keep a close eye on your mileage, as the 100.5-mile stretch on I-90 can feel quite long; using your single planned stop to stretch your legs during this specific segment is a wise move. Because the route is so highway-dependent, check traffic reports for I-90 before heading out to ensure your travel time remains consistent with the standard duration.

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 88.4 miles from Kirkland, WA, or about 1h 42m 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 88.4 miles or 1h 42m 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 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunnyside, 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 176.8 miles and 3h 23m.

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 88.4 mi from Kirkland, WA · 1h 42m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Monroe, WA

88 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 88.4 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 Sunnyside, WA

The final approach into Sunnyside, 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 Sunnyside, 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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 6.1

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.11 one way

$74.21 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.57	$38.75	$77.50
premium	$5.77	$40.17	$80.34
diesel	$5.64	$39.28	$78.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

8 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

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

Volkswagen of Kirkland

Kirkland, WA

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

DC CORRIDOR SEATTLE MINI

Seattle, WA

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

Electrify America: 3 Blink Network: 2 ChargePoint Network: 1 Tesla: 1 Non-Networked: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	53	$18.56	$8.49
Efficient EV	44.2	$15.47	$7.07
EV Truck/SUV	70.7	$24.75	$11.32

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Kirkland, WA

Evening in Kirkland on Sunday

Local time

7:14 PM

PDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sunnyside, WA

Evening in Sunnyside on Sunday

Local time

7:14 PM

PDT

Current temp

35°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

52°F

Monroe, WA

88 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

6 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

3h 23m 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 Sunnyside, WA covers 176.8 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, US 97, I 82. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 88.4 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 $37.11 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 route from Kirkland, WA to Sunnyside, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Sunnyside, WA to Kirkland, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

177.1 mi 3h 24m

Explore more options from Kirkland, WA or browse trips ending in Sunnyside, WA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.

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Trip from Kirkland, WA to Sunnyside, WA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Sunnyside, WA

National Parks Near This Route

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Kirkland, WA

Sunnyside, WA

Same local time

6 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 23m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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