Origin
Lacey, WA
Late night in Lacey on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lacey, WA to Seattle, 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 14m
Distance
57.9 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lacey, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lacey, WA to Seattle, WA is 57.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via I 5, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive connecting two points within Washington state, both located in the Pacific Coast region. Expect a largely uninterrupted journey that's ideal for a quick trip or as a segment of a larger Pacific Northwest adventure. Given the short duration and minimal stops, this route is easily manageable in a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 56 mi | 1h 9m |
| College Street Southeast | 1 mi | 2m |
| Martin Way East | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Seneca Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 56 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lacey, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on College Street Southeast
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
College Street Southeast
2
Turn right onto Martin Way East
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Martin Way East
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle, Tacoma
4
Merge onto I 5
24 mi
·
30 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
7
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
8
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
10
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29 miles from Lacey, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 57.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North: Seattle, Tacoma
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 North: Seattle, Tacoma
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
25.5 mi into trip
|
~33m 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.
7
57.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
7
57.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.12 one way
$24.24 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $12.71 | $25.42 |
| premium | $5.77 | $13.15 | $26.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.78 | $25.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.11 | $3.71 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Seattle, WA
Late night in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
10 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
1h 14m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey taking place on major highways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 56 miles on I 5, which means consistent speed and minimal distractions. The profile suggests a straightforward driving experience, largely on Interstate 5, with brief transitions onto local roads like College Street Southeast and Martin Way East at the beginning. The feel is one of efficient travel rather than winding scenic exploration.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and College Street Southeast. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 57.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Seattle, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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