Welcome to Kirkland

• Parks & Trails

• Farmer's Market

• Events Calendar

• Arts & Culture

• Kirkland Performance Center

• Kirkland Schools

• Lake Washington School District

• SchoolDigger.com

• GreatSchools.org

• University of Washington

• Bellevue College

• DigiPen Institute of Technology

• Cascadia College

• Northwest University

• Lake Washington Institute of Technology

• Downtown Kirkland Waterfront – Stroll Marina Park, enjoy lakefront dining, or relax on the beach.

• Kirkland Arts Center – Explore local art exhibits, galleries, and community classes.

• Cross Kirkland Corridor Trail – Walk, run, or bike along this scenic 5.75-mile urban trail.

• Shopping & Dining – Visit boutiques, wine bars, and fine dining throughout downtown Kirkland.

• Juanita Beach Park – A favorite for families, featuring sandy beaches, picnic areas, and swimming.

• Kirkland Performance Center – Catch live music, theater, and cultural performances year-round.

• Bridle Trails State Park – Enjoy horseback riding and hiking across 482 wooded acres just east of the city.

Kirkland's dining and retail scene runs along its Lake Washington waterfront.

• The stretch of Central Way and Lake Street — sometimes referred to as the waterfront district — mixes art galleries, coffee shops, and lakeview restaurant patios in a walkable setting.

• The seasonal Kirkland Farmers Market, held at Marina Park, adds a weekly community draw for local produce and goods.

Getting Around Kirkland

Kirkland sits along I-405, with direct access to Bellevue, Redmond, and points north and south along the Eastside. The Kirkland Transit Center (3rd St at Central Way, downtown) and Totem Lake Transit Center are the city's two main hubs, with King County Metro Route 255 connecting downtown Kirkland to the University of Washington's Link light rail station, and Route 250 running between Redmond, Kirkland, and Bellevue. The South Kirkland Park & Ride offers an additional commuter access point.

With Sound Transit's 2 Line now running across Lake Washington, transit connections from Kirkland into Seattle have genuinely improved — though for most residents, a car (or a bus-to-light-rail transfer) remains part of daily life rather than a single one-seat ride downtown.

For walking and biking, the Cross Kirkland Corridor — a 5.75-mile former rail line converted to a multi-use trail — runs through the heart of the city and is one of its most-used non-driving routes for both commuting and recreation.

• What is the average home price in Kirkland? Kirkland's median home price is running roughly $1.2-1.4 million as of mid-2026, though this varies significantly by neighborhood — waterfront areas like West of Market command a real premium over inland neighborhoods like Finn Hill.

• Is Kirkland a good place to live? Yes — Kirkland is often considered the Eastside's most livable city for buyers who want an actual walkable downtown, lake access, and strong schools without stretching to Bellevue's price ceiling.

• What school district is Kirkland in? Kirkland is served primarily by the Lake Washington School District, one of the strongest in the state.

• Is Kirkland more affordable than Bellevue? Generally, yes — Kirkland's citywide median sits below Bellevue's, though the gap narrows considerably in Kirkland's premium waterfront neighborhoods, which can rival or exceed comparable Bellevue pricing.

• How competitive is Kirkland right now? It's competitive but not frantic — inventory has actually risen meaningfully compared to last year, giving buyers more room than they've had in several years. That said, well-priced homes in the core neighborhoods are still moving in under two weeks and can still draw multiple offers.

• Is downtown Redmond walkable? Downtown Kirkland and the waterfront are genuinely walkable — dining, shopping, and Marina Park within easy reach on foot. Neighborhoods further from the core, like parts of Finn Hill and Kingsgate, are more car-dependent.