Origin
Auburn, WA
Late night in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, WA to Elk Plain, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
25.3 mi
41 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Elk Plain, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion within the Pacific Coast region, the 25.3-mile trip from Auburn to Elk Plain is a straightforward journey. With a travel time of approximately 40 minutes, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend roughly $5 on fuel for the drive, making it a very budget-friendly commute. By utilizing a mix of the Valley Freeway, WA 161, and Canyon Road East, you will transition efficiently between these two Washington communities. Whether you are running errands or visiting friends, this drive offers a practical connection that gets you to your destination without unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| Canyon Road East | 6.3 mi | 11m |
| WA 161 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| 224th Street East | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 208th Street East | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 38th Avenue East | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Wright Road East | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Valley Freeway
— 7.9 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Elk Plain, WA.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
C Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WA 18 West
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto WA 18
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Route 18
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Puyallup
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto WA 167
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 512 West, WA 161 South: Puyallup, Olympia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on WA 161; WA 512
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
WA 161; WA 512
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward Canyon Road, Summit
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Canyon Road East
6.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Canyon Road East
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto 208th Street East
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
208th Street East
14
Turn left onto Wright Road East
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Wright Road East
15
Continue on 38th Avenue East
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
38th Avenue East
16
Turn right onto 224th Street East
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
224th Street East
17
Arrive at destination
224th Street East
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 9.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
C Street Southwest
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
9
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley High...
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 South: Puyallup
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward WA 167 South: Puyallup
7
9.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward WA 512 West, WA 161 South: Puyallup, Olympia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 512 West, WA 161 South: Puyallup, Oly...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.30 one way
$10.59 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.55 | $11.11 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.75 | $11.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.59 | $11.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.21 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Elk Plain, WA
Late night in Elk Plain on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
40m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a mixed-drive experience that balances high-speed transit with local road navigation. About 53% of your journey is spent on highways, providing a reliable pace for the majority of the trip. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along the Valley Freeway, which spans 7.9 miles of the total distance. As you transition off the main freeway segments onto WA 161 and Canyon Road East, the character of the drive shifts from high-speed arterial travel to a more localized feel. Expect a functional road environment that keeps you moving steadily toward Elk Plain.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.9 mi on Valley Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near C Street Southwest.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 25.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (C Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburn, WA and Elk Plain, WA, road signs point toward Olympia and Summit.
Olympia
9.5 mi in
|
~13m
Summit
15.8 mi in
|
~21m
About the Cities
Starting in Auburn, WA
Full guide →Auburn is a city in south King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 25.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.9 miles on Valley Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elk Plain, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (C Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elk Plain, WA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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