Origin
Renton, WA
Night in Renton on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Renton, WA to Wauna, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
41.2 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauna, WA
Alok Sharma
Trip Overview
This 41.2-mile drive from Renton, WA to Wauna, WA can be completed in about 55 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on I-5 and WA 16, with a short stint on I-405, meaning about 90% of your journey will be on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $9. Given its short distance and highway-focused profile, this route is best tackled in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so expect a consistent regional feel throughout your travels.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 21.6 mi | 27m |
| WA 16 | 12.5 mi | 15m |
| I 405 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Rainier Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| State Route 302 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Purdy Drive Northwest | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Valley Freeway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 21.6 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Wauna, 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, Tacoma
Use 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: Portland
Use 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
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 132B
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto WA 16
13 mi
·
15 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto WA 302
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Purdy Drive Northwest
16
Turn left onto WA 302
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 302
17
Turn left
67 ft
·
5 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.6 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 38.9 — 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
8
25.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 132B
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
7
25.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
6
38.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 302 West: Purdy Key Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.62 one way
$17.25 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.04 | $18.09 |
| premium | $5.77 | $9.36 | $18.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.10 | $18.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Wauna, WA
Night in Wauna on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°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
11 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
55m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 90% of the drive consisting of faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.6 miles on I-5, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. You'll navigate through a mix of major interstates, including I-5, WA 16, and a brief section of I-405. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficient travel between your starting and ending points, rather than winding scenic byways.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 41.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Renton, WA to Wauna, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bremerton along the way.
Bremerton
25.4 mi in
|
~33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 41.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.6 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 Wauna, 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 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.
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 Wauna, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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