Traveling from Poulsbo to Seattle covers 45.2 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. This trip works perfectly as a quick day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize State Highway 3 Northwest and Southeast Sedgwick Road before transitioning to the Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry. Budgeting around $9 for fuel should keep you covered for the journey. Since both locations are situated within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in a familiar coastal environment throughout your transit. It is a straightforward route that blends highway driving with a maritime connection, making it an efficient way to cross the water.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
22.6 miles from Poulsbo, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 3 Northwest
15.4 mi
19m
Southeast Sedgwick Road
7.3 mi
13m
Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry
4.8 mi
29m
Fauntleroy Way Southwest
3.7 mi
10m
State Highway 16
3.5 mi
4m
West Seattle Bridge
2.4 mi
4m
I 5
2.2 mi
2m
State Highway 3 West
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 3 Northwest
— 15.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poulsbo, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
68 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Jensen Way Northeast
0.6 mi·1 min·Jensen Way Northeast
3
At end of road, turn right onto Front Street Northeast
0.3 mi·58 sec·Front Street Northeast
4
Continue on Northwest Lindvig Way
0.2 mi·37 sec·Northwest Lindvig Way
5
Continue on Northwest Finn Hill Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Northwest Finn Hill Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward WA 3 South: BremertonUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto WA 3
15 mi·19 min·State Highway 3 Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on WA 3
2.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 3 West
9
Continue on WA 16
0.2 mi·19 sec·West State Route 16
10
Continue on WA 16
3.5 mi·4 min·State Highway 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward WA 160 East: Sedgwick Road, Southworth FerryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto WA 160
232 ft·5 sec·Southwest Sedgwick Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on WA 160
7.3 mi·13 min·Southeast Sedgwick Road
Use the left lane.
14
At end of road, turn right onto WA 160
171 ft·4 sec·Southeast Sedgwick Road
15
Continue on WA 160
0.2 mi·1 min·Southworth Ferry
16
Turn straight onto WA 160
4.8 mi·29 min·Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry
17
Continue on Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
0.2 mi·19 sec·Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
18
At end of road, turn left onto Fauntleroy Way Southwest
3.7 mi·10 min·Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Use the left / right lanes.
19
Continue on West Seattle Bridge
2.4 mi·4 min·West Seattle Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British ColumbiaUse the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto I 5
2.2 mi·2 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 165Toward Seneca StreetUse the slight left lane.
23
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft·18 sec·Seneca Street
24
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft·9 sec·Madison Street
26
Turn left
31 ft·2 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 40 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around ferry schedules. Since there are no designated stops planned on this route, ensure you are fueled up before hitting the road to keep your costs near the $9 estimate. Pay close attention to the ferry crossing times, as this is the most critical element of your travel window. Being prepared for the transit wait times will help you maintain a smooth pace for the entire 45.2 miles. Because the drive is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing to worry about rest breaks or overnight logistics.
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 22.6 miles from Poulsbo, WA, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.4 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 10 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.6 miles or 32m 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 27m
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 Poulsbo, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Poulsbo, WA
This is one driving day of about 45.2 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 10 miles from Poulsbo, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 3 Northwest for about 15.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 45 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward WA 3 South: Bremerton
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 3 South: Bremerton
7
23.2 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward WA 160 East: Sedgwick Road, Southworth Ferry
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 WA 160 East: Sedgwick Road, Southworth F...
6
23.5 mi into trip|~34m in|WA 160 / Southwest Sedgwick Road
Turn left onto WA 160 / Southwest Sedgwick Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
44.7 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
45 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.46 one way
$18.92 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$9.92
$19.84
premium
$5.77
$10.26
$20.53
diesel
$5.61
$9.98
$19.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.6
0
$4.75
$2.17
Efficient EV
11.3
0
$3.96
$1.81
EV Truck/SUV
18.1
0
$6.33
$2.89
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Poulsbo, WA
Late night
in Poulsbo on Tuesday
Local time
2:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Seattle, WA
Late night
in Seattle on Tuesday
Local time
2:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°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
1 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 40m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 45.2-mile journey offers a mixed driving profile, requiring you to navigate both regional highways and ferry transit. Approximately 52% of your trip is spent on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch lasting 15.4 miles along State Highway 3 Northwest. You should expect the pace to shift as you move from the open road onto the ferry, which alters the standard driving rhythm. The route transitions from local thoroughfares into a more technical, multi-modal experience. Because of the ferry segment, your time behind the wheel is split, providing a varied pace that keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.4 mi on State Highway 3 Northwest.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.2 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 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (WA 160 / Southwest Sedgwick Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
303 ft-2 ft
Total Climb
180 ft
Total Descent
305 ft
Highest Point
303 ft
~3.2 mi in
Elevation Range
305 ft
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 Poulsbo, WA to Seattle, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Southworth Ferry along the way.
Poulsbo is a city on Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound of Washington state. Known as "Little Norway," Poulsbo was settled in 1892 by Norwegian loggers, farmers and fishermen who likened the fjord-cut landscape to their homeland. Front Street is lined with dozens of quaint and colorful shops offering Scandinavian gifts, fine art, fashions and antiques.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 45.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.4 miles on State Highway 3 Northwest. 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 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.5 miles (WA 160 / Southwest Sedgwick Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Seattle, WA before heading back.
