Marysville to Burien is 44.6 miles and takes about 1 hour via I 5 and WA 509, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward connection between two points. Given its short duration and mostly highway profile, it's an easy day trip for locals or those passing through. Expect a consistent driving experience as you navigate the primary arteries connecting these communities.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
36.2 mi
45m
WA 509
4.3 mi
5m
Southwest 148th Street
0.6 mi
1m
State Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
South Michigan Street
0.5 mi
1m
1st Avenue South Bridge
0.4 mi
<1m
Corson Avenue South
<0.1 mi
<1m
State Route 518
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 36.2 mi, about 45m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 150 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~6,089 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~545 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marysville, WA and Burien, WA.
1
Start on WA 529
0.5 mi·1 min·State Avenue
2
Enter roundabout onto State Route 529
70 ft·1 sec·State Route 529
3
Continue on State Route 529
100 ft·1 sec·State Route 529
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 5
5
Merge onto I 5
36 mi·45 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 162Toward Corson Avenue, Michigan StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn straight onto Corson Avenue South
504 ft·17 sec·Corson Avenue South
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn straight
237 ft·8 sec
9
Turn slight right onto South Michigan Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South Michigan Street
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward WA 99 South, WA 509 South: 1st Avenue South Bridge
11
Merge onto WA 99
0.4 mi·38 sec·1st Avenue South Bridge
12
Continue on WA 509
4.3 mi·5 min·WA 509
Toward BurienUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward WA 518: Burien, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, South 146th StreetUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward WA 518: Burien, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
15
Turn right onto WA 518
373 ft·11 sec·State Route 518
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Continue on Southwest 148th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Southwest 148th Street
17
Arrive at destination
Southwest 148th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Marysville, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 43.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
37.1 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit toward Corson Avenue, Michigan 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 162
Toward Corson Avenue, Michigan Street
7
43.4 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward WA 518: Burien, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, South 146th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 518: Burien, Seattle-Tacoma Internati...
7
43.6 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 518: Burien, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WA 518: Burien, Seattle-Tacoma Internati...
6
43.9 mi into trip|~58m in|WA 518 / State Route 518
Turn right onto WA 518 / State Route 518
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.69 one way
$17.38 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$9.10
$18.21
premium
$5.39
$9.47
$18.93
diesel
$4.80
$8.42
$16.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.4
0
$4.68
$2.14
Efficient EV
11.2
0
$3.90
$1.78
EV Truck/SUV
17.8
0
$6.24
$2.85
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Forecast as of Jul 20, 2026
Origin
Marysville, WA
Late night
in Marysville on Tuesday
Local time
3:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
86°F
Partly Sunny
WNW 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued July 20 at 5:54AM PDT until July 23 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 3:30AM PDT until July 22 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
Destination
Burien, WA
Late night
in Burien on Tuesday
Local time
3:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
N 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued July 20 at 5:54AM PDT until July 23 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 3:30AM PDT until July 22 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
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
3 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
1h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 91% of the 44.6 miles on freeways. You'll spend the longest stretch, 36.2 miles, on I 5. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you approach Burien, with WA 509 and Southwest 148th Street marking the final leg. Be prepared for urban merging and dense exit patterns as you get closer to your destination.
91% 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: 36.2 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 509. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 5.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.9 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Marysville is a city in the North Sound region of Washington State, on the north side of the Snohomish River delta. Marysville is across I-5 from Quil Ceda Village, part of the Tulalip Indian Reservation.
Top landmarks
•Marysville Opera House — theater and meeting house in Marysville, Washington, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 44.6 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 (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.2 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 Burien, 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 0.9 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 43.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Burien, WA before heading back.
