Origin
Federal Way, WA
Evening in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Federal Way, WA to Shelton, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelton, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 60.3-mile trip from Federal Way, WA, to Shelton, WA, is estimated to take about 1 hour and 20 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, as this route has no highway driving. With a projected fuel cost of around $13, it's an economical excursion. The drive offers a straightforward journey within the Pacific Coast region. This route is best suited for a single day of travel, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 37 mi | 46m |
| US 101 | 16.8 mi | 21m |
| Pacific Highway South | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Southeast State Route 3 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Olympic Highway South | 1 mi | 1m |
| South 1st Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 16th Avenue South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| State Route 18 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 37 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Shelton, 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
30 mi
·
36 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
Toward US 101: Aberdeen, Port Angeles
11
Continue on US 101
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 101
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US 101
Toward US 101 North: Shelton, Port Angeles
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
14
Continue on WA 3
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast State Route 3
15
Continue on WA 3
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Olympic Highway South
16
Continue on WA 3
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 1st Street
17
Turn left onto West Cedar Street
304 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Cedar Street
18
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
216 ft
·
9 sec
·
North 2nd Street
19
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.1 miles from Federal Way, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 45.9 — 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
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
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 5 South: 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.
6
45.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
US 101
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101 toward US 101 North: Shelton, Port Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 101 North: Shelton, Port Angeles
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.62 one way
$25.24 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $13.24 | $26.47 |
| premium | $5.77 | $13.69 | $27.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.31 | $26.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Shelton, WA
Evening in Shelton on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°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
12 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
1h 20m 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 turn-heavy local drive for this 60.3-mile journey. Since the highway share is 0%, you'll be on surface streets for the entire duration. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent intersections and changes in direction. You'll likely experience a mix of urban and suburban driving as you make your way from Federal Way towards Shelton.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and US 101. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 312th Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
On the drive from Federal Way, WA to Shelton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Port Angeles along the way.
Port Angeles
39.9 mi in
|
~52m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 60.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 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 Shelton, 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: near the start (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shelton, 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.
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