Origin
Renton, WA
Late night in Renton on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Renton, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
18m
Distance
11.8 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 20m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 22m
8 PM
0h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Renton to Seattle, you are looking at a quick 11.8-mile trip that typically takes about 18 minutes. This highway-focused drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it connects two major hubs within the Pacific Coast region. With a fuel budget of approximately $2, the transit is highly economical for commuters or casual travelers alike. You will rely primarily on I-5, Martin Luther King Junior Way South, and South 132nd Street to complete the journey. Because the distance is so short, there is no need to plan for overnight stops or extensive logistics. It serves as a straightforward, practical link between these Washington cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Martin Luther King Junior Way South | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South 132nd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South 133rd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Renton Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Renton Avenue Extension | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hayes Place Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 7.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Seattle, 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
39 ft
·
4 sec
·
Rainier Avenue South
5
Turn left onto Hayes Place Southwest
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Hayes Place Southwest
6
At end of road, turn left onto Renton Avenue Extension
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Renton Avenue Extension
7
Continue on Renton Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Renton Avenue South
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto South 132nd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South 132nd Street
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on South 133rd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 133rd Street
10
Turn slight right onto WA 900
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King Junior Way South
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
13
Merge onto I 5
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
15
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
16
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
18
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 11.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Renton Avenue Extension
At end of road, turn left onto Renton Avenue Extension
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South 132nd Street
Turn left onto South 132nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
7
11.4 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
11.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.47 one way
$4.94 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $2.59 | $5.18 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.68 | $5.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.61 | $5.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.24 | $0.57 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.03 | $0.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Seattle, WA
Late night in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a route dominated by highway travel, with 65% of your time spent on larger roadways. The core of your trip features a 7.7-mile stretch on I-5, which provides the bulk of the driving experience. Outside of this interstate segment, you will navigate local surface streets to finalize your arrival. The personality of this drive is functional and efficient rather than leisurely or scenic. You should be prepared for a consistent pace as you transition from the suburban feel of Renton into the urban environment of Seattle.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.7 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Martin Luther King Junior Way South. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Renton Avenue Extension.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.8 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 0.2 miles (Renton Avenue Extension): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (South 132nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 11.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.7 miles on I 5. 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 0.2 miles (Renton Avenue Extension): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (South 132nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Seattle, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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