Origin
Auburn, WA
Afternoon in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
1:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, WA to Fife, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
8.9 mi
14 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Fife, WA
Harrison Reilly
Trip Overview
Auburn, WA to Fife, WA is 8.9 miles and takes about 13 minutes via I 5, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Pacific Coast region and the state of Washington. It's a very quick trip, perfect for a brief transit or if you just need to cover a small distance between two points. You won't spend much time on the road, making it an easy addition to any larger travel plans in the area. Consider this route for its sheer efficiency and minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| State Route 18 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 54th Avenue East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| C Street Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 3.6 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Fife, 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
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
8
Merge onto I 5
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 5
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 137
Toward WA 99 North: 54th Avenue East, Fife
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto WA 99
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
54th Avenue East
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
54th Avenue East
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 8.4 — 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.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward WA 18 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward WA 18 West
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
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 I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
8
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway Sou...
8
8.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward WA 99 North: 54th Avenue East, Fife
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 137
Toward WA 99 North: 54th Avenue East, Fife
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.86 one way
$3.73 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $1.95 | $3.91 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.02 | $4.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.97 | $3.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.93 | $0.43 |
| Efficient EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.78 | $0.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Fife, WA
Afternoon in Fife on Sunday
Local time
1:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°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
13 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
13m 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 drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 70% of your journey on major roads like I 5 and State Route 18. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 3.6 miles on I 5, offering a consistent, albeit fast-paced, driving environment. The transition onto East Main Street signals a shift from high-speed travel to a more local road setting. Overall, expect a straightforward drive characterized by its efficiency and reliance on major thoroughfares.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 18. 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
9/10
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 9 decision points packed into just 8.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 13m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (C Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Auburn, WA to Fife, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Tacoma along the way.
Tacoma
3.4 mi in
|
~5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 8.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.6 miles on I 5. 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 Fife, 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Fife, 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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