Origin
Lynnwood, WA
Late night in Lynnwood on Sunday
Local time
3:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lynnwood, WA to John Sam Lake, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
28.6 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lynnwood, WA
Wikimedia Commons
John Sam Lake, WA
Jan Simpson
Trip Overview
Lynnwood, WA to John Sam Lake, WA is 28.6 miles and takes about 42m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Washington and the Pacific Coast region, making it a convenient local excursion. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, ideal for a quick getaway or an easy commute. Given its short duration and minimal fuel cost, you'll have plenty of flexibility for departure times and potential brief stops along the way.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 20.5 mi | 25m |
| 140th Street Northeast | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| 196th Street Southwest | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| 34th Avenue Northeast | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 12th Avenue Northwest | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Stimson Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 116th Street Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 125th Place Northwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 20.5 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lynnwood, WA and John Sam Lake, WA.
1
Start on WA 99
71 ft
·
3 sec
·
Pacific Highway
2
Turn right onto 196th Street Southwest
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
196th Street Southwest
Use the right lane.
3
Turn slight right
241 ft
·
8 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto Poplar Way
307 ft
·
7 sec
·
Poplar Way
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 5
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 202
Toward 116th Street Northeast
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Toward 116th Street Northeast, State Patrol
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto 116th Street Northeast
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
116th Street Northeast
10
Turn slight right
107 ft
·
6 sec
Toward 34th Avenue Northeast
11
Turn straight onto 34th Avenue Northeast
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
34th Avenue Northeast
12
Enter roundabout onto 34th Avenue Northeast
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
34th Avenue Northeast
13
Continue on 34th Avenue Northeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
34th Avenue Northeast
14
At end of road, turn left onto Stimson Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Stimson Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on 140th Street Northeast
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
140th Street Northeast
16
Turn left onto 12th Avenue Northwest
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
12th Avenue Northwest
17
Continue on 12th Avenue Northwest
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
12th Avenue Northwest
18
Turn left onto 125th Place Northwest
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
125th Place Northwest
19
Turn right
69 ft
·
5 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
196th Street Southwest
Turn right onto 196th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North: Everett
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 5 North: Everett
7
22.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward 116th Street Northeast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 202
Toward 116th Street Northeast
9
22.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 116th Street Northeast, State Patrol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward 116th Street Northeast, State Patrol
6
24.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
Stimson Road
At end of road, turn left onto Stimson Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.99 one way
$11.97 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $6.28 | $12.55 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.49 | $12.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.31 | $12.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.50 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
John Sam Lake, WA
Late night in John Sam Lake on Sunday
Local time
3:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°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
1 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
42m 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 highway-focused, with 72% of the drive on major roadways like I 5. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20.5 miles on I 5, offering a consistent pace. Expect transitions onto local roads such as 140th Street Northeast and 196th Street Southwest as you near your destination. While largely efficient, the shift from interstate to local surfaces will change the driving feel as you get closer to John Sam Lake.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and 140th Street Northeast. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 196th Street Southwest.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 28.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (196th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Lynnwood, WA and John Sam Lake, WA, road signs point toward 116Th Street Northeast, State Patrol and 34Th Avenue Northeast.
116Th Street Northeast
22.7 mi in
|
~30m
State Patrol
22.9 mi in
|
~30m
34Th Avenue Northeast
23.1 mi in
|
~31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 28.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.5 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 John Sam Lake, 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: near the start (196th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 John Sam Lake, 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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