Origin
Federal Way, WA
Late night in Federal Way on Tuesday
Local time
2:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Federal Way, WA to Renton, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
14.3 mi
23 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
This 14.3-mile drive from Federal Way to Renton, Washington, is a quick trip, taking about 22 minutes to complete. Primarily using I-5 and I-405, with a segment on Pacific Highway South, this route is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $3, it's an economical option for local travel within the Pacific Coast region. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and potentially some local road navigation. Given its short distance and duration, no overnight stays are recommended.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| I 405 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Rainier Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Valley Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 6.9 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Renton, 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: Seattle
Use 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-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 405
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 405
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto WA 167
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Valley Freeway
14
Continue on WA 167
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Rainier Avenue South
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right
39 ft
·
2 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 10.5 and 13 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
12.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
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 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
8
12.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
9
13 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue Sou...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.99 one way
$5.99 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.14 | $6.28 |
| premium | $5.77 | $3.25 | $6.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.16 | $6.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.69 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.7 | 0 | $2.00 | $0.92 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Renton, WA
Late night in Renton on Tuesday
Local time
2:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
22m 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?
Expect a drive that's primarily on major roadways, with 59% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the longest uninterrupted segment of 6.9 miles on I-5, offering a consistent cruising experience. The route transitions between these faster-paced sections and potentially more varied local road conditions as you navigate between I-5 and I-405. This 'mixed drive' profile means you'll experience different driving personalities, from freeway efficiency to the occasional need for more localized awareness.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.9 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.5 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 14.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Renton, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue, Auburn and Rainier Avenue South.
Bellevue
10.5 mi in
|
~15m
Auburn
12.3 mi in
|
~18m
Rainier Avenue South
12.7 mi in
|
~19m
About the Cities
Starting in Federal Way, WA
Full guide →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.
Arriving in Renton, WA
Full guide →Renton is a city in King County, Washington south of Bellevue and north of Kent. It is a quiet suburb of Seattle at the base of Lake Washington. Renton is primarily known as the site of the Boeing 737 plant, where the popular commercial jetliner is built. Renton is also notable for being the resting place of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. Its relatively inexpensive property prices make it a solid choice of stay while visiting Seattle, and the downtown area has many quiet charms of its own.
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 22m. Total distance: 14.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.9 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 Renton, 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 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; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Renton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Renton, WA
More trips to Renton, WA
Explore more options from Federal Way, WA or browse trips ending in Renton, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.