This straightforward 23.1-mile drive from Federal Way, WA to Norwood Village, WA takes about 35 minutes and is perfect for a single day trip. Primarily utilizing I-405 and I-5, with a section on Pacific Highway South, this route focuses on efficient travel. With an estimated fuel cost of $5, it's an economical option for a quick journey within the Pacific Coast region. The highway-focused profile means you'll be covering ground quickly, making it an ideal choice when you want to get from point A to point B without much fuss. You won't need to worry about overnight stays on this short hop.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 405
9.6 mi
11m
I 5
6.9 mi
8m
Pacific Highway South
2.5 mi
4m
124th Avenue Southeast
0.8 mi
1m
South 272nd Street
0.7 mi
1m
128th Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
1m
Factoria Boulevard Southeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Coal Creek Parkway Southeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 9.6 mi, about 11m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 43 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~7,306 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~802 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Norwood Village, 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
6.9 mi·8 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
448 ft·10 sec
Exit 154A-BToward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, BellevueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 154BToward I 405 North: Renton, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 405
9.6 mi·11 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 10Toward Coal Creek Parkway, Factoria Boulevard SoutheastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Coal Creek Parkway Southeast
0.2 mi·39 sec·Coal Creek Parkway Southeast
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto 124th Avenue Southeast
0.8 mi·1 min·124th Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Southeast 38th Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Southeast 38th Street
14
Turn left onto Factoria Boulevard Southeast
0.3 mi·49 sec·Factoria Boulevard Southeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on Richards Road
395 ft·18 sec·Richards Road
16
Turn sharp left onto Southeast 32nd Street
400 ft·12 sec·Southeast 32nd Street
17
Turn right onto 128th Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi·1 min·128th Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto Southeast 25th Street
295 ft·15 sec·Southeast 25th Street
19
Turn right
46 ft·3 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 20.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
10.5 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
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 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma...
9
10.6 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
8
20.6 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward Coal Creek Parkway, Factoria Boulevard Southeast
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 10
Toward Coal Creek Parkway, Factoria Boulevard S...
6
20.9 mi into trip|~29m in|Coal Creek Parkway Southeast
Turn right onto Coal Creek Parkway Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.50 one way
$9.00 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg8 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$4.71
$9.43
premium
$5.39
$4.90
$9.81
diesel
$4.80
$4.36
$8.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging
· 0 stops
· 63% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
6.9
0
$2.43
$1.11
Efficient EV
5.8
0
$2.02
$0.92
EV Truck/SUV
9.2
0
$3.23
$1.48
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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 Jul 7, 2026
Origin
Federal Way, WA
Morning
in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 7 at 1:50PM PDT until July 7 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 7 at 1:50PM PDT until July 7 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Norwood Village, WA
Morning
in Norwood Village on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
WNW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 7 at 1:50PM PDT until July 7 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 7 at 1:50PM PDT until July 7 at 10:00PM 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for this drive, with 73% of the journey on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 9.6 miles along I-405, allowing for consistent speed. You'll transition between I-405 and I-5, experiencing typical freeway driving conditions. Pacific Highway South offers a brief change of pace before you likely rejoin the main arteries. This route prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently rather than offering winding scenic detours.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.6 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 23.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
465 ft41 ft
Total Climb
499 ft
Total Descent
689 ft
Highest Point
465 ft
Elevation Range
424 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Federal Way, WA and Norwood Village, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue and Factoria Boulevard Southeast.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 23.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.6 miles on I 405. 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 Norwood Village, 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: at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Norwood Village, WA before heading back.
