If you are looking to get from North Yelm to Seattle, this 63.6-mile trek is a straightforward journey that fits perfectly into a single day. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 18 minutes behind the wheel, making it an efficient trip for those needing to reach the city without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance. Since both the starting point in North Yelm and the destination of Seattle are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in a familiar geographic corridor throughout the drive. This route is best suited for travelers who prefer a direct connection rather than a multi-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.4 miles from North Yelm, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
48.4 mi
1h
Yelm Highway Southeast
4.3 mi
7m
Reservation Road Southeast
2.7 mi
4m
Nisqually Road Southwest
2.1 mi
4m
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
1.7 mi
3m
WA 510 Alternate
0.9 mi
1m
Ordway Drive Southeast
0.7 mi
1m
West Yelm Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 48.4 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Yelm, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on Joyce Court Southeast
345 ft·19 sec·Joyce Court Southeast
2
Turn right onto Ordway Drive Southeast
0.7 mi·1 min·Ordway Drive Southeast
3
Continue on Wilkenson Road Southeast
0.5 mi·1 min·Wilkenson Road Southeast
4
Continue on Canal Road Southeast
0.3 mi·39 sec·Canal Road Southeast
5
Turn right onto Railway Road Southeast
0.6 mi·1 min·Railway Road Southeast
6
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
0.4 mi·58 sec·1st Street Northeast
7
Turn right onto WA 510
0.7 mi·1 min·West Yelm Avenue
8
Turn right onto Killion Road Southeast
0.6 mi·1 min·Killion Road Southeast
9
Turn left onto WA 510 Alt
0.9 mi·1 min·WA 510 Alternate
10
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
129 ft·2 sec·Yelm Highway Southeast
11
Continue on WA 510
4.2 mi·7 min·Yelm Highway Southeast
12
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
98 ft·1 sec·Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
13
Continue on WA 510
0.2 mi·20 sec·Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
14
Enter roundabout onto Reservation Road Southeast
23 ft·0 sec·Reservation Road Southeast
15
Continue on Reservation Road Southeast
2.7 mi·4 min·Reservation Road Southeast
16
At end of road, turn right onto Old Pacific Highway Southeast
1.7 mi·3 min·Old Pacific Highway Southeast
17
Continue on Nisqually Road Southwest
2.1 mi·4 min·Nisqually Road Southwest
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 5 North: Tacoma, Seattle
19
Merge onto I 5
16 mi·20 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
32 mi·39 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 165Toward Seneca StreetUse the slight left lane.
22
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft·18 sec·Seneca Street
23
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft·9 sec·Madison Street
25
Turn left
31 ft·2 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 18-minute drive with zero planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. You can easily complete the trip in one go, so there is no need to worry about pacing or intermediate rest stops. Given the nature of these local roads, try to avoid peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain a consistent pace through the turns. Keep your $13 fuel budget in mind before you depart North Yelm, as you will want to have a full tank before navigating the winding local segments. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert on Ordway Drive Southeast, as the lack of long straightaways means you should be ready for frequent adjustments to your speed and steering.
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 32.4 miles from North Yelm, WA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.4 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 14 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.4 miles or 52m 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 Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Yelm, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Yelm, WA
This is one driving day of about 64.9 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from North Yelm, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 48.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.2 and 64.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.2 mi into trip|~19m in|Reservation Road Southeast
Enter roundabout onto Reservation Road Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
12 mi into trip|~23m in|Old Pacific Highway Southeast
At end of road, turn right onto Old Pacific Highway Southeast
Navigation decision point
6
32.5 mi into trip|~52m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
64.4 mi into trip|~1h 32m 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
64.7 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.58 one way
$27.17 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$14.24
$28.49
premium
$5.77
$14.74
$29.48
diesel
$5.61
$14.33
$28.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.5
0
$6.81
$3.12
Efficient EV
16.2
0
$5.68
$2.60
EV Truck/SUV
26
0
$9.09
$4.15
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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 15, 2026
Origin
North Yelm, WA
Night
in North Yelm on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Seattle, WA
Night
in Seattle on Saturday
Local time
9:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Lakewood, WA
32 mi in
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
4 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
1h 33m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. You won't be cruising on high-speed highways, as the route consists entirely of local roads like Ordway Drive Southeast, Wilkenson Road Southeast, and Canal Road Southeast, resulting in 0% highway share. Because the roads are winding and technical, there isn't a long, straight stretch to relax on, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 0 miles on Ordway Drive Southeast. Navigating these local roads requires constant focus compared to a standard highway haul. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience as you transition away from the rural feel of North Yelm toward the urban center of Seattle.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Yelm Highway Southeast. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.2 miles in near Reservation Road Southeast.
Driving Effort6/10
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 64.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 9.2 miles (Reservation Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12 miles (Old Pacific Highway Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 64.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.4 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 9.2 miles (Reservation Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12 miles (Old Pacific Highway Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles (I 5): 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.
