Auburn, WA Road Trips
Auburn, WA serves as a useful starting point in the Pacific Coast, connecting drivers to 3 outbound routes across the area. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 277 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Auburn, WA head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
288.1 mi
Spokane Valley, WA
Quickest Drive
4h 6m
Richland, WA
Plan Around Auburn, WA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Auburn, WA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Auburn, WA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Auburn, WA
Driving from Auburn, WA
Expect an average of 277 miles and about 5h 12m behind the wheel when leaving Auburn, WA. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 288 miles (5h 20m), while the shortest is just 270 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Auburn, WA include Spokane Valley, WA (288.1 mi, 5h 20m), Walla Walla, WA (272.4 mi, 5h 9m), and College Place, WA (270 mi, 5h 7m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in WA currently averages around $5.23 per gallon. For the typical 277-mile trip from Auburn, WA, budget about $57 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 mapped routes leaving Auburn, WA and 2 routes heading into Auburn, WA, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 270 to 288 miles.
The longest mapped route from Auburn, WA covers 288 miles and takes approximately 5h 20m. Shorter options start at just 270 miles.
The average route from Auburn, WA runs about 277 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 12m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $5.23/gallon for regular), the average 277-mile trip from Auburn, WA costs roughly $57 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Auburn, WA include Spokane Valley, WA, Walla Walla, WA and College Place, WA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Auburn, WA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
85,455
Median Income
$95,367
Median Home Value
$510,400
Median Age
35.7
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Auburn, WA at a Glance
Founded
1891
Elevation
82 ft
Area
30 mi²
Notable People from Auburn, WA
A sampling of people born in Auburn, WA.
Tobi Vail
1969
American musician
Greg Bahnsen
1948–1995
American theologian and philosopher (1948-1995)
Blair Rasmussen
1962
American basketball player
Danny Shelton
1993
American football player (born 1993)
Greg Haugen
1960–2025
American boxer
Joshua Garnett
1994
American football guard
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Auburn, WA.
Auburn Masonic Temple
historic building in Auburn, Washington, United States
Old Auburn Post Office
historic post office building in Washington state, USA
Auburn Public Library
former Carnegie library in Auburn, Washington
Patton Bridge
bridge in United States of America
White River Valley Museum
history museum in Auburn, Washington
City data from Wikidata (Q661595), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Auburn, WA
Auburn is a city in south King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington.
1 White River Valley Museum, 918 H Street SE (Behind the Auburn Library, in Les Gove Park), ☏ +1 253 288-7433. W-Su noon-4PM. Free every First Thursday and Last Sunday. On First Thursdays they are also open from 6PM-8PM. The White River Valley Museum focuses on Native American history to the 1920s. They focus on the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and of pioneer life. $5/adult, $2/concession. (updated Jul 2019) 2 Neely Mansion, 12303 SE Auburn-Black Diamond Rd (east of Auburn on Hwy 18, Auburn-Black Diamond Road exit, turn right), ☏ +1 253 833-9404. Summer Saturdays tours 1-4PM. 125-year-old mansion, National Historic Site from the Victorian Era. suggested donation of $3. (updated Jul 2019)
1 Flaming Geyser State Park, 23700 SE Flaming Geyser Rd, ☏ +1 253 735-8839, [email protected]. 8AM-dusk. The park was named for a flame which burned through a concrete basin, fueled by a methane gas pocket that was depleted by 2016. The wooded hiking and horse trails, playfields and places to view the fall salmon runs on the Green River still remain. $10/day, $45/year. (updated Feb 2026) 2 White River Amphitheatre, 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Rd, ☏ +1 360-825-6200, [email protected]. One of the larger outdoor concert venues in western Washington. (updated Sep 2020) The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation lies just southeast of the city. 3 Muckleshoot Casino, 2402 Auburn Way S, toll-free: +1-800-804-4944. (updated Feb 2025) 4 Muckleshoot Bingo, 2117 Auburn Way S (Across street from Casino), ☏ +1 253-735-2404. (updated Oct 2016) 5 Emerald Downs, 2300 Ron Crockett Dr, ☏ +1 253-288-7000, toll-free: +1-888-931-8400. Live racing (April – September): $9, or $5 with Emerald Rewards card. Simulcast (Sep-Apr): $3, or $2 with card. (updated Jun 2019) 6 Imperial Palace Casino, 333 15th Street NE, ☏ +1-253-833-7100. Gaming 10AM-4AM, restaurant 24 hrs. Table games only, no slots or bingo. (updated Feb 2025)
1 Legendary Doughnuts, 1410 Lake Tapps Pkwy E (Lakeland Town Center in Lakeland Hills), ☏ +1 253-736-0036. Su-Th 5AM-6PM, F Sa 5AM-7PM. The first location of this small local chain. Will close early once sold out. Delivery available. (updated Jul 2019)
1 Rail Hop'n Brewing Co, 122 W Main St, Suite 101B (North of the transit station, on Main St Between B & A St in downtown), ☏ +1 253-217-6800. M-F 6AM-9PM, Sa noon-11PM. Auburns original microbrewer. In the heart of downtown Auburn. Their new facility has espresso and appetizers too. (updated Jul 2019)
1 Best Western Plus Mountain View Auburn Inn, 401 8th Street SW, ☏ +1 253 887-7600, toll-free: +1-888-624-4854, fax: +1 253 887-7676. 2 Comfort Inn Auburn - Seattle, 1 16th St. NE, ☏ +1 253-333-8888. (updated Oct 2016)
State Route (SR) 18 serves as a major east-west freeway between I-5 (exit 142A) in Federal Way and I-90 (exit 25) near Snoqualmie. It goes through Auburn, Covington, Maple Valley and Issaquah in the east/southeastern regions of King County. Auburn Way S (SR-164) becomes Auburn-Enumclaw Hwy, outside the city, to connect Auburn to Enumclaw. Valley Freeway (SR-167) serves as the main north-south highway from I-405 (exit 2) in Renton to Puyallup through Kent, Auburn, and Sumner in the Kent Valley. 1 Sound Transit Sounder operates the Sounder Train between King Street Station in downtown Seattle and Lakewood Station (south of Tacoma) via Tukwila, Kent Station, Auburn, Sumner, Puyallup, Tacoma-Dome, S Tacoma (S Washington Ave between S 57th & 58th). Nearest transfer stations to Amtrak trains are in Tacoma-Dome Station and Seattle King Street Station. Connections to King County Metro and Pierce Transit buses are at each station. Check schedules as trains only go north in the mornings, south in the afternoons and on Seattle Seahawks and Mariners game days. Check schedules. Nearest connections to Greyhound, Flixbus, and other intercity bus companies are in Seattle and the Tacoma Dome Station. The 2 Auburn Municipal Airport (FAA LID: S50) (for general aviation only) is two miles north of the city. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA IATA), the nearest commercial airport to Auburn, is 9 mi (14 km) away. Depending on traffic, you can go north on SR-167 to I-405 in Renton, and go west on I-405 which becomes SR-518 towards the airport.
3 Auburn Station on A st & 2nd St SW in downtown Auburn is the transportation hub (bus station). The Auburn Station offers routes with King County Metro and Sound Transit service to Kent (160, 566); Enumclaw (915); Federal Way (181, 578); Kent (160, 566) Redmond (566); Bellevue (566); Renton (160, 566); Downtown Seattle (578); Puyallup (578); Algona/Pacific (917), and local service around town (181, 184, 915, 917). King County Metro, ☏ +1 206-553-3000. Runs bus, streetcar and monorail routes within King County. Serves Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Tukwila, Vashon Island, White Center, and Woodinville. $3 for 2 hours ($1 seniors 65+, Free youth 0-18). (updated Sep 2025) Sound Transit, toll-free: +1-888-889-6368. Runs express and intercity public transit routes across the Seattle area, including Sounder trains, Link light rail and express buses (routes 510-596). Serves King County (e.g. Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Seattle), Snohomish County (e.g. Everett, Lynnwood), and Pierce County (e.g. Puyallup, Tacoma). (updated Jun 2023) 566 Redmond, Bellevue, Renton, Kent and Auburn on SR-167, I-405 & SR-520. 578 Downtown Seattle, Federal Way, Auburn and Puyallup Pierce Transit 497 to Lakeland Hills
Travel tips adapted from Auburn (Washington) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Pick your one-way drive time and see where you can go from Auburn, WA.
No routes in this time range.
destinations from Auburn, WA.
Trips to Auburn, WA
Escape Planner
Where to go from Auburn, WA?
Curated day trips, weekend getaways, and overnight routes — grouped by how much time you have and the kind of trip you want.
Drives from Auburn, WA in your inbox
Monthly note with new routes, weekend drive ideas, and seasonal picks for WA. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Browse more WA road trips or choose a route from Auburn, WA above.