Origin
SeaTac, WA
Late night in SeaTac on Tuesday
Local time
3:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11m
Distance
6.3 mi
10 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
SeaTac, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from SeaTac to Renton is a quick 6.3-mile trip that typically takes just 11 minutes of driving time. Because the duration is so brief, this route is perfect for a single-day excursion and requires no overnight stops. You will navigate through the Pacific Coast region, moving between these two Washington hubs with ease. Budgeting for this drive is incredibly simple, as you will likely spend only about $1 on fuel. It is an ideal, straightforward commute for those looking to move efficiently between these locations without any complex planning required.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| WA 518 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Rainier Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| International Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Valley Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 170th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 32nd Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between SeaTac, WA and Renton, WA.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn left onto 32nd Avenue South
At end of road, turn left onto South 170th Street
Turn right onto WA 99
Take the ramp
Merge onto WA 518
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 518
Continue on I 405
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto WA 167
Continue on WA 167
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto South 170th Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 518 toward I 405 North: Renton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$1.32 one way
$2.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $1.38 | $2.77 |
| premium | $5.77 | $1.43 | $2.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.39 | $2.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.66 | $0.30 |
| Efficient EV | 1.6 | 0 | $0.55 | $0.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.88 | $0.40 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in SeaTac on Tuesday
Local time
3:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Renton on Tuesday
Local time
3:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between highway speeds and local traffic flow. You will spend roughly 45% of your journey on major thoroughfares, including I-405 and WA-518, before transitioning onto Rainier Avenue South. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 1.5-mile segment on I-405, which provides a brief period of steady speed. This route balances the fast pace of interstate travel with the more measured feel of surface streets. You will find that the character of the road changes quickly as you shift from the busier highway environment into the local access roads nearing Renton.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 170th Street.
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 12 decision points packed into just 6.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 11m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South 170th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles (WA 518): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
41 ft
Total Descent
428 ft
Highest Point
433 ft
Elevation Range
407 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between SeaTac, WA and Renton, WA, road signs point toward Auburn and Rainier Avenue South.
Auburn
Rainier Avenue South
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Renton, WA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-19:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Renton, WA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 04:30-18:00; Sa, Su 06:00-17:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Renton, WA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-21:00
Visit websiteCafe
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Tukwila, WA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 05:00-21:00; Sa-Su 06:00-21:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
SeaTac, WA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: 04:00-21:00
Visit websiteCafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Renton, WA
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-24:00; Sa,Su 00:00-01:00,10:...
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Renton, WA
Cuisine: hawaiian
Visit websiteFast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Tukwila, WA
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Su-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr,Sa 07:00-21:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Renton, WA
Cuisine: mexican
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-21:30, Sa,Su 10:00-22:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Renton, WA
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-We 07:00-21:00; Th,Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa...
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Renton, WA
Cuisine: gyros;smoothie;juice;filipino;mediterranean;american
Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteArtwork
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Artwork
Near the end, right off the route
Artwork
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, short detour
Hotel
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Tukwila, WA
Visit websiteMotel
Early in the drive, right off the route
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
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).
Weekend Trip
This 6.3-mile drive is an easy same-day round trip, perfect for a quick weekend getaway, taking only about 11 minutes.
Family Friendly
With a 10/10 complexity rating, navigating this 6.3-mile route might be challenging with kids, though the short 11-minute drive is a plus.
Solo Traveler
While the distance is comfortable for a solo traveler at just 6.3 miles, the 10/10 complexity might make it less engaging than desired.
EV Driver
This route is extremely short at 6.3 miles, making it easily manageable on a single charge without needing any EV DC fast chargers.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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