Origin
Port Ludlow, WA
Night in Port Ludlow on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Port Ludlow, 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 44m
Distance
75.6 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Port Ludlow, WA
William Jacobs
Trip Overview
Port Ludlow, WA to Federal Way, WA is 75.6 miles and takes about 1h 44m via State Highway 16 and I-5, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, offering a straightforward drive to connect these two points. It's a practical route primarily on well-maintained highways, suitable for a single-day journey. You'll find this trip efficient if your priority is simply getting from Point A to Point B without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.8 miles from Port Ludlow, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 16 | 26.5 mi | 33m |
| State Highway 3 Northeast | 23.2 mi | 31m |
| I 5 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| State Route 104 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Oak Bay Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 3 West | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Beaver Valley Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Hood Canal Floating Bridge | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 16
— 26.5 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Port Ludlow, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on Marina View Drive
286 ft
·
17 sec
·
Marina View Drive
2
Turn left onto Oak Bay Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Oak Bay Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto WA 19
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Beaver Valley Road
4
Enter roundabout onto WA 104
211 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Route 104
5
Continue on WA 104
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 104
6
Enter roundabout onto WA 104
117 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Route 104
7
Continue on WA 104
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
State Route 104
8
Continue on WA 104
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Hood Canal Floating Bridge
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto WA 3
23 mi
·
31 min
·
State Highway 3 Northeast
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on WA 3
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 3 West
12
Continue on WA 16
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
West State Route 16
13
Continue on WA 16
27 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 5
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto South 320th Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South 320th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Pacific Highway South
21
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this trip is best tackled in a single day, offering flexibility for your departure time. You won't need to worry extensively about splitting the drive, but it's always wise to factor in potential traffic, especially as you approach the Federal Way area. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $16, it's prudent to fuel up before hitting the longer stretches on State Highway 16 to avoid any unexpected stops. Plan to make any brief rests before you get onto I-5.
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 37.8 miles from Port Ludlow, WA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.5 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.8 miles or 53m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Federal Way, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Port Ludlow, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Port Ludlow, WA
This is one driving day of about 75.6 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Port Ludlow, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 16 for about 26.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.8 miles from Port Ludlow, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 62.5 and 74.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
62.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
63.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m 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
6
63.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m 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
73.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
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 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
6
74.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
South 320th Street
Turn left onto South 320th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.82 one way
$31.64 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $16.59 | $33.19 |
| premium | $5.77 | $17.17 | $34.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.69 | $33.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.94 | $3.63 |
| Efficient EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.58 | $4.84 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Night in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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 44m 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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 41.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 26.5 miles on State Highway 16, offering a consistent pace before transitioning to Interstate 5. Expect a predominantly high-speed environment, characteristic of driving on major state routes and interstates. The route maintains a highway feel for most of its duration, making it a predictable and efficient path.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.5 mi on State Highway 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 16 and State Highway 3 Northeast. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 62.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 62.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.9 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 44m. Total distance: 75.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.5 miles on State Highway 16. 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 62.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.9 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 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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