Origin
Auburn, WA
Late night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
26.1 mi
42 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Auburn to Seattle, you are looking at a quick 26.1-mile journey that typically takes about 36 minutes. Because this is a short, highway-focused drive within the Pacific Coast region, it is easily managed as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $5 on fuel for this commute, making it a very budget-friendly option. The route relies primarily on I-5, the Valley Freeway, and South Kent Des Moines Road to bridge the gap between these two Washington cities. Since the entire trip is under an hour, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about long-haul logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| Valley Freeway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| South Kent Des Moines Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Willis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| C Street Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| State Route 18 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 15.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Seattle, 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 right at fork
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto WA 167
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto WA 516
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Willis Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on WA 516
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Kent Des Moines Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
12
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
this road
13
Merge onto I 5
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
15
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
16
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
18
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 25.7 — 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
8
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
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 North: Kent, Renton
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
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 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
7
25.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.46 one way
$10.93 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.73 | $11.46 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.93 | $11.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 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 | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
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
Seattle, WA
Late night in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
3 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
36m 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 defined by its efficiency, with 78% of the route taking place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating the interstate, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 15.8 miles on I-5. While the transition from the Valley Freeway to the interstate provides a steady flow, expect a practical, transit-oriented experience rather than a winding scenic tour. The road's personality is functional and fast-paced, designed to move you quickly between the suburbs and the city. Because you are sticking to major thoroughfares, you can anticipate consistent road conditions throughout the entire 26.1-mile transit.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.8 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Valley Freeway. 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 15 decision points packed into just 26.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 26.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.8 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 Seattle, 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 Seattle, 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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