Federal Way, WA to Pullman, WA is 289.9 miles and takes about 5h 57m via WA 26 and I 90, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington, crossing from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the same region. It's a mostly highway drive, so you'll cover ground efficiently. Plan for a single day of travel, keeping in mind the fuel costs and estimated duration.
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
145 miles from Federal Way, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WA 26
129.1 mi
2h 44m
I 90
111.9 mi
2h 2m
State Route 18
24.4 mi
31m
East James Street
12.8 mi
17m
Colfax Airport Road
3 mi
4m
South Peasley Canyon Road
1.8 mi
3m
Northwest Davis Way
1.6 mi
2m
South 320th Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
WA 26
— 129.1 mi, about 2h 44m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 70 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,207 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,181
Quietest
2 AM
~104 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Pullman, 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
129 mi·2 hr 44 min·WA 26
17
Turn right onto Colfax Airport Road
3.0 mi·4 min·Colfax Airport Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto West Almota Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Almota Road
19
Continue on West Fairview Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Fairview Street
20
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Main Street
21
Continue on South Main Street
104 ft·7 sec·South Main Street
22
Turn right onto US 195
13 mi·17 min·East James Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto WA 270
316 ft·5 sec·Davis Way
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on WA 270
0.6 mi·51 sec·Davis Way
25
Continue on WA 270
1.6 mi·2 min·Northwest Davis Way
26
Continue on Northeast Olsen Street
358 ft·17 sec·Northeast Olsen Street
27
Turn left onto Northeast Kamiaken Street
368 ft·14 sec·Northeast Kamiaken Street
28
Turn left
89 ft·6 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour drive time, leaving Federal Way in the morning is ideal to ensure you reach Pullman with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can make good time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 129.1-mile stretch on WA 26, as services might be less frequent. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing flexibility in your departure time.
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 145 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.1 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 64 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145 miles or 2h 49m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pullman, 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 289.9 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 WA 26 for about 129.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 274.7 — 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
6
274.7 mi into trip|~5h 35m in|US 195 / East James Street
Turn right onto US 195 / East James Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.02 one way
$124.04 round trip
$5.43/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.68
$64.83
$129.66
premium
$5.89
$67.24
$134.47
diesel
$6.28
$71.63
$143.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87
1
$30.44
$13.92
Efficient EV
72.5
0
$25.37
$11.60
EV Truck/SUV
116
1
$40.59
$18.55
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Federal Way, WA
Late night
in Federal Way on Thursday
Local time
3:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 2 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pullman, WA
Late night
in Pullman on Thursday
Local time
3:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 2 mph1% chanceLive 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
5 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 57m 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?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 92% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience a long stretch of 129.1 miles on WA 26, offering a chance for consistent cruising. Expect a significant amount of highway driving before transitioning to surface roads for the final section of your trip.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.1 mi on WA 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 26 and I 90. You will hit about 16 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 289.9 miles you will encounter 16 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.
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 5h 57m. Total distance: 289.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.1 miles on WA 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
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 Pullman, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 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 6.0 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 Pullman, WA before the return drive.
