Origin
Renton, WA
Late night in Renton on Tuesday
Local time
2:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Renton, WA to Yelm, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
54.8 mi
88 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yelm, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Renton to Yelm is 54.8 miles and takes about 1h 19m via I 5 and Yelm Highway SE, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Washington's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward trip between two points in the state. It's a relatively short distance, making it a convenient option for a quick transit or a day trip. You'll spend the majority of your time on the interstate before transitioning to local roads as you near your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 37.2 mi | 46m |
| Yelm Highway Southeast | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Reservation Road Southeast | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Nisqually Road Southwest | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| I 405 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Old Pacific Highway Southeast | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Rainier Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| WA 510 Alternate | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 37.2 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Yelm, 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
17 mi
·
21 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 116
Toward Mounts Road, Old Nisqually
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto Mounts Road Southwest
210 ft
·
7 sec
·
Mounts Road Southwest
13
Continue on Nisqually Road Southwest
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Nisqually Road Southwest
14
Continue on Old Pacific Highway Southeast
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
15
Turn left onto Reservation Road Southeast
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Reservation Road Southeast
16
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
198 ft
·
3 sec
·
Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
17
Continue on WA 510
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
18
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
19
Continue on WA 510
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
20
Continue on Yelm Highway Southeast
399 ft
·
9 sec
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
21
Enter roundabout onto WA 510 Alternate
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
WA 510 Alternate
22
Continue on WA 510 Alternate
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 510 Alternate
23
Turn right onto Killion Road Southeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Killion Road Southeast
24
Turn left onto WA 510
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Yelm Avenue
25
Turn left onto North 1st Street
164 ft
·
5 sec
·
North 1st Street
26
Turn right
54 ft
·
4 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.4 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 41 — 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
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 405
Merge onto I 405
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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.
8
41 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward Mounts Road, Old Nisqually
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 116
Toward Mounts Road, Old Nisqually
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.47 one way
$22.94 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $12.03 | $24.06 |
| premium | $5.77 | $12.44 | $24.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.10 | $24.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.67 | $3.51 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Yelm, WA
Late night in Yelm on Tuesday
Local time
2:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Lakewood, WA
27 mi in
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
25 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 19m 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?
This trip is mostly highway, with 73% of the drive on major roads like I 5. You'll experience a longest stretch of 37.2 miles on I 5 before transitioning to Yelm Highway Southeast. Expect more frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach the Yelm area after leaving the interstate. The latter part of the drive will feel more like cruising through local communities.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.2 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Yelm Highway Southeast. 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
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 1.5 miles (I 405): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Yelm, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Old Nisqually along the way.
Old Nisqually
41 mi in
|
~53m
About the Cities
Starting in Renton, WA
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 54.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.2 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 Yelm, 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 1.5 miles (I 405): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yelm, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Yelm, WA
More trips to Yelm, WA
Explore more options from Renton, WA or browse trips ending in Yelm, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.