Kent, WA to Friday Harbor, WA is 118.5 miles and takes about 3h 20m via I 5 and Anacortes ↔ Friday Harbor, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Pacific Coast region of Washington to another part of the same region, primarily on interstate highways before transitioning to a ferry route. You'll experience a fairly straightforward drive for most of the journey. Given the relatively short duration and manageable fuel costs, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a convenient way to reach the San Juan Islands.
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
59.3 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
43.4 mi
51m
I 405
26.9 mi
33m
Anacortes ↔ Friday Harbor
19 mi
1h 4m
State Route 20
7 mi
9m
Valley Freeway
5.9 mi
7m
Memorial Highway
4 mi
6m
State Route 20 Spur
2.6 mi
3m
Oakes Avenue
2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 43.4 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Friday Harbor, 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
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Willis Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Renton
7
Merge onto WA 167
5.9 mi·7 min·Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 405 North: BellevueUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 405
17 mi·20 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
8.4 mi·10 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
1.9 mi·2 min·I 405
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 5
43 mi·51 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward WA 536 West: Kincaid Street
15
Turn left onto WA 536
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Kincaid Street
16
Turn right onto WA 536
0.3 mi·27 sec·South 3rd Street
17
Continue on WA 536
0.8 mi·2 min·West Division Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on WA 536
4.0 mi·6 min·Memorial Highway
19
Take the ramp onto WA 536
0.3 mi·29 sec·WA 536
20
Merge onto WA 20
7.0 mi·9 min·State Route 20
21
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur
2.6 mi·3 min·State Route 20 Spur
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
22
Turn right onto R Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·R Avenue
23
Keep slight left at fork onto R Avenue
90 ft·5 sec·R Avenue
24
Keep slight right at fork onto R Avenue
0.4 mi·58 sec·R Avenue
25
Enter roundabout onto R Avenue
101 ft·5 sec·R Avenue
26
Continue on R Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·R Avenue
27
Turn left onto 20th Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·20th Street
28
Turn right onto WA 20 SPUR
0.5 mi·1 min·Commercial Avenue
29
Turn left onto WA 20 SPUR
1.1 mi·2 min·12th Street
30
Continue on WA 20 SPUR
1.6 mi·3 min·Oakes Avenue
31
Enter roundabout onto WA 20 SPUR
99 ft·2 sec·Oakes Avenue
32
Continue on WA 20 SPUR
0.4 mi·1 min·Oakes Avenue
33
Turn slight right onto WA 20 SPUR
0.7 mi·1 min·Ferry Terminal Road
34
Turn straight onto WA 20 SPUR
301 ft·22 sec·WA 20 SPUR
35
Turn straight onto WA 20 Spur
19 mi·1 hr 4 min·Anacortes ↔ Friday Harbor
36
Continue on Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal
266 ft·19 sec·Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal
37
Turn right onto Front Street South
210 ft·7 sec·Front Street South
38
Enter roundabout onto Spring Street
189 ft·6 sec·Spring Street
39
Continue on Spring Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Spring Street
40
Turn right onto Second Street South
58 ft·3 sec·Second Street South
41
Arrive at destination
Second Street South
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip, leaving in the morning is advisable to maximize your time in Friday Harbor. The total duration is around 3 hours and 20 minutes, so you can comfortably complete it without needing to split the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $25, and plan your last substantial fill-up before heading towards Anacortes for the ferry. Since the longest stretch on I 5 is 43.4 miles, you'll have opportunities for breaks before embarking on the ferry portion of your journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.3 miles from Kent, WA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.3 miles or 1h 13m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Friday Harbor, 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 118.5 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 43.4 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.9 and 118.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North: Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Bellevue
6
24.4 mi into trip|~31m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.7 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia
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 North: Everett, Vancouver British Co...
6
91.3 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|State Route 20 Spur
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
7
118.4 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|Spring Street
Enter roundabout onto Spring Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.80 one way
$49.60 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$26.01
$52.02
premium
$5.77
$26.91
$53.82
diesel
$5.61
$26.16
$52.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.6
0
$12.44
$5.69
Efficient EV
29.6
0
$10.37
$4.74
EV Truck/SUV
47.4
0
$16.59
$7.58
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 21, 2026
Origin
Kent, WA
Late night
in Kent on Tuesday
Local time
2:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
SSE 3 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 9:24AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Friday Harbor, WA
Late night
in Friday Harbor on Tuesday
Local time
2:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 1 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 9:24AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
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
3 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
3h 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
San Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it w...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 118.5
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 16.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 73% of the journey on interstates. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of 43.4 miles on I 5, offering a consistent pace. As you progress, the route shifts from the familiar interstate environment to a more scenic ferry crossing. Expect a mix of efficient highway travel and the unique experience of navigating to and from a ferry terminal. The character changes from straightforward driving to a more journey-oriented, multi-modal adventure.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 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 26 significant decision points across 118.5 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 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.7 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.
Between Kent, WA and Friday Harbor, WA, road signs point toward Vancouver British Columbia, Anacortes and San Juans Ferry.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 118.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.4 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Friday Harbor, 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 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.4 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Juan Island National Historical Park and Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Friday Harbor, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
