Origin
Edmonds, WA
Late night in Edmonds on Tuesday
Local time
2:04 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Edmonds, WA to Federal Way, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
38.4 mi
62 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Edmonds, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 38.4-mile journey from Edmonds to Federal Way in Washington offers a straightforward drive, estimated to take around 55 minutes. Primarily using I-5, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, it's an economical option for a quick transit between these two Pacific Coast communities. The drive is focused on efficient travel, making it ideal for those looking to get from point A to point B without extensive detours. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a consistent pace throughout.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 30.2 mi | 37m |
| Edmonds Way | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| 5th Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 205th Street - Lake Ballinger Way | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 205th Street - Lake Ballinger Way | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 30.2 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Edmonds, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on 5th Avenue North
26 ft
·
2 sec
·
5th Avenue North
2
Turn right onto Main Street
34 ft
·
28 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on Main Street
45 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto 5th Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
5th Avenue South
5
Turn straight onto WA 104
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Edmonds Way
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto WA 104
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North 205th Street - Lake Ballinger Way
7
Continue on WA 104
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Northeast 205th Street - Lake Ballinger Way
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
9
Merge onto I 5
30 mi
·
37 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 147
Toward South 272nd Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto WA 99; WA 509
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pacific Highway South
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto South 312th Street
209 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 312th Street
14
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Edmonds, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
35.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
South 272nd Street
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
38.4 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.04 one way
$16.07 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $8.43 | $16.86 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.72 | $17.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 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 | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
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.
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Late night in Federal Way on Tuesday
Local time
2:04 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°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
4 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
55m 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 leans heavily towards a highway-focused experience, with 78% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-5. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of 30.2 miles on I-5, indicating a significant period of consistent speed and traffic flow. While Edmonds Way and Pacific Highway South offer a slight change of pace, the overarching character is one of efficient, high-speed travel. Expect a road that prioritizes directness over scenic meandering, with the interstate dominating the driving experience for the majority of the trip.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.2 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Edmonds Way. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 55m. Total distance: 38.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m 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 30.2 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35 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.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Federal Way, WA
More trips to Federal Way, WA
Explore more options from Edmonds, WA or browse trips ending in Federal Way, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.