Kent, WA to Amboy, WA is 146.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington state, beginning and ending in the Pacific Coast region. Expect a drive that is predominantly highway, making it a straightforward journey. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively quick trip without extensive planning, suitable for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.4 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
119.5 mi
2h 16m
Northeast Cedar Creek Road
10.9 mi
16m
Valley Freeway
4.4 mi
5m
Northwest Hayes Road
4 mi
6m
State Route 18
1.5 mi
1m
Northeast Hayes Road
1.3 mi
1m
Pacific Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Northeast 221st Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 119.5 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Amboy, WA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue South
10 ft·4 sec·2nd Avenue South
2
Turn right onto West Gowe Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·West Gowe Street
3
Turn left onto 4th Avenue South
0.2 mi·23 sec·4th Avenue South
4
Turn slight right
182 ft·6 sec
5
Turn straight onto WA 516
0.4 mi·53 sec·West Willis Street
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward WA 167 South: AuburnUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto WA 167
4.4 mi·5 min·Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward WA 18 West: Federal WayUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto WA 18
1.5 mi·1 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5: Seattle, TacomaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, TacomaUse the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
13
Merge onto I 5
7.2 mi·9 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
112 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward WA 503 East: Woodland, Cougar
16
Continue on Pacific Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Pacific Avenue
17
Continue on Pacific Avenue
175 ft·13 sec·Pacific Avenue
18
Turn left onto WA 503
0.1 mi·23 sec·Lewis River Road
19
Turn right onto East CC Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·East CC Street
20
Turn straight onto Northwest Hayes Road
4.0 mi·6 min·Northwest Hayes Road
21
Continue on Northeast Hayes Road
1.3 mi·1 min·Northeast Hayes Road
22
Continue on Northeast Cedar Creek Road
11 mi·16 min·Northeast Cedar Creek Road
23
Turn right onto Northeast 221st Avenue
0.5 mi·46 sec·Northeast 221st Avenue
24
Turn left onto Northeast Amboy Road
80 ft·1 sec·Northeast Amboy Road
25
Arrive at destination
Northeast Amboy Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. With only one recommended stop implied by the data, you can decide to make it a quick journey or take your time. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 119.5-mile stretch on I 5, as services might be less frequent than you'd expect on local roads. Planning to depart in the morning or early afternoon will give you ample daylight to reach Amboy without feeling rushed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.4 miles from Kent, WA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.4 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amboy, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kent, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kent, WA
This is one driving day of about 146.8 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Kent, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 119.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 16.6 — 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|~1m in
Turn left toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
6
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 West: Federal Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 18 West: Federal Way
7
7.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 5: 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: Seattle, Tacoma
8
8.5 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway Sou...
6
16.6 mi into trip|~24m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.72 one way
$61.45 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$32.22
$64.44
premium
$5.77
$33.34
$66.67
diesel
$5.61
$32.41
$64.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.41
$7.05
Efficient EV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.87
EV Truck/SUV
58.7
0
$20.55
$9.40
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kent, WA
Night
in Kent on Saturday
Local time
9:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amboy, WA
Night
in Amboy on Saturday
Local time
9:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2h 59m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 85% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 119.5 miles on I 5, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is largely dictated by these faster sections, interspersed with segments on Northeast Cedar Creek Road and Valley Freeway. It's a journey where you can maintain steady progress for most of the trip.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northeast Cedar Creek Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 146.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 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.
Between Kent, WA and Amboy, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma and Cougar.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 146.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.5 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 Amboy, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 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 Amboy, WA before heading back.
