Federal Way to Longview is 106.2 miles and takes about 2h 9m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward trip stays within Washington State, connecting two points in the Pacific Coast region. Expect a drive that's almost entirely on the interstate, making it a functional choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable journey for most travelers looking for a direct route.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.1 miles from Federal Way, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
100.6 mi
1h 56m
Pacific Highway South
1.8 mi
3m
Washington Way
0.7 mi
1m
Cowlitz Way
0.7 mi
1m
North Kelso Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
16th Avenue South
0.5 mi
1m
15th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
North Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 100.6 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Longview, 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
1.8 mi·3 min·Pacific Highway South
4
Turn left onto 16th Avenue South
0.5 mi·1 min·16th Avenue South
5
Turn left onto WA 18
497 ft·13 sec·State Route 18
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, TacomaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
8
Merge onto I 5
7.5 mi·9 min·I 5
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
93 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward North Kelso Avenue
11
Turn right onto North Kelso Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Kelso Avenue
12
Continue on North Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Pacific Avenue
13
Turn right onto WA 4
0.7 mi·1 min·Cowlitz Way
14
Continue on Washington Way
0.7 mi·1 min·Washington Way
15
Turn left onto 15th Avenue
0.2 mi·43 sec·15th Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Hudson Street
147 ft·8 sec·Hudson Street
17
Turn right onto Olympia Way
308 ft·10 sec·Olympia Way
18
Arrive at destination
Olympia Way
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over two hours, this trip is ideal for a same-day journey. You can easily depart Federal Way in the morning or afternoon and arrive in Longview with plenty of daylight to spare. The fuel cost is estimated at $22, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave, as the longest stretch is over 100 miles. While there are no mandatory stops suggested, consider a brief break around the halfway point if needed, especially since the route is predominantly highway driving with limited immediate services directly on the main thoroughfare.
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 53.1 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.6 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.1 miles or 1h 4m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Longview, 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 106.2 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 100.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.3 — 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
8
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma
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.
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma
5
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
5
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
10.3 mi into trip|~15m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.23 one way
$44.45 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$23.31
$46.62
premium
$5.77
$24.12
$48.23
diesel
$5.61
$23.45
$46.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.9
0
$11.15
$5.10
Efficient EV
26.6
0
$9.29
$4.25
EV Truck/SUV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Federal Way, WA
Night
in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
11:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Longview, WA
Night
in Longview on Saturday
Local time
11:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 9m 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.
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 drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 95% of the journey taking place on high-speed roads. You'll spend the majority of your time on I 5, which offers a consistent and predictable driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch on this route is 100.6 miles on I 5, meaning there are few opportunities for spontaneous detours or scenic pull-offs. While Pacific Highway South and Washington Way are part of the route, their contribution is minimal, keeping the overall character of the drive as a highway-focused excursion.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Pacific Highway South. You will hit about 13 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 Effort6/10
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 106.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 106.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.6 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 Longview, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Longview, WA before heading back.
