Origin
SeaTac, WA
Late night in SeaTac on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from SeaTac, 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
17m
Distance
9.1 mi
15 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
SeaTac, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from SeaTac to Federal Way, you will cover a brief 9.1-mile distance that typically takes about 17 minutes to navigate. This straightforward journey stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day outing. Because the route is so compact, you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated logistics. Budgeting around $2 for fuel should easily cover your needs for this short commute. Whether you are heading to a meeting or visiting friends, the simplicity of this local drive offers a stress-free way to transit between these two cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Highway South | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| International Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| South 176th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 32nd Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pacific Highway South
— 6.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between SeaTac, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on this road
140 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
52 ft
·
5 sec
3
Turn right onto 32nd Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
32nd Avenue South
4
Turn right onto South 176th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South 176th Street
5
Turn left onto WA 99
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
International Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on WA 99
6.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Pacific Highway South
Use the left / uturn lanes.
7
Turn left onto South 312th Street
209 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 312th Street
8
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
9
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 9.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
32nd Avenue South
Turn right onto 32nd Avenue South
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South 176th Street
Turn right onto South 176th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
WA 99 / International Boulevard
Turn left onto WA 99 / International Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.90 one way
$3.81 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $2.00 | $3.99 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.07 | $4.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.01 | $4.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.96 | $0.44 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Late night in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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
4 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
17m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route contains zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating local corridors, primarily utilizing International Boulevard, South 176th Street, and Pacific Highway South. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 6.1-mile segment along Pacific Highway South. Because the route relies on surface streets, the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns and intersections rather than open-road cruising. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention as you transition between these urban corridors.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.1 mi on Pacific Highway South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 17m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (32nd Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South 176th Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
472 ft
273 ft
Total Climb
328 ft
Total Descent
297 ft
Highest Point
472 ft
~8.5 mi in
Elevation Range
199 ft
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 17m. Total distance: 9.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.1 miles on Pacific Highway South. 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (32nd Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South 176th Street): Navigation decision point.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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