Origin
Federal Way, WA
Night in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
10:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Federal Way, WA to Parkland, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
19.5 mi
31 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Federal Way, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Parkland, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Federal Way, WA to Parkland, WA is 19.5 miles and takes about 28m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Pacific Coast region, specifically within Washington state. Given its minimal distance and duration, this is a straightforward drive ideal for a quick transfer or a short hop to a nearby destination. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a predictable and efficient route. Plan for a very brief travel time, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 13.7 mi | 17m |
| WA 512 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Pacific Highway South | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| 16th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pacific Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| State Route 18 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 112th Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 13.7 mi, about 17m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~6,209 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~686 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Parkland, 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, Tacoma
Use 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
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 127
Toward WA 512 East: South Tacoma Way, Puyallup
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward WA 512 East: Puyallup
12
Turn left onto WA 512
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
WA 512
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward WA 7: Parkland, Spanaway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto WA 7
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Pacific Avenue South
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto 112th Street South
81 ft
·
3 sec
·
112th Street South
16
Arrive at destination
112th Street South
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 19.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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.
8
16.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward WA 512 East: South Tacoma Way, Puyallup
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 127
Toward WA 512 East: South Tacoma Way, Puyallup
7
18.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward WA 7: Parkland, Spanaway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 7: Parkland, Spanaway
6
19.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
WA 7 / Pacific Avenue South
Turn right onto WA 7 / Pacific Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.11 one way
$8.21 round trip
$5.35/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.56 | $4.27 | $8.53 |
| premium | $5.76 | $4.42 | $8.84 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $4.30 | $8.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.05 | $0.94 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Parkland, WA
Night in Parkland on Saturday
Local time
10:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
28m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 80% of the route on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 13.7 miles on I 5, indicating sustained highway cruising. The transition to surface streets will likely occur as you approach your destination in Parkland. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits along the main highway sections.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.7 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 512. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 19.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.3 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
465 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
413 ft
Total Descent
498 ft
Highest Point
465 ft
Elevation Range
452 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Parkland, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma and Puyallup.
Tacoma
2.4 mi in
|
~5m
Puyallup
16.5 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Starting in Federal Way, WA
Full guide →Founded 1929
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
Arriving in Parkland, WA
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 19.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.7 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 Parkland, 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 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.3 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Parkland, WA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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