Sammamish Traffic Tips
Since its incorporation from King County in 1999, Sammamish has grown from a population of less than 30,000 to a population of over 65,000. Some of Sammamish’s transportation challenges include a relatively unconnected street system, limited transit service, and a topography that makes active modes of transportation difficult for many users.
The City is working on improving the transportation. View the 20-Year Transportation Master Plan to learn more.
Below are some tips for driving in Sammamish. Please also visit our “Getting Around” page for additional transportation options.
How Sammamish Connects to the Region
Sammamish doesn’t have freeways running through it, so drivers rely on a few key arterial corridors to enter and exit the city. Here’s a breakdown:
Main North–South Routes
- 228th Avenue NE/SE → Sahalee Way NE is the primary north–south spine through Sammamish and connects south to Issaquah–Pine Lake Road (toward I-90 and Issaquah) and north to Redmond via SR 202.
- East Lake Sammamish Parkway (ELSP) runs along Lake Sammamish’s eastern shore.Southbound, it leads into Issaquah and I-90. Northbound, it connects toward Redmond and SR 520.
Main East–West Routes
- SE 43rd Way is the southwestern gateway, linking Sammamish to I-90 via Issaquah and is used by many commuters headed toward Bellevue and Seattle.
- NE Inglewood Hill Road / NE 8th Street / SE 8th Street has important westbound exits toward Redmond and SR 520 and provides access to Redmond Town Center, Microsoft, and other job centers.
- Issaquah–Fall City Road is the eastern route leading toward Fall City and Snoqualmie Valley and is often used for recreation trips and eastside commutes.
- SE Duthie Hill Road is another eastern exit to Fall City/Snoqualmie and is key for Eastside travel and regional recreation access.
Busy Traffic Times in Sammamish
School Traffic
Traffic slows down in Sammamish at the start and end of school days due to increased vehicles on the road for drop-offs and pick-ups. Times vary, please check school schedules for more information:
Lake Washington School District
You can help! Fewer cars on the road makes it easier for everyone to get around. To learn more about school bus service, visit the transportation pages for the school districts that serve Sammamish:
Lake Washington School District Transportation
Issaquah School District Transportation
Construction
Traffic slowdowns also happen during construction. To view upcoming projects and sign up for updates, visit the City’s Cone Zone page.
Alternative Transportation
Learn about more ways to get around Sammamish including bus routes and SchoolPool on the Getting Around page.