Origin
Federal Way, WA
Late night in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
3:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Federal Way, WA to Tukwila, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
13.1 mi
21 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 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tukwila, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Federal Way, WA to Tukwila, WA is 13.1 miles and takes about 21m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Washington's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward connection between two nearby points. It's a practical drive, suitable for anyone needing to get from one area to the other without a significant time commitment. Consider this route for its directness and minimal travel time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Interurban Avenue South | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I 405 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 58th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Valley Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 141st Place | <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 Tukwila, 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
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 405
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 1
Toward WA 181 South: Tukwila, West Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto WA 181
528 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Valley Highway
12
Continue on WA 181
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Interurban Avenue South
13
Turn left onto South 141st Place
445 ft
·
12 sec
·
South 141st Place
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on 58th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
58th Avenue South
15
Turn right onto South 144th Street
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 144th Street
16
Arrive at destination
South 144th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 12.9 — 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
11.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward WA 181 South: Tukwila, West Valley Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward WA 181 South: Tukwila, West Valley Highw...
6
12.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
South 141st Place
Turn left onto South 141st Place
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.74 one way
$5.48 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $2.88 | $5.75 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.97 | $5.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.89 | $5.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.38 | $0.63 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
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
Tukwila, WA
Late night in Tukwila on Sunday
Local time
3:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°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
19 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
21m 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 features a mixed profile, with 56% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 6.9 miles on I 5, providing a taste of faster, more direct travel. The route also incorporates other main roads like Pacific Highway South and Interurban Avenue South, introducing more local traffic and varied speed limits. Expect a dynamic driving experience that transitions from interstate speeds to more varied road conditions as you approach your destination.
56% 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?
8/10
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 3.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 13.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
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.
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 Tukwila, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue and Valley Highway.
Bellevue
10.5 mi in
|
~15m
Valley Highway
11.4 mi in
|
~17m
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.
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 21m. Total distance: 13.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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 Tukwila, 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 Tukwila, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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