Origin
Olympia, WA
Night in Olympia on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Olympia, WA to Auburn, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
41.4 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Olympia, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transition between Olympia and Auburn, Washington, you are looking at a manageable 41.4-mile trek. Expect to spend about 54 minutes behind the wheel, making this a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stops. Your journey will primarily utilize I-5, State Route 18, and Union Avenue Southeast to navigate through the Pacific Coast region. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. This drive serves as a highly efficient connector, prioritizing speed and directness over a meandering scenic route. It is the perfect choice if your main goal is simply getting from point A to point B without unnecessary complications.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 35.5 mi | 44m |
| State Route 18 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Union Avenue Southeast | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| C Street Southwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Plum Street Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Way South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 35.5 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Olympia, WA and Auburn, WA.
1
Start on Capitol Way South
396 ft
·
12 sec
·
Capitol Way South
2
Turn right onto Union Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Avenue Southeast
3
Turn right onto Plum Street Southeast
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Plum Street Southeast
4
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto I 5
27 mi
·
34 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto WA 18
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward C Street Southwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
At end of road, turn left onto C Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
C Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the right lane.
12
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.7 miles from Olympia, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 41.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.6 mi into trip
|
~37m 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.
8
36.8 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
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 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservat...
6
40.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward C Street Southwest
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward C Street Southwest
6
41.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.66 one way
$17.33 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.09 | $18.17 |
| premium | $5.77 | $9.40 | $18.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.14 | $18.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Auburn, WA
Night in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
9:23 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
13 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
54m 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 classic highway-focused experience, as 93% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-5, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 35.5 miles. While the initial portion of the drive offers a consistent interstate pace, the transition onto State Route 18 shifts the feel of the road as you head toward Auburn. Because the route is so heavily dominated by major highways, you can anticipate a steady, predictable flow of traffic. The lack of required stops means you can maintain a steady rhythm throughout the entire 54-minute duration.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near I 5.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 41.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.8 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.
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 Olympia, WA to Auburn, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Muckleshoot Reservation along the way.
Muckleshoot Reservation
36.8 mi in
|
~47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 41.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.5 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 Auburn, 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 1.4 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.8 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 Auburn, 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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