Origin
North Puyallup, WA
Morning in North Puyallup on Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Puyallup, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
31.2 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Puyallup, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 31.2-mile drive from North Puyallup, WA, to Seattle, WA, is easily manageable in about 46 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With 82% of the journey on highways, you'll experience a quick and efficient connection between these Pacific Coast communities. Expect a fuel cost of around $7 for this relatively short distance. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a practical way to get from point A to point B without significant detours. Given its brevity, this trip doesn't require an overnight stay and can be completed comfortably within a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 23 mi | 28m |
| Meridian Avenue East | 3.4 mi | 7m |
| Enchanted Parkway South | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| North Meridian | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Valley Avenue Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Valley Avenue East | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| State Route 18 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 23 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Puyallup, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
112 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
90 ft
·
12 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Avenue East
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Valley Avenue East
4
Continue on Valley Avenue Northeast
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Valley Avenue Northeast
5
Turn right onto WA 161
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Meridian
6
Continue on WA 161
3.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Meridian Avenue East
7
Continue on WA 161
2.4 mi
·
4 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from North Puyallup, 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 0 and 31 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Valley Avenue East
At end of road, turn left onto Valley Avenue East
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
6.9 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
7 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
30.7 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
31 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.53 one way
$13.06 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $6.85 | $13.70 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.09 | $14.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Sunday
Local time
7:52 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
5 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
46m 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?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, this route emphasizes efficiency over scenic meandering. You'll spend a significant 82% of your time on major roadways, including stretches of I 5. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is a 23-mile portion on I 5, allowing for steady progress. While Meridian Avenue East and Enchanted Parkway South offer transitions, the overall character is one of smooth highway travel, designed for getting you to Seattle without much fuss.
82% 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Meridian Avenue East. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Valley Avenue East.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 31.2 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: near the start (Valley Avenue East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 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 North Puyallup, WA to Seattle, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Tacoma along the way.
Tacoma
6.9 mi in
|
~14m
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 46m. Total distance: 31.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). 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: near the start (Valley Avenue East): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 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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