Origin
Fircrest, WA
Late night in Fircrest on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fircrest, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
36.8 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fircrest, WA
Alex Stone
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 36.8 miles from Fircrest to Seattle is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 49 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a quick day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily utilize I-5, WA-16, and Columbia Avenue to navigate between these two Pacific Coast locations. With a fuel budget of just $8, it is a highly economical route for those looking to reach the city efficiently. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a brief excursion, the drive is practical and uncomplicated. Expect a direct experience that prioritizes speed over sightseeing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 32.2 mi | 40m |
| WA 16 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Columbia Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Alameda Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Orchard Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 19th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Seneca Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 32.2 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fircrest, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on Alameda Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Alameda Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Columbia Avenue
3
Continue on South 19th Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South 19th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto South Orchard Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Orchard Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto WA 16
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 5
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
12
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
13
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
15
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Fircrest, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 36.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Orchard Street
Turn right onto South Orchard Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
7
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
7
36.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
7
36.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.70 one way
$15.40 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $8.08 | $16.15 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.36 | $16.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.12 | $16.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Seattle, WA
Late night in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
2 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
49m 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 highway-focused drive is defined by its efficiency, with 92% of the journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 32.2 miles along I-5. The route transitions from local streets like Columbia Avenue onto the major arteries of WA-16 and I-5, shifting the feel from suburban driving to a faster interstate pace. Do not expect technical winding roads here; instead, anticipate a steady, consistent flow of traffic as you navigate toward the city. It is a utilitarian trek designed to move you from point A to point B with minimal deviation.
92% 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: 32.2 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 16. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near South Orchard Street.
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 36.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (South Orchard Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 36.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.2 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 Seattle, 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 0.7 miles (South Orchard Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Seattle, 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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