Origin
Kent, WA
Night in Kent on Saturday
Local time
9:20 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kent, WA to Yelm, 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 11m
Distance
47.3 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yelm, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 47.3-mile drive from Kent, WA to Yelm, WA takes about 1 hour and 11 minutes and is perfectly suited for a day trip. You'll primarily navigate via I-5 and Valley Freeway before transitioning to Yelm Highway Southeast. With a fuel cost estimated at $10, this route offers an economical journey between the Pacific Coast regions of Washington. The majority of this drive is on highways, making it a quick and efficient way to get from point A to point B. Consider this a simple, no-fuss trip for when you need to cover ground without a lot of fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 24.1 mi | 30m |
| Valley Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Yelm Highway Southeast | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Reservation Road Southeast | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Nisqually Road Southwest | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Old Pacific Highway Southeast | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| State Route 18 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| WA 510 Alternate | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 24.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Yelm, 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: Auburn
Use 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 Way
Use 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, Tacoma
Use 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, Tacoma
Use 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
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 116
Toward Mounts Road, Old Nisqually
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto Mounts Road Southwest
210 ft
·
7 sec
·
Mounts Road Southwest
17
Continue on Nisqually Road Southwest
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Nisqually Road Southwest
18
Continue on Old Pacific Highway Southeast
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
19
Turn left onto Reservation Road Southeast
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Reservation Road Southeast
20
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
198 ft
·
3 sec
·
Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
21
Continue on WA 510
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
22
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
23
Continue on WA 510
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
24
Continue on Yelm Highway Southeast
399 ft
·
9 sec
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
25
Enter roundabout onto WA 510 Alternate
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
WA 510 Alternate
26
Continue on WA 510 Alternate
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 510 Alternate
27
Turn right onto Killion Road Southeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Killion Road Southeast
28
Turn left onto WA 510
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Yelm Avenue
29
Turn left onto North 1st Street
164 ft
·
5 sec
·
North 1st Street
30
Turn right
54 ft
·
4 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Kent, 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 33.5 — 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...
8
33.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward Mounts Road, Old Nisqually
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 116
Toward Mounts Road, Old Nisqually
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.90 one way
$19.80 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $10.38 | $20.76 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.74 | $21.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.44 | $20.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Yelm, WA
Night in Yelm on Saturday
Local time
9:20 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Lakewood, WA
24 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
12 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 11m 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 highway-focused drive for this 47.3-mile trip, with 66% of the journey on major roadways like I-5 and Valley Freeway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 24.1 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your drive. As you progress, the route transitions from the interstate to local highways, providing a change in scenery and speed. This drive has a clear personality: efficient transit on well-maintained roads, rather than winding scenic byways.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.1 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 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.
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 Yelm, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma and Old Nisqually.
Tacoma
7.9 mi in
|
~12m
Old Nisqually
33.5 mi in
|
~45m
About the Cities
Starting 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 11m. Total distance: 47.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.1 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 Yelm, 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: 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 Yelm, 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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