Origin
Manchester, WA
Late night in Manchester on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manchester, WA to Federal Way, 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 2m
Distance
42.9 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manchester, WA
Mylo Kaye
Trip Overview
This straightforward 42.9-mile drive from Manchester to Federal Way, Washington, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 2 minutes. The journey primarily utilizes WA 16 and I-5, with a segment on Phillips Road Southeast, making it a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this route offers an economical option for traversing the Pacific Coast region within Washington state. Its relatively short distance and efficient road network mean you won't need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 16 | 19.8 mi | 24m |
| I 5 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| Phillips Road Southeast | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Locker Road Southeast | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Sedgwick Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Mullenix Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Colchester Drive East | 1 mi | 1m |
| South 320th Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
WA 16
— 19.8 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on East Main Street
7 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto Colchester Drive East
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Colchester Drive East
3
Continue on Colchester Drive Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Colchester Drive Southeast
4
At end of road, turn left onto Southeast Southworth Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast Southworth Drive
5
Turn right onto Locker Road Southeast
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Locker Road Southeast
6
At end of road, turn right onto WA 160
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Sedgwick Road
7
Turn left onto Phillips Road Southeast
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Phillips Road Southeast
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Southeast Mullenix Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Mullenix Road
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward WA 16 East: Tacoma
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto WA 16
20 mi
·
24 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 5
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto South 320th Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South 320th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Pacific Highway South
18
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Manchester, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 41.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
Phillips Road Southeast
Turn left onto Phillips Road Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the ramp toward WA 16 East: Tacoma
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 16 East: Tacoma
6
29.8 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
30.8 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
41.2 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
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.
Exit 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.98 one way
$17.96 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.42 | $18.83 |
| premium | $5.77 | $9.74 | $19.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.50 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.01 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Late night in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
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
1h 2m 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 the majority of this 42.9-mile journey, with about 70% of the route on major highways like WA 16 and I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.8 miles on WA 16, offering a consistent pace. While largely a highway experience, the inclusion of Phillips Road Southeast provides a brief variation. This route prioritizes efficient travel over scenic byways, so be prepared for a steady drive characterized by clear signage and typical highway conditions.
70% 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: 19.8 mi on WA 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near Phillips Road Southeast.
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 42.9 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 5.8 miles (Phillips Road Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Federal Way, WA
Full guide →Federal Way is a city in King County on the Puget Sound of Washington State. It is the home of the Pacific Bonsai Museum and Rhododendron Species Botanical Gardens. With a population of 96,000 (2016), Federal Way is one of Seattle's largest suburbs.
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 2m. Total distance: 42.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.8 miles on WA 16. 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 Federal Way, 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 5.8 miles (Phillips Road Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.8 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 Federal Way, 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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