Burlington to Federal Way is 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 51m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Washington state, moving you south along the Pacific Coast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this route for a quick transit day or as a segment of a longer Pacific Northwest adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Burlington, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
82.5 mi
1h 40m
Pacific Highway South
2.5 mi
4m
South 272nd Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Fairhaven Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
State Route 20
0.3 mi
<1m
South Burlington Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
West Rio Vista Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
South 312th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 82.5 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on East Fairhaven Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East Fairhaven Avenue
2
Turn left onto WA 20
0.3 mi·28 sec·South Burlington Boulevard
3
Turn right onto WA 20
0.2 mi·25 sec·West Rio Vista Avenue
4
Continue on WA 20
0.3 mi·53 sec·State Route 20
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 5
83 mi·1 hr 40 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 147Toward South 272nd StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto WA 99; WA 509
2.5 mi·4 min·Pacific Highway South
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left onto South 312th Street
209 ft·9 sec·South 312th Street
11
Turn right
24 ft·1 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 1 hour and 51 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You can depart anytime, but leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon might help you avoid peak commuter traffic around Seattle. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's wise to fill up before leaving Burlington or at a convenient point along I 5. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to pull over only when needed for breaks or to stretch your legs.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.9 miles from Burlington, WA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Federal Way, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burlington, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burlington, WA
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Burlington, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 82.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 87.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|WA 20 / West Rio Vista Avenue
Turn right onto WA 20 / West Rio Vista Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|South 272nd Street
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.38 one way
$36.75 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$19.27
$38.54
premium
$5.77
$19.94
$39.88
diesel
$5.61
$19.39
$38.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.22
$4.21
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.68
$3.51
EV Truck/SUV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Burlington, WA
Morning
in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Morning
in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
7:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 3 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
24 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
1h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 94% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on I 5. You'll have an 82.5-mile stretch on I 5 before transitioning to surface roads like Pacific Highway South and South 272nd Street. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach the Seattle metropolitan area.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Pacific Highway South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near WA 20 / West Rio Vista Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (WA 20 / West Rio Vista Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 82.5 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.7 miles (WA 20 / West Rio Vista Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
