Renton, WA to Hazel Dell, WA is 154.5 miles and takes about 3h 1m via I 5, I 405, and Rainier Avenue South, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Washington State, traversing the Pacific Coast region. It's a mostly highway-focused trip, ideal for a single-day journey. You'll find it a straightforward route with minimal complexity, making it a practical choice for a quick trip between these two Washington locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77.3 miles from Renton, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
149.7 mi
2h 52m
I 405
2 mi
2m
Rainier Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
Northeast Highway 99
0.5 mi
1m
Northeast 78th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Valley Freeway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Northeast 68th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 149.7 mi, about 2h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Hazel Dell, WA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn left
71 ft·8 sec
3
Turn left
98 ft·12 sec
4
Turn left onto Rainier Avenue South
0.9 mi·2 min·Rainier Avenue South
5
Continue on WA 167
324 ft·7 sec·Valley Freeway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 405 South: Burien, Seattle, TacomaUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 405
2.0 mi·2 min·I 405
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 South: PortlandUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
20 mi·25 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
126 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
3.2 mi·4 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 4Toward Northeast 78th StreetUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
401 ft·11 sec
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Continue on Northeast 78th Street
442 ft·15 sec·Northeast 78th Street
15
Turn right onto Northeast Highway 99
0.5 mi·1 min·Northeast Highway 99
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Northeast 68th Street
136 ft·3 sec·Northeast 68th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Northeast 68th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip covering 154.5 miles, leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Hazel Dell. You'll have a longest stretch of 149.7 miles on I 5, so plan for a single fuel stop before you begin this long segment. With only one recommended stop and a short overall duration, flexibility is key. Consider breaking up the drive with a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs before the final push.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.3 miles from Renton, WA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 149.7 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 34 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.3 miles or 1h 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 2h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hazel Dell, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Renton, WA
This is one driving day of about 154.5 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Renton, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 149.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 153.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1 mi into trip|~2m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 South: Burien, Seattle, Tacoma
6
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
6
24.1 mi into trip|~32m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
150.2 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
153.5 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward Northeast 78th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4
Toward Northeast 78th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.34 one way
$64.67 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$33.91
$67.82
premium
$5.77
$35.08
$70.17
diesel
$5.61
$34.11
$68.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.4
0
$16.22
$7.42
Efficient EV
38.6
0
$13.52
$6.18
EV Truck/SUV
61.8
0
$21.63
$9.89
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Renton, WA
Morning
in Renton on Sunday
Local time
7:18 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hazel Dell, WA
Morning
in Hazel Dell on Sunday
Local time
7:18 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
13 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
3h 1m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 99% of this route, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 149.7 miles on I 5. While much of the journey involves consistent highway speeds, you'll encounter I 405 and Rainier Avenue South, offering brief variations before rejoining the main interstate. This profile suggests a generally efficient and predictable driving experience.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 149.7 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 154.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 24.1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 154.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 149.7 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Hazel Dell, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 24.1 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Hazel Dell, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
