This 274.7-mile journey from Federal Way, WA, to Dayton, WA, is a manageable one-day drive, estimated to take around 5 hours and 55 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-90 and then transitioning to WA 26 and WA 261, this route offers a highway-focused experience. With a projected fuel cost of approximately $57, it's an economical option for a quick trip. The drive moves you from the Pacific Coast region of Washington to another part of the same region, making it a straightforward exploration within the state. It's well-suited for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
137.4 miles from Federal Way, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
111.9 mi
2h 2m
WA 26
82.8 mi
1h 49m
WA 261
29.3 mi
51m
State Route 18
24.4 mi
31m
US 12
14.6 mi
18m
North Main Street
6.4 mi
11m
South Peasley Canyon Road
1.8 mi
3m
South 320th Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 111.9 mi, about 2h 2m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 35 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,207 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,108
Quietest
2 AM
~99 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Dayton, WA.
1
Start on this road
24 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South 312th Street
158 ft·5 sec·South 312th Street
3
Turn left onto WA 99
0.5 mi·1 min·Pacific Highway South
4
Turn left onto South 320th Street
1.4 mi·3 min·South 320th Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on South Peasley Canyon Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Peasley Canyon Road
6
Enter roundabout onto South Peasley Canyon Road
95 ft·1 sec·South Peasley Canyon Road
7
Continue on South Peasley Canyon Road
0.7 mi·1 min·South Peasley Canyon Road
8
Turn left onto West Valley Highway North
334 ft·10 sec·West Valley Highway North
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward WA 18 East, WA 167 North: Renton, North BendUse the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward WA 18 East
11
Merge onto WA 18
24 mi·31 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
14
Merge onto I 90
112 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward WA 26 East: Othello, Pullman
16
Turn straight onto WA 26
83 mi·1 hr 49 min·WA 26
17
Turn right onto WA 260; WA 261
6.4 mi·11 min·North Main Street
18
Turn left onto WA 261
29 mi·51 min·WA 261
19
At end of road, turn right onto US 12
15 mi·18 min·US 12
20
Turn left onto Patit Road
85 ft·3 sec·Patit Road
21
Arrive at destination
Patit Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 55-minute drive, consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for the journey. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. The longest stretch without a break is over 111 miles, so plan your fueling and rest stops accordingly. Pay attention to the transition from I-90 to WA 26 and WA 261, as this is where the road type changes, and ensure you are comfortable with the highway share of 96% for the entire trip.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 137.4 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.9 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 60 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.4 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, 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.
+
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 Federal Way, WA
This is one driving day of about 274.7 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Federal Way, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 111.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 4.3 — 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
3.7 mi into trip|~7m in|West Valley Highway North
Turn left onto West Valley Highway North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
3.8 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp toward WA 18 East, WA 167 North: Renton, North Bend
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward WA 18 East, WA 167 North: Renton, North...
6
4 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 18 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward WA 18 East
5
4.3 mi into trip|~9m in|WA 18 / State Route 18
Merge onto WA 18 / State Route 18
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.87 one way
$121.73 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.91
$63.86
$127.72
premium
$6.08
$65.75
$131.51
diesel
$5.35
$57.86
$115.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.4
1
$28.84
$13.19
Efficient EV
68.7
0
$24.04
$10.99
EV Truck/SUV
109.9
1
$38.46
$17.58
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 May 21, 2026
Origin
Federal Way, WA
Afternoon
in Federal Way on Wednesday
Local time
1:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 2 to 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 20 at 11:42AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Dayton, WA
Afternoon
in Dayton on Wednesday
Local time
1:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 1 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 20 at 11:42AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 55m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route being on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion on I-90, including a continuous stretch of 111.9 miles, which offers a steady pace. As you transition to WA 26 and WA 261, the character of the drive may shift slightly, but the overall feel remains that of efficient travel on well-maintained roads. This route is designed for covering distance effectively.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WA 26. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 312th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 274.7 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 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (West Valley Highway North): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,542 ft465 ft
Total Climb
3,806 ft
Total Descent
2,605 ft
Highest Point
2,542 ft
~58.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,078 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Federal Way, WA to Dayton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Pullman along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Wild Waves Theme Park — amusement park and water park in Federal Way, Washington, United States
Dayton is a city of 2,400 people (2019) in the Palouse region of eastern Washington. It is the county seat of Columbia County. It has an historic depot, historic courthouse, and Main Street, that are part of a National Historic District.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 274.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.9 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (West Valley Highway North): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dayton, WA before the return drive.
