Renton to Freeland is 49.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via WA 900 and I-405, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast, staying within Washington state. It's a relatively short drive, making it ideal for a quick getaway or an easy day trip. The route is mostly highway-focused, so expect efficient travel as you make your way north.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
24.6 miles from Renton, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WA 900
15 mi
19m
I 405
10.7 mi
13m
State Route 525
8.8 mi
13m
WA 525
6.2 mi
11m
Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry
3 mi
20m
Mukilteo Speedway
1.9 mi
4m
Paine Field Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
North 3rd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
WA 900
— 15 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Freeland, WA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn left
71 ft·8 sec
3
Turn left
98 ft·9 sec
4
Turn right onto Rainier Avenue South
520 ft·12 sec·Rainier Avenue South
5
Turn right onto Airport Way
0.4 mi·1 min·Airport Way
6
Continue on Logan Avenue South
0.1 mi·21 sec·Logan Avenue South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North 3rd Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto WA 900
0.2 mi·36 sec·Sunset Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 900
0.2 mi·23 sec·Sunset Boulevard North
10
Take the ramp onto WA 900
15 mi·19 min·WA 900
Toward I 405 North, WA 900 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
8.4 mi·10 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
2.3 mi·2 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on WA 525
5.8 mi·9 min·WA 525
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
15
Continue on WA 525 Spur
0.8 mi·1 min·Paine Field Boulevard
16
Turn left onto WA 526
0.4 mi·44 sec·84th Street Southwest
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto WA 525
1.9 mi·4 min·Mukilteo Speedway
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto WA 525
0.1 mi·14 sec·WA 525
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn slight left onto WA 525
0.3 mi·1 min·WA 525
20
Continue on WA 525
3.0 mi·20 min·Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry
21
Continue on WA 525
0.1 mi·40 sec·Ferry Dock
22
Continue on WA 525
8.8 mi·13 min·State Route 525
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto Scott Road
0.2 mi·35 sec·Scott Road
24
Continue on Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour 30 minutes, this is a perfect same-day trip with plenty of flexibility. You won't need to worry much about fuel, with an estimated cost of only $10. Consider departing in the mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour traffic around Renton and Seattle if you're traveling on a weekday. Since there are no specific recommended stops and the drive is under 2 hours, you can easily decide on any spontaneous breaks as you go. Keep an eye on the signs for State Route 525 as it will be your final approach into Freeland.
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 24.6 miles from Renton, WA, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15 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 11 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.6 miles or 33m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Freeland, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Renton, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Renton, WA
This is one driving day of about 49.3 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Renton, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on WA 900 for about 15 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 34.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|North 3rd Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|WA 900
Take the ramp onto WA 900 toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
6
16.7 mi into trip|~23m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
25.1 mi into trip|~33m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
34.1 mi into trip|~47m in|WA 526 / 84th Street Southwest
Turn left onto WA 526 / 84th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.32 one way
$20.64 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg17 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$10.82
$21.64
premium
$5.77
$11.20
$22.39
diesel
$5.61
$10.88
$21.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 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
14.8
0
$5.18
$2.37
Efficient EV
12.3
0
$4.31
$1.97
EV Truck/SUV
19.7
0
$6.90
$3.16
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Renton, WA
Late night
in Renton on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Freeland, WA
Late night
in Freeland on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°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
6 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 30m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 10.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 83% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience stretches where you can maintain a steady pace, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 15 miles on WA 900. The profile suggests a predominantly highway experience, meaning you'll likely see more consistent speeds and fewer stops for traffic lights compared to a rural drive. As you transition between WA 900, I-405, and State Route 525, the road character will shift slightly but remain geared towards efficient travel.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15 mi on WA 900.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 900 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near North 3rd Street.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.7 miles (North 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15 miles on WA 900. 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 Freeland, 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 0.7 miles (North 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles (I 405): 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 Freeland, WA before heading back.
