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Trip from Boulevard Park, WA to Federal Way, WA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

23m

Distance

15.1 mi

24 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 21m ★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m

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

Downtown Boulevard Park, WA, WA

Boulevard Park, WA

Bhaskar Barman

Trip Overview

Spanning just 15.1 miles, this quick trip from Boulevard Park to Federal Way is a straightforward journey through the Pacific Coast region of Washington. You can expect a drive time of approximately 23 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a one-day excursion. With a fuel budget of roughly $3, this is an incredibly economical route that won't strain your wallet. Navigating primarily via I-5, Pacific Highway South, and WA 518, you will find the transition between these two communities seamless. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a local visit, this route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these points. Because of the short duration, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing you total flexibility for your day.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 6.5 mi 8m
Pacific Highway South 2.5 mi 4m
WA 518 2.4 mi 3m
Des Moines Memorial Drive South 1.4 mi 2m
South 272nd Street 0.5 mi 1m
South 128th Street 0.2 mi <1m
14th Avenue South <0.1 mi <1m
South 312th Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 6.5 mi, about 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boulevard Park, WA and Federal Way, WA.

1

Start on 14th Avenue South

266 ft · 14 sec · 14th Avenue South
2

Turn left onto South 128th Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · South 128th Street
3

Turn right onto Des Moines Memorial Drive South

1.4 mi · 2 min · Des Moines Memorial Drive South
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto WA 518

2.4 mi · 3 min · WA 518
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto I 5

6.5 mi · 8 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Exit 147 Toward South 272nd Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto South 272nd Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
10

Turn left onto WA 99; WA 509

2.5 mi · 4 min · Pacific Highway South
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

Turn left onto South 312th Street

209 ft · 9 sec · South 312th Street
12

Turn right

24 ft · 1 sec
13

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 12 — 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 | South 128th Street

Turn left onto South 128th Street

Navigation decision point

5
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
4.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
7
11.6 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward South 272nd Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 147 Toward South 272nd Street
6
12 mi into trip | ~17m in | South 272nd Street

Turn right onto South 272nd Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.16 one way

$6.32 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $3.31 $6.63
premium $5.77 $3.43 $6.86
diesel $5.61 $3.33 $6.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4.5 0 $1.59 $0.72
Efficient EV 3.8 0 $1.32 $0.60
EV Truck/SUV 6 0 $2.11 $0.97

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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 19, 2026

Origin

Boulevard Park, WA

Morning in Boulevard Park on Sunday

Local time

10:52 AM

PDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Federal Way, WA

Morning in Federal Way on Sunday

Local time

10:52 AM

PDT

Current temp

45°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

23m 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 15.1-mile path features a mixed-drive profile that balances highway speed with local road navigation. Approximately 59 percent of your time will be spent on highways, providing a consistent flow for the majority of the trip. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 6.5 miles while cruising on I-5, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition from the interstate onto Pacific Highway South and WA 518, the character of the drive shifts from high-speed transit to a more localized experience. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes directness over scenic detours, ensuring you reach Federal Way without unnecessary complications.

59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.5 mi on I 5.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 0.1 miles in near South 128th Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 15.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 23m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South 128th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 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.

On the drive from Boulevard Park, WA to Federal Way, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.

Portland

4.3 mi in | ~6m

About the Cities

Arriving in Federal Way, WA

Full guide →

Federal Way is a city in King County on the Puget Sound of Washington State. It is the home of the Pacific Bonsai Museum and Rhododendron Species Botanical Gardens. With a population of 96,000 (2016), Federal Way is one of Seattle's largest suburbs.

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 23m. Total distance: 15.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (59%). 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 6.5 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 Federal Way, 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 (South 128th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 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 Federal Way, 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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