Origin
Gig Harbor, WA
Late night in Gig Harbor on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gig Harbor, 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
41m
Distance
29.5 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gig Harbor, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 29.5-mile drive from Gig Harbor, WA to Kent, WA is easily manageable in about 41 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. Primarily utilizing WA 16 and I-5, with a segment on the Valley Freeway, this route is highly focused on highway travel. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, it's an economical option for a quick journey. Since both locations are within the Pacific Coast region, you won't experience a dramatic shift in scenery, but rather a transition through familiar Washington landscapes. This trip is best suited for those looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 16 | 9.6 mi | 12m |
| I 5 | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| Valley Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| State Route 18 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Pioneer Way | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Willis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Gowe Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
WA 16
— 9.6 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gig Harbor, WA and Kent, WA.
1
Start on Harborview Drive
188 ft
·
9 sec
·
Harborview Drive
2
Turn left onto Pioneer Way
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pioneer Way
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
4
Merge onto WA 16
9.6 mi
·
12 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 5
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto WA 18
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto WA 167
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto WA 516
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Willis Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto 4th Avenue South
238 ft
·
5 sec
·
4th Avenue South
17
Continue on 4th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
4th Avenue South
18
Turn right onto West Gowe Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Gowe Street
19
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue South
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
2nd Avenue South
20
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue South
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 11.6 and 28.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
11.6 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
8
20.2 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
23.1 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
23.3 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
28.6 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
$6.17 one way
$12.35 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $6.47 | $12.95 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.70 | $13.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.51 | $13.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.10 | $1.42 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Late night in Kent on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
41m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience, with 86% of the drive on major roadways. You'll navigate a longest uninterrupted stretch of 9.6 miles on WA 16, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. The transition to I-5 will likely bring increased traffic and a faster, more utilitarian feel. As you approach Kent, the Valley Freeway section might offer a slight change in the immediate surroundings, but the overall character remains that of a swift, efficient transit.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.6 mi on WA 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.6 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 17 decision points packed into just 29.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 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 Gig Harbor, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Muckleshoot Reservation and Renton.
Muckleshoot Reservation
20.2 mi in
|
~27m
Renton
23.1 mi in
|
~31m
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 41m. Total distance: 29.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.6 miles on WA 16. 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 11.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 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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