Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
9.1 mi
15 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Puyallup, WA
JOHN CALLERY
This short 9.1-mile drive from Federal Way to North Puyallup in Washington is easily completed in about 18 minutes, making it perfect for a quick local trip. With a modest fuel cost of around $2, it's an economical option. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Meridian Avenue East, Enchanted Parkway South, and Pacific Highway South, offering a turn-heavy experience rather than extensive highway cruising. As both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, you won't be crossing any major geographical divides. Given its brevity, this route is ideal as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Meridian Avenue East | 3.4 mi | 7m |
| Enchanted Parkway South | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Pacific Highway South | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| 16th Avenue South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Meridian | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Valley Avenue Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Valley Avenue East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and North Puyallup, WA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto South 312th Street
Turn left onto WA 99
Turn left onto 16th Avenue South
Continue on WA 161
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 161
Continue on WA 161
Continue on WA 161
Turn left onto Valley Avenue Northeast
Continue on Valley Avenue East
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 9.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto South 312th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 16th Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 161 / Enchanted Parkway South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto Valley Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$1.90 one way
$3.81 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $2.00 | $3.99 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.07 | $4.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.01 | $4.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.96 | $0.44 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
3:32 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Rain
Destination
Late night in North Puyallup on Sunday
Local time
3:32 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only 26% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a mix of surface streets, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 3.4 miles along Meridian Avenue East. The road personality shifts between urban and suburban, demanding your attention with frequent turns and traffic signals. This isn't a high-speed cruise; rather, it's a more engaged driving experience that keeps you connected to the local environment as you navigate.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 312th Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 18m drive. You will face about 5 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 1.8 miles (16th Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (WA 161 / Enchanted Parkway South): 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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 9.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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