This 73.4-mile drive from McCleary, WA to Renton, WA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 36 minutes. With 95% of the route on highways, it's a practical choice for a single-day trip, estimated to cost around $15 in fuel. You'll primarily be on I-5, WA 8, and US 101. Given its relatively short distance and efficient route, there's no need to plan for an overnight stay. This drive is ideal if you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated transition between locations within the Pacific Coast region of Washington.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.7 miles from McCleary, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
49.5 mi
1h 1m
WA 8
13 mi
16m
US 101
5.4 mi
7m
I 405
1.3 mi
1m
Rainier Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
Mox Chehalis Road
0.4 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Valley Freeway
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 49.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McCleary, WA and Renton, WA.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·South Main Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto South 3rd Street
403 ft·13 sec·South 3rd Street
3
Continue on Mox Chehalis Road
0.4 mi·55 sec·Mox Chehalis Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto WA 8
13 mi·16 min·WA 8
6
Merge onto US 101
5.4 mi·7 min·US 101
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·52 sec
8
Merge onto I 5
29 mi·36 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
21 mi·25 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
448 ft·10 sec
Exit 154A-BToward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, BellevueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 154BToward I 405 North: Renton, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 405
1.3 mi·1 min·I 405
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·30 sec
Exit 2Toward WA 167 South: Renton, AuburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward Renton, Rainier Avenue SouthUse the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·42 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue SouthUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto WA 167
0.2 mi·22 sec·Valley Freeway
17
Continue on WA 167
0.9 mi·2 min·Rainier Avenue South
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right
39 ft·2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just under 1.5 hours, this drive offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule, and with no designated stops, you can easily adjust your plans on the fly. The longest stretch on I-5 means you can cover a lot of ground quickly, but be mindful of potential traffic, especially as you approach the Renton area. Your fuel cost is estimated at a manageable $15, so you likely won't need frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank from McCleary.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.7 miles from McCleary, WA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.5 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.7 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Renton, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving McCleary, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from McCleary, WA
This is one driving day of about 73.4 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from McCleary, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 49.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 69.6 and 72.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
69.6 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
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 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma...
9
69.7 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
8
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
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 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
8
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
9
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue Sou...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.36 one way
$30.72 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$16.11
$32.22
premium
$5.77
$16.67
$33.34
diesel
$5.61
$16.21
$32.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.71
$3.52
Efficient EV
18.4
0
$6.42
$2.94
EV Truck/SUV
29.4
0
$10.28
$4.70
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 20, 2026
Origin
McCleary, WA
Late night
in McCleary on Tuesday
Local time
1:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Renton, WA
Late night
in Renton on Tuesday
Local time
1:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
1 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 36m 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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 73.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 95% of your travel time spent on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.5 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the majority of the drive is highway-focused, you'll navigate through a mix of major interstates and well-maintained state routes. The character of the drive is largely about efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, making it predictable and easy to manage.
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: 49.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 69.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 69.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 McCleary, WA to Renton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.
Renton is a city in King County, Washington south of Bellevue and north of Kent. It is a quiet suburb of Seattle at the base of Lake Washington. Renton is primarily known as the site of the Boeing 737 plant, where the popular commercial jetliner is built. Renton is also notable for being the resting place of rock legend Jimi Hendrix.
Its relatively inexpensive property prices make it a solid choice of stay while visiting Seattle, and the downtown area has many quiet charms of its own.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 73.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m 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 49.5 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 Renton, 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 69.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.4 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 Renton, WA before heading back.
