Hash: Centralia
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Centralia, Washington
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+13606690120
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h
Distance
151.9 mi
244 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dollar Corner, WA
cottonbro studio
If you are planning to travel from Dollar Corner to Renton, expect a straightforward 151.9-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours behind the wheel. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it stays within the Pacific Coast region of Washington. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, specifically I-5 and I-405, making it an efficient way to connect these two points. Budgeting approximately $32 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. Since the drive is manageable in one go, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations unless you prefer to extend your travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.9 miles from Dollar Corner, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 142.3 mi | 2h 43m |
| Northeast 219th Street | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| I 405 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Rainier Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Valley Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dollar Corner, WA and Renton, WA.
Start on WA 502
Continue on WA 502
Turn left
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 405
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto WA 167
Continue on WA 167
Turn right
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 151.9-mile trip, aim to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the interstate sections. Since the route is relatively short, you only need to plan for one scheduled stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep in mind that the heavy reliance on I-5 means traffic volume can fluctuate significantly, so checking live road reports before you head out is a smart move. Because this is a single-day journey, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. A helpful tip is to keep your fuel budget of $32 in mind, but consider filling up before hitting the busiest stretches of the highway to avoid higher prices near major interchanges.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.9 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Renton, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Dollar Corner, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dollar Corner, WA
This is one driving day of about 151.9 miles and 3h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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.
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 75.9 miles from Dollar Corner, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 142.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · around the midpoint
Centralia, Washington
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+13606690120
Pellegrino's | Italian Kitchen & Catering
Tumwater, Washington
jean-pierre's three16
Tumwater, Washington
Best coffee break · final third
Olympia, Washington
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13607052103
Gravity Coffee
Lakewood, Washington
Candor Coffee
Renton, Washington
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Centralia, Washington
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+13606690120
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Tumwater, Washington
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+13607099020
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Tumwater, Washington
Hours: Closed
+13607049232
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Castle Rock, Washington
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+13602742265
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Centralia, Washington
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+13607360359
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Tumwater, Washington
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+13609158780
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Centralia, Washington
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+13607362200
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Seattle, Washington
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+12064204871
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Olympia, Washington
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+13607052103
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Lakewood, Washington
Hours: 5 am–8 pm
+12534478740
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Renton, Washington
Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm
+12532368630
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Tacoma, Washington
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+12532373403
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Federal Way, Washington
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+12064605185
Visit websiteNear the end, ~11 min detour
Kent, Washington
Hours: 4:30 am–5 pm
+12538725580
Later in the drive, right off the route
Olympia, Washington
+13607539467
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Kelso, Washington
Hours: 8 am–7 pm
+13604231371
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Kelso, Washington
Hours: 2–7 pm
+13603023214
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Tumwater, Washington
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+13607544160
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Tacoma, Washington
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+12533051000
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Kelso, Washington
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+13605773119
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Longview, Washington
Hours: 7 am–6 pm
+15034763446
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Longview, Washington
Hours: 8 am–5:30 pm
+13605771500
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 148.1 and 150.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$31.79 one way
$63.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $33.34 | $66.68 |
| premium | $5.77 | $34.49 | $68.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.54 | $67.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.6 | 0 | $15.95 | $7.29 |
| Efficient EV | 38 | 0 | $13.29 | $6.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.8 | 0 | $21.27 | $9.72 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Dollar Corner on Tuesday
Local time
2:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Renton on Tuesday
Local time
2:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of your trip spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a consistent rhythm early on, as the route features a significant 142.3-mile stretch directly on I-5. While the path starts on Northeast 219th Street, the transition to the interstate defines the vast majority of the experience. Expect a functional, no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads. Because the landscape remains dominated by major thoroughfares throughout the duration, you can maintain a steady pace for nearly the entire 3-hour duration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northeast 219th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 148.1 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 151.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 148.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 148.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Renton is a city in King County, Washington south of Bellevue and north of Kent. It is a quiet suburb of Seattle at the base of Lake Washington. Renton is primarily known as the site of the Boeing 737 plant, where the popular commercial jetliner is built. Renton is also notable for being the resting place of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. Its relatively inexpensive property prices make it a solid choice of stay while visiting Seattle, and the downtown area has many quiet charms of its own.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 151.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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