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Trip from Bonney Lake, 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

49m

Distance

36.7 mi

59 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 46m ★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Bonney Lake, WA, WA

Bonney Lake, WA

JOHN CALLERY

city in and county seat of King County, State of Washington, United States

Seattle, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from Bonney Lake to Seattle, this 36.7-mile journey is a straightforward commute. You can easily complete the trip in about 49 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $8, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate. The path keeps you firmly within the Pacific Coast region, moving you from the suburban feel of Bonney Lake into the heart of Seattle. Because the travel time is so manageable, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your day without worrying about a grueling schedule. This is a practical, no-nonsense connection between two Washington hubs.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 15.8 mi 19m
Valley Freeway 12.1 mi 15m
State Route 410 East 4.3 mi 6m
South Kent Des Moines Road 2.6 mi 3m
West Willis Street 0.2 mi <1m
5th Avenue 0.1 mi <1m
Seneca Street <0.1 mi <1m
Sumner-Buckley Highway East <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 15.8 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bonney Lake, WA and Seattle, WA.

1

Start on this road

111 ft · 10 sec · this road
2

Turn left

46 ft · 8 sec
3

Turn left onto Sumner-Buckley Highway East

232 ft · 10 sec · Sumner-Buckley Highway East
4

Turn right onto WA 410

4.3 mi · 6 min · State Route 410 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Seattle Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto WA 167

12 mi · 15 min · Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn left onto WA 516

0.2 mi · 34 sec · West Willis Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9

Continue on WA 516

2.6 mi · 3 min · South Kent Des Moines Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
11

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 49 sec · this road
12

Merge onto I 5

16 mi · 19 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 165 Toward Seneca Street Use the slight left lane.
14

Turn left onto Seneca Street

323 ft · 18 sec · Seneca Street
15

Turn left onto 5th Avenue

0.1 mi · 27 sec · 5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
16

Turn right onto Madison Street

113 ft · 9 sec · Madison Street
17

Turn left

31 ft · 2 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kent, WA

18 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

Bellevue, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kent, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Bonney Lake, 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 36.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | WA 410 / State Route 410 East

Turn right onto WA 410 / State Route 410 East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.4 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Seattle

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward WA 167 North: Seattle
7
16.8 mi into trip | ~22m 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
36.3 mi into trip | ~48m 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
7
36.6 mi into trip | ~49m in | 5th Avenue

Turn left onto 5th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.68 one way

$15.36 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $8.06 $16.11
premium $5.77 $8.33 $16.67
diesel $5.61 $8.10 $16.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 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 0 $3.85 $1.76
Efficient EV 9.2 0 $3.21 $1.47
EV Truck/SUV 14.7 0 $5.14 $2.35

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bonney Lake, WA

Late night in Bonney Lake on Sunday

Local time

3:12 AM

PDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Seattle, WA

Late night in Seattle on Sunday

Local time

3:12 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

49m 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?

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 88% of this route is comprised of fast-paced roads. You will utilize a mix of State Route 410 East, the Valley Freeway, and I-5 to reach your destination. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 15.8-mile stretch on I-5, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the drive. While the route is highly efficient, be prepared for the typical rhythm of interstate travel as you transition through these major thoroughfares. It is a functional drive designed for speed and direct access rather than winding, scenic detours.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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 0.1 miles in near WA 410 / State Route 410 East.

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 14 decision points packed into just 36.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (WA 410 / State Route 410 East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 49m. Total distance: 36.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). 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 0.1 miles (WA 410 / State Route 410 East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 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 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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