Origin
Wauna, WA
Afternoon in Wauna on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauna, WA to Kirkland, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
56.8 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauna, WA
Alok Sharma
Kirkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 56.8-mile drive from Wauna, WA to Kirkland, WA takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-5 and I-405, with a brief section of WA-16, making it a highway-focused journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick excursion. The Pacific Coast regions of both Washington states offer a familiar backdrop for this efficient drive. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 56.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 92% of the drive utilizing major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.9 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace. While the route is largely highway, the inclusion of WA-16 may introduce slight variations in road character before you merge back onto the faster interstates. This drive prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways, making it a predictable and swift transit.
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 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.9 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 15.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
15.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
16.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
37.2 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
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 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma...
9
37.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
8
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Wauna, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Bellevue
37.2 mi in
|
~48m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 20.9 mi | 26m |
| I 405 | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| WA 16 | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| WA 302 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Purdy Drive Northwest | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 85th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 20.9 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauna, WA and Kirkland, WA.
1
Start on this road
67 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto WA 302
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 302
3
Turn straight
475 ft
·
10 sec
4
Turn straight onto WA 302
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Purdy Drive Northwest
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward WA 16 East
6
Merge onto WA 16
13 mi
·
16 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 5
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
448 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 405
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 18
Toward Northeast 85th Street, Kirkland
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
6 sec
16
Turn straight onto Northeast 85th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 85th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto 6th Street
449 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
18
Turn left onto 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
7th Avenue
19
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
7th Avenue
20
Continue on 7th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Avenue
21
Turn right onto 1st Street
399 ft
·
11 sec
·
1st Street
22
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.4 mi from Wauna, WA · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.4 miles from Wauna, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.89 one way
$23.78 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $12.47 | $24.93 |
| premium | $5.77 | $12.90 | $25.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.54 | $25.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.73 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.95 | $3.64 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Friday
Local time
2:49 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
10 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
1h 16m 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 Wauna, WA to Kirkland, WA covers 56.8 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 405, WA 16. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.4 miles from Wauna, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.89 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 56.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Wauna, WA to Kirkland, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
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.
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