Woodinville sits in King County, Washington, right in the Sammamish River Valley at the north end of Lake Washington. It's part of the greater Seattle metropolitan area, alongside the other Eastside cities - close enough to major employment centers that the commute is real, but far enough that the landscape still feels like it has some breathing room. Buyers often narrow their search by looking at specific Woodinville, WA zip codes to find the right location.
If you're shopping for a home here, knowing where the city sits on the map matters more than most buyers realize. Woodinville is east of Bothell, connects directly to Redmond via SR 202, and offers something the denser cities nearby can't - wooded hillsides and genuine lot sizes. Understanding where the boundaries fall and how the transit routes work is what separates a buyer who feels confident in their decision from one who's second-guessing the commute six months after closing.
Geographic Location and Boundaries
Woodinville's shape is defined by the Sammamish River Valley. The city limits run from waterfront stretches along the Sammamish River up into the densely wooded residential hillsides that rise on either side.
The highway network is the backbone of daily life here. State Route 522 is the primary corridor running straight through the city - a grade-separated freeway that connects Woodinville to Bothell and Monroe. At the SR 522 junction, State Route 202 picks up and heads southeast toward Redmond, Fall City, and North Bend. State Route 9 has its southern terminus near Woodinville as well, linking the city north to Snohomish and Whatcom counties. That combination of three state routes is part of why the city divides as cleanly as it does - the valley floor holds the downtown commercial district, and the hillsides around it are where most of the residential neighborhoods live.
Parks and Natural Landmarks
The Sammamish River Trail runs directly through the city, paved and accessible for cyclists and pedestrians. Wilmot Gateway Park sits along the riverfront in the center of town. Cottage Lake Park - a King County facility - is just outside the immediate downtown area and offers fishing and swimming access.
The surrounding geography does a lot of the heavy lifting. Paradise Valley Conservation Area covers 508 acres of wooded terrain with dedicated hiking trails. A short drive outside the city limits puts you at Snoqualmie Falls, a 268-foot waterfall that's one of the state's most prominent natural landmarks.
Commute Times and Transportation
Driving to Seattle from Woodinville covers about 20 miles and takes roughly 23 minutes under typical traffic conditions. Access to Interstate 405 via SR 522 keeps the other Eastside hubs within reach without much complexity.
The trip to Bellevue is shorter - about 12 miles, typically 16 to 18 minutes. And if you're commuting to the tech campuses in Redmond, SR 202 runs directly southeast from Woodinville and bypasses I-405 entirely. That's a meaningful detail if Redmond is your daily destination.
Traffic on these routes does pick up during standard morning and evening commute windows. Before you go under contract, drive your specific route to work during rush hour. The numbers above are useful baselines; what matters is your actual trip on your actual schedule.
Public Transit Options
Woodinville has a Park & Ride facility that serves multiple bus routes. King County Metro runs the 231, 256, and 931 lines through the area.
For Seattle commuters, Sound Transit operates the Route 522 Woodinville Express, connecting Woodinville directly to Seattle's Roosevelt neighborhood and its light rail station in about 50 minutes. The first bus out departs around 4:35 a.m., and the final return trip runs after 1 a.m. - a wider window than most people expect from a suburban express route.
Neighboring Cities and the Eastside Area
Woodinville's western border runs directly into Bothell, and together with nearby Kenmore, these three cities form a cluster along the northern tip of Lake Washington. It's a geography that means residents regularly cross city lines - for shopping, dining, and municipal services - without thinking much about it.
Bothell runs a bit denser than Woodinville's wooded hillsides. To the south, the SR 202 corridor ties Woodinville into Redmond and the broader Eastside tech corridor. The overall position puts Woodinville in an interesting middle ground: far enough from Seattle and Bellevue that prices and density differ meaningfully, but not so far out that you're looking at genuinely rural eastern King County. Buyers comparing options in this region often pull listings across Woodinville, Bothell, and Kenmore to see how property sizes and prices shift as you move across those municipal lines. It's worth doing.
Real Estate and Local Housing Trends
The median sale price for a home in Woodinville is currently around $1,149,000. Homes are spending roughly 30 days on the market before going under contract.
Current inventory sits at about 49 homes for sale, which works out to roughly 4.2 months of supply. Properties are selling at about 99% of their listing price, and just under 9% of homes are selling above asking. That's a steady market - sellers are getting close to what they're asking, assuming the pricing is realistic.
One thing that shapes the housing landscape here more than buyers sometimes expect: Woodinville sits on the edge of the urban growth boundary. The terrain drives the development. Homes are built into the hillsides, looking out over the Sammamish River Valley, and that physical reality sets the inventory apart from what you'd find closer to Seattle.
Types of Homes Available
Single-family detached houses make up the bulk of what's available. Near the downtown core and along the SR 522 corridor, you'll find some townhome and condominium developments - options that put you closer to transit and shopping.
Move away from the valley floor and the inventory shifts to larger, custom-built homes and established subdivisions. Mature trees, private drives, and a clear step toward the rural end of the suburban spectrum.
Property Sizes and Lot Features
Woodinville's wooded geography makes lot sizes one of the more distinctive features of the housing stock. Properties away from the immediate downtown center frequently come with larger footprints, mature trees, and natural privacy that you're not going to replicate on a standard suburban lot.
If larger, wooded lots are what you're after, the neighborhoods climbing up the hillsides from the Sammamish River Valley are where to focus. Just go in clear-eyed about what maintaining that kind of property costs - it's a real budget consideration, not a footnote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is Woodinville located in?
Woodinville is located in King County, Washington. It sits in the Sammamish River Valley at the north end of Lake Washington.
How far is Woodinville from Seattle?
Woodinville is roughly 20 miles northeast of Seattle. Driving between the two takes about 23 minutes under typical traffic conditions.
What are the neighboring towns to Woodinville?
Woodinville borders Bothell to the west and sits close to Kenmore along the north end of Lake Washington. State Route 202 connects it directly to Redmond to the south.
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