Federal Way, WA to Big Lake, WA is 88.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m via I 5 and Pacific Highway South, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Washington's Pacific Coast region for its entirety. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. You'll find the route largely functional, designed for efficient travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.1 miles from Federal Way, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
79 mi
1h 35m
Pacific Highway South
2.5 mi
4m
East Division Street
2.4 mi
5m
State Route 9
1.5 mi
2m
Mount Vernon Big Lake Road
0.7 mi
1m
South 272nd Street
0.7 mi
1m
Broad Street
0.5 mi
1m
South 15th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 79 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Big Lake, WA.
1
Start on this road
24 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South 312th Street
158 ft·7 sec·South 312th Street
3
Turn right onto WA 99
2.5 mi·4 min·Pacific Highway South
4
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I-5 North: SeattleUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 5
79 mi·1 hr 35 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward WA 536 West: Kincaid Street
8
Turn sharp right onto Broad Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Broad Street
9
Turn left onto South 15th Street
0.4 mi·58 sec·South 15th Street
10
Turn right onto East Division Street
1.6 mi·4 min·East Division Street
11
Enter roundabout onto East Division Street
76 ft·2 sec·East Division Street
12
Continue on East Division Street
0.8 mi·1 min·East Division Street
13
Continue on Mount Vernon Big Lake Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Mount Vernon Big Lake Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto WA 9
1.5 mi·2 min·State Route 9
15
Arrive at destination
WA 9
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 55m estimated duration, this is comfortably a one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will help you avoid potential afternoon traffic on I 5. While there are no specific stops recommended, keep an eye on your fuel; the $18 estimated cost suggests efficient driving but planning for a fill-up before you depart or midway is always wise. The longest stretch on I 5 is nearly the entire drive, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition before setting out.
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 44.1 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 44.1 miles or 56m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Lake, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Federal Way, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Federal Way, WA
This is one driving day of about 88.2 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Federal Way, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 79 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86.8 — 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 312th Street
Turn left onto South 312th Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|South 272nd Street
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I-5 North: Seattle
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-5 North: Seattle
5
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|WA 9 / State Route 9
At end of road, turn right onto WA 9 / State Route 9
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.46 one way
$36.92 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$19.36
$38.72
premium
$5.77
$20.03
$40.06
diesel
$5.61
$19.47
$38.95
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: 30.9 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
26.5
0
$9.26
$4.23
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.72
$3.53
EV Truck/SUV
35.3
0
$12.35
$5.64
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 16, 2026
Origin
Federal Way, WA
Evening
in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
7:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Big Lake, WA
Evening
in Big Lake on Saturday
Local time
7:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live 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
7 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 55m 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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 5. Expect a significant stretch of 79 miles on I 5, which means long periods of consistent speed and relatively little traffic interaction. While the primary roads are high-speed, you will also encounter segments of Pacific Highway South and East Division Street, offering a slight change of pace before reaching your destination. The overall feel is one of steady progress on established corridors.
91% 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: 79 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 early in the drive near South 312th Street.
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 55m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (South 272nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 88.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 79 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 (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (South 272nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: 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 Big Lake, WA before heading back.
