Origin
Mukilteo, WA
Morning in Mukilteo on Sunday
Local time
6:24 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mukilteo, 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 6m
Distance
47.6 mi
77 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mukilteo, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47.6-mile drive from Mukilteo to Federal Way, WA, will take you about 1 hour and 6 minutes. It's a straightforward trip primarily on I-5, making it ideal as a day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $10, this route keeps expenses low. The journey stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent travel experience. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, so expect efficient travel. This route is perfect for a quick transit between these two Washington locations without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 34.9 mi | 43m |
| Mukilteo Speedway | 7.2 mi | 12m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Paine Field Boulevard | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 84th Street Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 34.9 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mukilteo, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on WA 525
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Mukilteo Speedway
2
Turn left onto WA 526
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
84th Street Southwest
3
Turn right onto WA 525 Spur
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Paine Field Boulevard
4
Turn slight left onto WA 525
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Mukilteo Speedway
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward Seattle
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
491 ft
·
12 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 5
35 mi
·
43 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 147
Toward South 272nd Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto WA 99; WA 509
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pacific Highway South
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto South 312th Street
209 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 312th Street
12
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 23.8 miles from Mukilteo, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 8.4 and 44.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Seattle
7
9.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
5
9.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
44.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward South 272nd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147
Toward South 272nd Street
6
44.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
South 272nd Street
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.96 one way
$19.92 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $10.45 | $20.90 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.81 | $21.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Morning in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
6:24 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
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 6m 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 about 73% of this 47.6-mile journey. The main artery is I-5, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 34.9 miles. While Mukilteo Speedway and Pacific Highway South offer brief deviations, the bulk of your time will be spent on this major interstate. This means consistent speeds and an efficient pace, though it may lean towards a more functional rather than scenic experience. The road character remains largely consistent, prioritizing direct travel.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.9 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Mukilteo Speedway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Mukilteo, WA to Federal Way, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
Seattle
8.4 mi in
|
~14m
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 6m. Total distance: 47.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.9 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 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 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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