Origin
Martha Lake, WA
Late night in Martha Lake on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Martha Lake, WA to Auburn, 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
Distance
43.5 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Martha Lake, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 43.5-mile drive from Martha Lake, WA to Auburn, WA is easily manageable in about 1 hour, making it a perfect day trip. The majority of your journey, 89% to be exact, will be on highways, primarily I-405 and the Valley Freeway, with a portion on 164th Street Southwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this route is very budget-friendly. The Pacific Coast region offers a consistent landscape for this short transit. It’s a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 27.2 mi | 33m |
| Valley Freeway | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| 164th Street Southwest | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| C Street Northwest | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Alderwood Mall Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 15th Street Northwest | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| WA 525 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 27.2 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Martha Lake, WA and Auburn, WA.
1
Start on Pitner Drive
427 ft
·
24 sec
·
Pitner Drive
2
Turn left onto East Shore Drive
357 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Shore Drive
3
Turn left
360 ft
·
17 sec
4
Turn right onto 164th Street Southwest
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
164th Street Southwest
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto Alderwood Mall Parkway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Alderwood Mall Parkway
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 5 South, I 405 South, WA 525 South
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto WA 525
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
WA 525
8
Continue on I 405
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 405
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
26 mi
·
32 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto WA 167
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward 15th Street Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto 15th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
15th Street Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto C Street Northwest
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
C Street Northwest
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Martha Lake, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 30.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
164th Street Southwest
Turn right onto 164th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South, I 405 South, WA 525 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 5 South, I 405 South, WA 525 South
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
30.3 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue Sou...
7
30.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.10 one way
$18.21 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.55 | $19.10 |
| premium | $5.77 | $9.88 | $19.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 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 | 13 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
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
Auburn, WA
Late night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 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 most of this 43.5-mile trip, with 89% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-405 and the Valley Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.2 miles on I-405, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, there's a segment on 164th Street Southwest that might offer a slight change in scenery before you reach Auburn. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration, so be prepared for typical freeway conditions.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.2 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and Valley Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 164th Street Southwest.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (164th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles (I 405): 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 Martha Lake, WA to Auburn, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Rainier Avenue South along the way.
Rainier Avenue South
30.3 mi in
|
~40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 43.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.2 miles on I 405. 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 Auburn, 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 0.2 miles (164th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles (I 405): 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 Auburn, 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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