If you are planning a trip from Longview Heights to Seattle, expect a straightforward journey covering 128.7 miles. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 43 minutes of drive time, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Given the manageable distance, there is no need to book an overnight stay, as the route is well-suited for a quick turnaround. With an estimated fuel cost of $27, it remains a budget-friendly way to travel between these two Washington locations. Both your starting point and destination sit within the Pacific Coast region, ensuring a consistent climate and feel throughout your trip. This highway-focused drive offers a practical connection for those looking to reach the city without unnecessary detours.
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
64.3 miles from Longview Heights, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
122.4 mi
2h 23m
Westside Highway
1.6 mi
3m
Columbia Heights Road
1.6 mi
5m
Nevada Drive
1.4 mi
5m
Lexington Bridge Drive
0.4 mi
1m
Gates Road
0.1 mi
<1m
5th Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Laulainen Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 122.4 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longview Heights, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
29 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Crestmont Avenue
321 ft·15 sec·Crestmont Avenue
3
Turn left onto Alpine Way
283 ft·18 sec·Alpine Way
4
Turn left onto Cedar Gates Road
508 ft·23 sec·Cedar Gates Road
5
Turn right onto Laulainen Road
523 ft·24 sec·Laulainen Road
6
Turn left onto Gates Road
0.1 mi·35 sec·Gates Road
7
Turn right onto Columbia Heights Road
1.6 mi·5 min·Columbia Heights Road
8
Turn left onto Nevada Drive
1.4 mi·5 min·Nevada Drive
9
At end of road, turn left onto WA 411
1.6 mi·3 min·Westside Highway
10
Turn right onto Lexington Bridge Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Lexington Bridge Drive
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
12
Merge onto I 5
90 mi·1 hr 43 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
32 mi·39 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 165Toward Seneca StreetUse the slight left lane.
15
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft·18 sec·Seneca Street
16
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft·9 sec·Madison Street
18
Turn left
31 ft·2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about daylight constraints. You only need to build in one planned stop to break up the 2-hour and 43-minute duration, which helps keep you alert on the long I-5 corridor. Keep in mind that heavy traffic is common on this major interstate, so checking real-time conditions before you leave is a smart move. Because the route is 95% highway, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained speeds before departing Longview Heights. Aim to time your arrival in Seattle to avoid peak rush hour traffic, which can significantly impact your total travel time.
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 64.3 miles from Longview Heights, WA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.4 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 28 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.3 miles or 1h 25m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Longview Heights, 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 Longview Heights, WA
This is one driving day of about 128.7 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Longview Heights, 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 122.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 128.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Cedar Gates Road
Turn left onto Cedar Gates Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.5 mi into trip|~13m in|WA 411 / Westside Highway
At end of road, turn left onto WA 411 / Westside Highway
Navigation decision point
6
96.3 mi into trip|~2h 2m 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
128.2 mi into trip|~2h 42m 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
128.6 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.94 one way
$53.87 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$28.25
$56.50
premium
$5.77
$29.23
$58.45
diesel
$5.61
$28.42
$56.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.6
0
$13.51
$6.18
Efficient EV
32.2
0
$11.26
$5.15
EV Truck/SUV
51.5
0
$18.02
$8.24
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Longview Heights, WA
Night
in Longview Heights on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Seattle, WA
Night
in Seattle on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
2 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 43m 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...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 128.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by high-speed efficiency, as roughly 95% of your travel occurs on major highways. The vast majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent on I-5, which accounts for a single, uninterrupted stretch of 122.4 miles. While you will start your journey navigating local connectors like Westside Highway and Columbia Heights Road, the experience quickly transitions into a standard interstate grind. Because the route relies so heavily on the main arterial highway, you can anticipate a consistent driving pace once you merge. It is a functional, no-frills route designed to move you from point A to point B as directly as possible.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Westside Highway. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Cedar Gates Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 128.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (Cedar Gates Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (WA 411 / Westside Highway): Navigation decision point; at 96.3 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 2h 43m. Total distance: 128.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.4 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Cedar Gates Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (WA 411 / Westside Highway): Navigation decision point; at 96.3 miles (I 5): 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.
