Origin
Fords Prairie, WA
Morning in Fords Prairie on Sunday
Local time
7:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fords Prairie, WA to Kent, 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 26m
Distance
69.1 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fords Prairie, WA
Tim Mossholder
Trip Overview
Fords Prairie, WA to Kent, WA is 69.1 miles and takes about 1h 26m via I 5 and State Route 18, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within Washington's Pacific Coast region for its entirety. Expect a straightforward highway-focused journey, ideal for a quick transit between these two locations. With a drive time under two hours, it's a convenient option for a single-day trip, allowing plenty of time for your destination activities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 58.4 mi | 1h 9m |
| Valley Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| State Route 18 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Harrison Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Willis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Gowe Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Avenue South | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 58.4 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fords Prairie, WA and Kent, WA.
1
Start on Harrison Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Harrison Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 5 North
3
Merge onto I 5; US 12
50 mi
·
59 min
·
I 5; US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto WA 18
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto WA 167
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto WA 516
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Willis Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto 4th Avenue South
238 ft
·
5 sec
·
4th Avenue South
13
Continue on 4th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
4th Avenue South
14
Turn right onto West Gowe Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Gowe Street
15
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue South
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
2nd Avenue South
16
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue South
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.5 miles from Fords Prairie, 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 51.6 and 68.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
59.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
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 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservat...
7
62.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
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 WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
8
62.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
7
68.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
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 WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.46 one way
$28.92 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $15.17 | $30.33 |
| premium | $5.77 | $15.69 | $31.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.26 | $30.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.26 | $3.32 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.67 | $4.42 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Kent, WA
Morning in Kent on Sunday
Local time
7:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Lakewood, WA
35 mi in
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
1h 26m 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 trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey on major roads like I 5 and State Route 18. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving, with the longest single segment covering 58.4 miles on I 5. The character of the drive is largely defined by these main arteries, offering consistent speeds and efficient travel. While primarily highway, the route includes sections on the Valley Freeway and State Route 18, suggesting a smooth, albeit fast-paced, progression.
95% 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: 58.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Valley Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 51.6 miles in near I 5.
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 69.1 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 51.6 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.7 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 Fords Prairie, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Muckleshoot Reservation and Renton.
Muckleshoot Reservation
59.8 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Renton
62.7 mi in
|
~1h 16m
About the Cities
Arriving in Kent, WA
Full guide →Kent is the fourth largest city in King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington State, between Seattle and Tacoma.
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 1h 26m. Total distance: 69.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.4 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 Kent, 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 51.6 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Kent, 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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