Origin
Lake Stevens, WA
Late night in Lake Stevens on Tuesday
Local time
2:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Stevens, WA to Seattle, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
36.2 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Stevens, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lake Stevens to Seattle is 36.2 miles and takes about 52 minutes via I 5, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Pacific Coast region, making it a straightforward hop between two Washington destinations. Given its highway-focused profile and relatively brief duration, this route is best suited for a single-day trip. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, and the low fuel cost makes it an economical choice for a quick journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 27.6 mi | 34m |
| State Route 204 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| US 2 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lundeen Parkway | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 20th Street Northeast | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| State Route 9 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Lake View Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 27.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Stevens, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on Main Street
65 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto North Lakeshore Drive
280 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Lakeshore Drive
3
Turn right onto 123rd Avenue Northeast
138 ft
·
12 sec
·
123rd Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left onto 20th Street Northeast
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
20th Street Northeast
5
Continue on Lake View Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake View Drive
6
Enter roundabout onto Lundeen Parkway
99 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lundeen Parkway
7
Continue on Lundeen Parkway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lundeen Parkway
8
Enter roundabout onto Lundeen Parkway
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lundeen Parkway
9
Continue on Lundeen Parkway
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lundeen Parkway
10
Turn left onto WA 9
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
State Route 9
Use the left lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto WA 9
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Route 9
12
Continue on WA 9
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Route 9
13
Enter roundabout onto WA 204
37 ft
·
0 sec
·
State Route 204
14
Continue on WA 204
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 204
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 2 West: Everett
16
Merge onto US 2
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 2
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle, Everett, Hewitt Avenue
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Merge onto I 5
28 mi
·
34 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on Union Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Union Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
24
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from Lake Stevens, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 35.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
WA 9 / State Route 9
Turn left onto WA 9 / State Route 9
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
7.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Seattle, Everett, Hewitt Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 South: Seattle, Everett, Hewitt Aven...
7
7.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
7
35.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Union Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
7
35.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.58 one way
$15.15 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.95 | $15.89 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.22 | $16.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Tuesday
Local time
2:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 5 mph
1% chance
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
23 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
52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the drive taking place on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.6 miles on I 5, indicating a primarily fast-paced experience. You'll navigate using I 5, State Route 204, and US 2. Expect a driving character that prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours, allowing you to cover the 36.2 miles relatively quickly. The road will largely feel like a typical interstate commute, especially during the substantial portion on I 5.
92% 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: 27.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 204. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near WA 9 / State Route 9.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 19 decision points packed into just 36.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (WA 9 / State Route 9): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Lake Stevens, WA to Seattle, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Everett along the way.
Everett
7.4 mi in
|
~14m
About the Cities
Arriving in Seattle, WA
Full guide →Seattle, Washington sits at one of the most beautiful spots in the United States. Occupying a narrow isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest, with 780,000 people in Seattle and over four million people in the metro area. Seen from above, carpets of evergreen trees, pristine blue waters, and snowy white mountains surround the downtown's metallic skyscrapers, earning the city its nickname The Emerald City. On the ground, you will find a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. Next to the progressive downtown and the freewheeling feel of Capitol Hill, you can find a laid-back atmosphere in the districts to the north and ethnically diverse neighborhoods to the south.
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 52m. Total distance: 36.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.6 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Seattle, 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 2.3 miles (WA 9 / State Route 9): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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