Origin
Milton, WA
Morning in Milton on Tuesday
Local time
10:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milton, WA to Seattle, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
28.1 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milton, WA
nicholas hatherly
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.1-mile drive from Milton, WA to Seattle, WA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 39 minutes to complete. Predominantly on the I-5, with brief segments on Enchanted Parkway South and Milton Way, this route is focused on highway travel. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an economical option for getting between these two Pacific Coast locations. You won't need to plan for overnight stays, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. Expect a direct and efficient journey, perfect for those prioritizing speed and convenience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 23 mi | 28m |
| Enchanted Parkway South | 2 mi | 3m |
| Milton Way | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 27th Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 28th Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| State Route 18 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Seneca Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 23 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milton, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
43 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Maine Street
124 ft
·
6 sec
·
Maine Street
3
Turn right onto 16th Avenue
272 ft
·
9 sec
·
16th Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto Milton Way
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Milton Way
5
Turn left onto 27th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
27th Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on 28th Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
28th Avenue South
7
Turn slight left onto WA 161
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Enchanted Parkway South
8
Turn right onto WA 18
512 ft
·
12 sec
·
State Route 18
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 5
23 mi
·
28 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
13
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
14
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
16
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 27.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
27th Avenue
Turn left onto 27th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma
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.
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma
7
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m 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
7
27.6 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
7
27.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.88 one way
$11.76 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $6.17 | $12.34 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.38 | $12.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.20 | $12.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 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 | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
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
Seattle, WA
Morning in Seattle on Tuesday
Local time
10:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°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
20 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
39m 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?
The character of this drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 90% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 23 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace. While the primary mode of travel is interstate, there are brief transitions onto local roads like Milton Way and Enchanted Parkway South before merging back onto the main artery. This blend means you'll spend the bulk of your time on fast-paced highway driving, with short diversions that break up the monotony slightly.
90% 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: 23 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Enchanted Parkway South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near 27th Avenue.
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 11 decision points packed into just 28.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (27th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles: 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 Milton, WA to Seattle, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Tacoma along the way.
Tacoma
3.8 mi in
|
~7m
About the Cities
Arriving in Seattle, WA
Full guide →Seattle, Washington sits at one of the most beautiful spots in the United States. Occupying a narrow isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest, with 780,000 people in Seattle and over four million people in the metro area. Seen from above, carpets of evergreen trees, pristine blue waters, and snowy white mountains surround the downtown's metallic skyscrapers, earning the city its nickname The Emerald City. On the ground, you will find a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. Next to the progressive downtown and the freewheeling feel of Capitol Hill, you can find a laid-back atmosphere in the districts to the north and ethnically diverse neighborhoods to the south.
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 39m. Total distance: 28.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23 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 Seattle, 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 0.8 miles (27th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 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 Seattle, 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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