Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
20.3 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Bethel, WA
cottonbro studio
This short 20.3-mile journey from Seattle to Bethel, Washington, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Southeast Sedgwick Road and Fauntleroy Way Southwest, with a brief ferry segment via the Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry. With only a 6% highway share, expect a more local driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $4, and since there are no planned stops, you can enjoy a straightforward drive. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent feel throughout your travels.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Sedgwick Road | 6.5 mi | 12m |
| Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry | 4.8 mi | 29m |
| Fauntleroy Way Southwest | 3.7 mi | 10m |
| West Seattle Bridge | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| State Route 99 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Bethel Road Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Alaskan Way | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| Madison Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Bethel, WA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto Madison Street
Turn left onto Alaskan Way
Take the exit
Merge onto WA 99
Take the exit
Merge onto West Seattle Bridge
Continue on Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Keep slight right at fork onto Southwest Barton Street
Turn slight right onto Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
Turn straight onto WA 160
Continue on WA 160
Continue on WA 160
Turn left onto Bethel Road Southeast
Turn left onto Southeast Cedar Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 19.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward WA 99 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward West Seattle Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto West Seattle Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Bethel Road Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.25 one way
$8.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $4.46 | $8.91 |
| premium | $5.77 | $4.61 | $9.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.48 | $8.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.84 | $1.30 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Morning in Seattle on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Bethel on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°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
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, meaning you'll be navigating city streets and local byways for the majority of the trip. Only 6% of the drive is on highways, so keep your attention focused on traffic signals and intersections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 6.5 miles along Southeast Sedgwick Road. This road profile suggests a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous highway cruise, requiring active engagement as you transition between different local roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.3 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Seattle, Washington sits at one of the most beautiful spots in the United States. Occupying a narrow isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest, with 780,000 people in Seattle and over four million people in the metro area. Seen from above, carpets of evergreen trees, pristine blue waters, and snowy white mountains surround the downtown's metallic skyscrapers, earning the city its nickname The Emerald City. On the ground, you will find a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. Next to the progressive downtown and the freewheeling feel of Capitol Hill, you can find a laid-back atmosphere in the districts to the north and ethnically diverse neighborhoods to the south.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 20.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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