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Trip from Sunnyside, WA to Kirkland, WA

Drive Time

3h 24m

Distance

177.1 mi

285 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 13m ★
6 AM
3h 25m
8 AM
3h 49m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 31m
3 PM
3h 35m
5 PM
3h 48m
8 PM
3h 18m

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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Downtown Sunnyside, WA, WA

Sunnyside, WA

Joshua Lim

Downtown Kirkland, WA, WA

Kirkland, WA

Spencer Lee Eiseman

Trip Overview

Traveling from Sunnyside to Kirkland covers 177.1 miles, typically taking about 3 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You should budget roughly $37 for fuel to complete the journey. By utilizing I-82, US 97, and I-405, you can efficiently navigate between these two Pacific Coast locations. While the trip is manageable in one go, planning for at least one stop will help you stay fresh as you transition from the agricultural heart of Washington to the urban environment of Kirkland.

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

88.5 miles from Sunnyside, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a trip dominated by high-speed transit, as 96% of your route takes place on major highways. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 101.4 miles on US 97. The character of the road is strictly utilitarian, prioritizing efficiency over technical driving maneuvers or winding backroads. As you move from the interstate connections onto I-405, you will notice the transition from open road to the denser traffic patterns common near your destination. It is a consistent, predictable drive that allows you to cover significant ground without requiring complex navigation.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 97 is the longest continuous segment at about 101.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and I 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 66.9 miles in near US 97.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 177.1 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 66.9 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

7
66.9 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | US 97

Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 90 West
8
168.3 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in

Take the exit toward I 405: Renton, Everett

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 10 Toward I 405: Renton, Everett
8
168.5 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
8
175.3 mi into trip | ~3h 20m in

Take the exit toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland

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 18 Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
6
176.4 mi into trip | ~3h 23m in | 6th Street

Turn right onto 6th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 97 101.4 mi 1h 53m
I 82 62.6 mi 1h 8m
I 405 6.3 mi 7m
Yakima Valley Highway 3.1 mi 5m
Northeast 85th Street 0.7 mi 1m
7th Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
South 6th Street 0.5 mi 1m
Franklin Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 97 — 101.4 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sunnyside, WA and Kirkland, WA.

1

Start on South 9th Street

468 ft · 22 sec · South 9th Street
2

Turn right onto Franklin Avenue

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Franklin Avenue
3

Turn right onto South 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South 6th Street
4

Turn left onto Yakima Valley Highway

3.1 mi · 5 min · Yakima Valley Highway
5

Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road

0.1 mi · 14 sec · West Sunnyside Road
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
7

Merge onto I 82; US 12

32 mi · 35 min · I 82; US 12
8

Continue on I 82; US 97

31 mi · 33 min · I 82; US 97
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 97

101 mi · 1 hr 53 min · US 97
Toward I 90 West Use the none lane.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 10 Toward I 405: Renton, Everett Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 405

6.3 mi · 7 min · I 405
Use the none lane.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 18 Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

182 ft · 6 sec
15

Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Northeast 85th Street
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
16

Turn right onto 6th Street

449 ft · 17 sec · 6th Street
Use the none lane.
17

Turn left onto 7th Avenue

0.1 mi · 15 sec · 7th Avenue
18

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.3 mi · 50 sec · 7th Avenue
19

Continue on 7th Avenue

0.1 mi · 18 sec · 7th Avenue
20

Turn right onto 1st Street

399 ft · 11 sec · 1st Street
21

Arrive at destination

1st Street

Trip Plan

Since this route is a manageable 3.5-hour trek, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Aim to time your arrival in Kirkland to avoid the heaviest peak-hour congestion on I-405, which can significantly impact your final arrival time. With only one recommended stop, use that break to refuel and stretch your legs around the midpoint of the journey to maintain focus. Keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is simple with a $37 cost estimate, but try to fill up before hitting the final interstate segments to avoid higher pump prices near the city. Planning a single, well-timed pause will make the transition from the long US 97 stretch much more comfortable.

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 88.5 miles from Sunnyside, WA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.4 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 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 88.5 miles or 1h 41m 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 Kirkland, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Sunnyside, 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 Sunnyside, WA

This is one driving day of about 177.1 miles and 3h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sunnyside, 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 US 97 for about 101.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 88.5 mi from Sunnyside, WA · 1h 41m into the drive

Downtown Monroe, WA, WA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Monroe, WA

89 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

Yakima, 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 88.5 miles from Sunnyside, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 97 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.4 miles.

Arriving in Kirkland, WA

The final approach into Kirkland, 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 Kirkland, 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

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 171
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.17 one way

$74.34 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $38.82 $77.63
premium $5.77 $40.24 $80.48
diesel $5.64 $39.35 $78.69

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: 62 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.1 0 $18.60 $8.50
Efficient EV 44.3 0 $15.50 $7.08
EV Truck/SUV 70.8 0 $24.79 $11.33

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 7 hours ago

Origin

Sunnyside, WA

Evening in Sunnyside on Sunday

Local time

7:51 PM

PDT

Current temp

69°F

Chance Light Rain

SW 2 to 7 mph 36% chance Live forecast

Winter Storm Watch

Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 12:32PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 8:35PM PDT until April 13 at 5:39AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA

Destination

Kirkland, WA

Evening in Kirkland on Sunday

Local time

7:51 PM

PDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 5 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Winter Storm Watch

Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 12:32PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 8:35PM PDT until April 13 at 5:39AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA

Along the Route

52°F

Monroe, WA

89 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

7 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 24m 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 Sunnyside, WA to Kirkland, WA covers 177.1 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 97, I 82, I 405. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.5 miles from Sunnyside, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.17 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 177.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 66.9 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Sunnyside, WA to Kirkland, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Kirkland, WA to Sunnyside, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

176.8 mi 3h 23m

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