Origin
Auburn, WA
Night in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
9:20 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, WA to Lacey, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
38.3 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Lacey, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 38.3-mile drive from Auburn, WA to Lacey, WA takes approximately 51 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with no highway driving involved, so expect a more connected-to-the-ground experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $8, which is quite budget-friendly. Given its short duration and local road profile, this route offers a lot of flexibility for when you decide to travel. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll remain in a familiar coastal environment throughout your travels.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| C Street Southwest | — | — |
| WA 18 West | — | — |
| State Route 18 | — | — |
| I 5 | — | — |
| I 5 South | — | — |
| Martin Way | — | — |
| Martin Way East | — | — |
| College Street Southeast | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
C Street Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Lacey, 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
3
Take the ramp right toward WA 18 West
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
WA 18 West
4
Merge slight left onto State Route 18
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 18
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
6
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Tacoma
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 5 South: Tacoma
8
Merge slight left
7.2 mi
·
9 min
9
Keep slight right
25 mi
·
31 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward Martin Way, College Street, Sleater-Kinney Road North
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Martin Way, College Street, Sleater-Kinney Road North
11
Turn right onto Martin Way East
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Martin Way East
12
Turn left onto College Street Southeast
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
College Street Southeast
13
Continue on College Street Southeast
249 ft
·
6 sec
·
College Street Southeast
14
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Auburn, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.02 one way
$16.03 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $8.41 | $16.81 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.70 | $17.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.46 | $16.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Lacey, WA
Night in Lacey on Saturday
Local time
9:20 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
51m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive on this route. With a 0% highway share, you'll be navigating surface streets and local thoroughfares for the entire 38.3 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not applicable due to the frequent turns characteristic of this profile. This means you'll be constantly engaged with the road, making adjustments as you pass through various neighborhoods and local communities. It's a drive that keeps you connected to the immediate surroundings rather than a high-speed transit.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: C Street Southwest.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Auburn, WA to Lacey, WA is easy. At 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Auburn, WA to Lacey, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 38.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Auburn, WA to Lacey, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lacey, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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