Origin
Rochester, WA
Late night in Rochester on Sunday
Local time
1:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rochester, WA to Federal Way, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
61.6 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rochester, WA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
This straightforward 61.6-mile drive from Rochester to Federal Way, Washington, is designed for efficiency, taking approximately 1 hour and 18 minutes. Predominantly a highway-focused journey, you'll spend 97% of your time on major roads, including I-5 and US Highway 12. With a projected fuel cost of around $13, this route is best suited as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The Pacific Coast region offers a consistent backdrop for this relatively short transit, making it a convenient option for getting between these two Washington locales without significant detours or time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 54.9 mi | 1h 6m |
| US Highway 12 | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| South 320th Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| US 12 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pacific Highway South | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 54.9 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rochester, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on US 12
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 12
2
Enter roundabout onto US 12
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 12
3
Continue on US 12
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 12
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 5 North
5
Merge onto I 5
45 mi
·
53 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto South 320th Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South 320th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Pacific Highway South
10
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Rochester, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 60.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 5 North
5
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
49.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
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 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
6
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
South 320th Street
Turn left onto South 320th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.89 one way
$25.78 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $13.52 | $27.04 |
| premium | $5.77 | $13.99 | $27.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.60 | $27.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 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 | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.39 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.62 | $3.94 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Federal Way, WA
Late night in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
1:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
18 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 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 highway-centric experience for most of this 61.6-mile trip. You'll be on I-5 for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.9 miles, providing a consistent pace. The route utilizes major arteries like I-5 and US Highway 12, contributing to its 97% highway share. This means you'll likely encounter steady traffic flow typical of these main corridors. While not designed for scenic exploration, the drive is efficient, allowing you to cover ground quickly and predictably.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.9 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and US Highway 12. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 61.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 4.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.8 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Federal Way, WA
Full guide →Federal Way is a city in King County on the Puget Sound of Washington State. It is the home of the Pacific Bonsai Museum and Rhododendron Species Botanical Gardens. With a population of 96,000 (2016), Federal Way is one of Seattle's largest suburbs.
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 18m. Total distance: 61.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.9 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 4.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.8 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Federal Way, 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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