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Trip from Seattle, WA to Bothell, WA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

29m

Distance

20.2 mi

32 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 27m ★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m

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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city in and county seat of King County, State of Washington, United States

Seattle, WA

Wikimedia Commons

city in King and Snohomish Counties, Washington, USA

Bothell, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 20.2-mile drive from Seattle to Bothell, WA, is easily managed in about 29 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. Primarily utilizing I-405 and WA-520 before connecting to I-5, this route is heavily focused on highway travel. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, it's an economical option for getting between these two Washington locations. You'll experience a highway-focused profile for the majority of this journey, which is perfect for a quick commute or an easy excursion within the Pacific Coast region. No overnight stays are necessary for this short hop.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 20.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-centric experience on this 20.2-mile route, with 84% of it being on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.1 miles along I-405. This drive is characterized by smooth, fast-paced travel, allowing you to cover the distance efficiently. While it's primarily highway, the transitions between I-405, WA-520, and I-5 are seamless, contributing to the overall focused driving feel. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained interstate roads, making for a predictable and quick journey.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 7.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and WA 520. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Avenue.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 20.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (WA 520): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 4th Avenue

Turn right onto 4th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
2.5 mi into trip | ~4m in | WA 520

Take the exit onto WA 520 toward WA 520: Bellevue, Kirkland

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. Exit 168B Toward WA 520: Bellevue, Kirkland
7
9.3 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 405: Everett, Renton

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 405: Everett, Renton
7
9.4 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: Everett

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 405 North: Everett
8
17.5 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward WA 522: Bothell, Woodinville

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. Exit 23 Toward WA 522: Bothell, Woodinville

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Seattle, WA and Bothell, WA, road signs point toward Kirkland, Renton and Woodinville.

Kirkland

2.5 mi in | ~4m | via WA 520

Renton

9.3 mi in | ~13m

Woodinville

17.5 mi in | ~24m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 405 7.1 mi 8m
WA 520 6.8 mi 8m
I 5 1.8 mi 2m
WA 522 1.3 mi 2m
101st Avenue Northeast 0.2 mi <1m
4th Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
University Street 0.1 mi <1m
Madison Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 405 — 7.1 mi, about 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Bothell, WA.

1

Start on this road

31 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Madison Street

204 ft · 11 sec · Madison Street
3

Turn right onto 4th Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · 4th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn right onto University Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · University Street
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 5 North
6

Merge onto I 5

1.8 mi · 2 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit onto WA 520

6.8 mi · 8 min · WA 520
Exit 168B Toward WA 520: Bellevue, Kirkland Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 405: Everett, Renton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 2 min
Toward I 405 North: Everett Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 405

4.1 mi · 5 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

3.0 mi · 3 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 23 Toward WA 522: Bothell, Woodinville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 11 sec
Toward WA 522 West: Bothell
14

Turn left onto WA 522

1.3 mi · 2 min · WA 522
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn right onto 101st Avenue Northeast

0.2 mi · 52 sec · 101st Avenue Northeast
16

Turn right

100 ft · 7 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.23 one way

$8.46 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $4.43 $8.87
premium $5.77 $4.59 $9.17
diesel $5.61 $4.46 $8.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.1 0 $2.12 $0.97
Efficient EV 5.1 0 $1.77 $0.81
EV Truck/SUV 8.1 0 $2.83 $1.29

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Seattle, WA

Night in Seattle on Thursday

Local time

9:05 PM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Mostly Sunny

S 6 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR

Destination

Bothell, WA

Night in Bothell on Thursday

Local time

9:05 PM

PDT

Current temp

64°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

8 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

29m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Seattle, WA to Bothell, WA covers 20.2 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, WA 520, I 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.1 miles from Seattle, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.23 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 15 decision points packed into just 20.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (WA 520): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Seattle, WA and Bothell, WA, road signs point toward Kirkland, Renton and Woodinville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park.

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