Origin
Shoreline, WA
Afternoon in Shoreline on Wednesday
Local time
4:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shoreline, WA to Kirkland, WA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
28m
Distance
17.5 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shoreline, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 17.5-mile drive from Shoreline, WA to Kirkland, WA typically takes about 28 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll spend a good portion of your time on major highways, with a fuel cost estimated at $4. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a direct connection between these two points within the Pacific Coast region. Given its short distance and duration, there's no need to split this journey into multiple days; you can easily complete it in one go. This drive is ideal for a quick commute or a short excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
8.8 miles from Shoreline, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive that is 74% highway, predominantly on I-5 and WA 520. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 7.7 miles on I-5. This means you'll experience mostly faster speeds and less frequent turns for a significant portion of the journey. While the highway focus is clear, be prepared for transitions onto local roads like Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast as you approach your destination. This blend offers a dynamic driving experience, shifting from interstate cruising to more localized travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 7.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 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.
Route Complexity
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 17.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 5 South
8
8.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward WA 520 East: Montlake, 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 left lanes.
Exit 168B
Toward WA 520 East: Montlake, Bellevue, Kirklan...
8
14.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
7
14.7 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Bellevue Way Northeast
Turn left onto Bellevue Way Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shoreline, WA and Kirkland, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue and Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast.
Bellevue
8.6 mi in
|
~12m
Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
14.4 mi in
|
~20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| WA 520 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Lake Street South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North 175th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bellevue Way Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Central Way | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 7.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shoreline, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on this road
111 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
448 ft
·
35 sec
3
Turn right onto North 175th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 175th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 5 South
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 5
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 168B
Toward WA 520 East: Montlake, Bellevue, Kirkland
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Continue on WA 520
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
WA 520
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast, Bellevue Way
9
Keep slight left at fork
162 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto Bellevue Way Northeast
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bellevue Way Northeast
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast
12
Continue on Lake Street South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street South
13
At end of road, turn left onto Central Way
312 ft
·
19 sec
·
Central Way
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
1st Street
15
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Trip Plan
For this short 17.5-mile trip, flexibility is key. You can easily tackle this drive in one day with minimal planning. Consider departing outside of peak commute hours to enjoy the smoothest traffic flow. Since the total duration is only about 28 minutes, you won't need to worry about extensive stops for fuel or rest. A specific tip for this route: pay attention to signage for WA 520 East as it's a crucial segment leading you toward Kirkland. The estimated fuel cost is low at $4, so you shouldn't have any budget concerns.
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 8.8 miles from Shoreline, WA, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.7 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 17.5 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.8 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kirkland, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Shoreline, WA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shoreline, WA
This is one driving day of about 17.5 miles and 28m.
At 17.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 7.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.8 mi from Shoreline, WA · 12m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.8 miles from Shoreline, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kirkland, WA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Kirkland, WA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.66 one way
$7.33 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.84 | $7.68 |
| premium | $5.77 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.86 | $7.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.84 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.53 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Kirkland, WA
Afternoon in Kirkland on Wednesday
Local time
4:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
28m 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 Shoreline, WA to Kirkland, WA covers 17.5 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, WA 520, Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.8 miles from Shoreline, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.66 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 10 decision points packed into just 17.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Shoreline, WA and Kirkland, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue and Lake Washington Boulevard Northeast.
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