Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
48.4 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethel, WA
cottonbro studio
This 48.4-mile drive from Renton, WA to Bethel, WA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Primarily utilizing major highways like I-5, WA-16, and I-405, this route offers a highway-focused experience. With a low estimated fuel cost of around $10, it's an economical option for a day trip. You'll be traveling within the Pacific Coast region throughout, so expect consistent scenery. This journey is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 21.6 mi | 27m |
| WA 16 | 19.4 mi | 24m |
| I 405 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Bethel Burley Road Southeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Rainier Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Bethel Road Southeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southeast Mullenix Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Valley Freeway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Bethel, WA.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn left
Turn left onto Rainier Avenue South
Continue on WA 167
Take the exit
Merge onto I 405
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto WA 16
Take the exit
Turn left onto Southeast Mullenix Road
At end of road, turn right onto Bethel Burley Road Southeast
Continue on Bethel Road Southeast
Turn right onto Southeast Cedar Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Renton, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 45.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Burien, Seattle, Tacoma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Mullenix Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$10.13 one way
$20.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $10.62 | $21.25 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.99 | $21.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.69 | $21.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.08 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.78 | $3.10 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Renton on Tuesday
Local time
1:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Bethel on Tuesday
Local time
1:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-dominated experience on this route, with 89% of the drive on major roadways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 21.6 miles on I-5, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. The roads are designed for efficient travel, so while it's not a winding scenic byway, it's efficient for getting from point A to point B. The road conditions primarily consist of well-maintained interstate and state highways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 16. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.4 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 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Renton, WA to Bethel, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bremerton along the way.
Bremerton
Renton is a city in King County, Washington south of Bellevue and north of Kent. It is a quiet suburb of Seattle at the base of Lake Washington. Renton is primarily known as the site of the Boeing 737 plant, where the popular commercial jetliner is built. Renton is also notable for being the resting place of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. Its relatively inexpensive property prices make it a solid choice of stay while visiting Seattle, and the downtown area has many quiet charms of its own.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 48.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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