Origin
SeaTac, WA
Late night in SeaTac on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from SeaTac, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
14 mi
23 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
SeaTac, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 14-mile drive from SeaTac, WA to Seattle, WA takes about 20 minutes and is a perfect, straightforward trip, ideal for a single day. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 82% of the journey on major roads like I-5 and WA 518. You'll encounter a modest fuel cost estimated at just $3, making it an economical option. With no planned stops, this is a simple point-to-point journey within the Pacific Coast region of Washington. It's a convenient option for getting between these two locations without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 10.8 mi | 13m |
| International Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| WA 518 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| South 170th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 32nd Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Seneca Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 10.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between SeaTac, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
140 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
52 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto 32nd Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
32nd Avenue South
4
At end of road, turn left onto South 170th Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
South 170th Street
5
Turn right onto WA 99
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
International Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward WA 518 East
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto WA 518
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
WA 518
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
Use the slight left lane.
9
Continue on I 5
11 mi
·
13 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
11
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
12
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
14
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 13.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South 170th Street
At end of road, turn left onto South 170th Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
WA 99 / International Boulevard
Turn right onto WA 99 / International Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
7
13.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
7
13.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.93 one way
$5.86 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.07 | $6.15 |
| premium | $5.77 | $3.18 | $6.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Seattle, WA
Late night in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
20m 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-focused experience for most of this 14-mile trip, as 82% of the route utilizes major roadways including I-5 and WA 518. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.8 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace. While much of the drive is on the interstate, you'll also navigate sections of International Boulevard and WA 518, which can offer a slightly different feel as you approach your destination. It's a practical drive designed for efficient travel.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.8 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and International Boulevard. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 170th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 14 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (South 170th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (WA 99 / International Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 14 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.8 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 Seattle, 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 0.2 miles (South 170th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (WA 99 / International Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Seattle, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Seattle, WA
More trips to Seattle, WA
Explore more options from SeaTac, WA or browse trips ending in Seattle, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.