Origin
Elma, WA
Late night in Elma on Sunday
Local time
4:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elma, 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
1h 29m
Distance
68.7 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elma, WA
Han
Trip Overview
This 68.7-mile drive from Elma, WA, to Federal Way, WA, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-5 and WA-8, with a brief segment on US-101, this route is almost entirely highway driving at 95%. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it's an economical trip. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent feel throughout the journey. This straightforward drive is ideal for a quick transit between these Washington towns.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 38.8 mi | 48m |
| WA 8 | 21.1 mi | 26m |
| US 101 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| South 320th Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Pacific Highway South | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Olympic Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 38.8 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elma, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on this road
79 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto South 7th Street
182 ft
·
10 sec
·
South 7th Street
3
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
South 3rd Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 12 East: Centralia, Olympia
6
Merge onto US 12
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Olympic Highway
7
Continue on WA 8
21 mi
·
26 min
·
WA 8
8
Merge onto US 101
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
US 101
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
10
Merge onto I 5
29 mi
·
36 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto South 320th Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South 320th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Pacific Highway South
15
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.4 miles from Elma, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 7th Street
Turn right onto South 7th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 12 East: Centralia, Olympia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 East: Centralia, Olympia
6
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
67 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Federal Way, South 320th 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.
Exit 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
6
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
South 320th Street
Turn left onto South 320th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.38 one way
$28.76 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $15.08 | $30.16 |
| premium | $5.77 | $15.60 | $31.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.17 | $30.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.01 | $2.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.62 | $4.40 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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 Sunday
Local time
4:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
N 3 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:29PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:29PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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
13 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 29m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 68.7-mile journey, with 95% of the travel occurring on major roadways like I-5 and WA-8. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 38.8 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of WA-8 and US-101 might introduce slight variations in road type and speed limits before rejoining the interstate. This route generally maintains a steady flow, making it suitable for covering distance efficiently.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.8 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 7th Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 (South 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 1h 29m. Total distance: 68.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.8 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 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: near the start (South 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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