Best areas for commuting to Bellevue
Kirkland, Redmond and Issaquah lead — about 15, 16 and 21 minutes at 8 AM by their fastest mode. All 10 areas, ranked with real rush-hour data:
| # | Area | Drive 8 AM | Transit 8 AM | Fastest | Time value/yr at $30/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirkland | 15 min | 44 min | Driving | ≈ $3,750 |
| 2 | Redmond | 16 min | 43 min | Driving | ≈ $3,990 |
| 3 | Issaquah | 21 min | 36 min | Driving | ≈ $5,250 |
| 4 | West Seattle | 29 min | 1h 17m | Driving | ≈ $7,260 |
| 5 | Renton | 31 min | 53 min | Driving | ≈ $7,740 |
| 6 | Ballard | 34 min | 1h 16m | Driving | ≈ $8,490 |
| 7 | Shoreline | 48 min | 1h 22m | Driving | ≈ $12,000 |
| 8 | Kent | 54 min | 1h 6m | Driving | ≈ $13,500 |
| 9 | Everett | 1h 2m | 1h 25m | Driving | ≈ $15,510 |
| 10 | Tacoma | 1h 14m | 1h 57m | Driving | ≈ $18,510 |
Weekday morning peak (Tuesday 8 AM departure), Google Maps traffic data, checked August 2026. Time value = round trip × 5 days × 50 weeks at $30/hr. Click an area for the full corridor breakdown.
Working in Bellevue?
Downtown Bellevue is the Eastside's own skyline — Microsoft, Amazon and T-Mobile fill its towers. The 2 Line light rail serves it from Redmond, and the I-90 and 520 bridges feed it from Seattle; I-405 is the slow way in from north or south.
Not sure where your limit is? Our guide to how far is too far to commute prices each commute length in hours and dollars. Weighing cheaper housing farther down the list? The rent vs. commute calculator puts both in the same currency, and the commute cost calculator adds gas, parking and fares.
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