Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
30.6 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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
Black Diamond, WA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick getaway from Seattle, the 30.6-mile trek to Black Diamond is a perfect one-day excursion. You will spend roughly 51 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal choice for those who prefer to keep travel time minimal. The route relies on a combination of I-5, Renton Maple Valley Road Southeast, and Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast to navigate out of the city. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is an incredibly affordable trip for a spontaneous afternoon. Since both your start and end points are located within the Pacific Coast region, you won't experience a major shift in climate or landscape. It is a straightforward, no-fuss journey that gets you from the urban center to the quieter surroundings of Black Diamond without requiring an overnight stay.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Renton Maple Valley Road Southeast | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast | 5 mi | 9m |
| Maple Valley Highway | 4 mi | 7m |
| Martin Luther King Junior Way South | 2 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Renton Maple Valley Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Southwest Sunset Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Black Diamond, WA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto Madison Street
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Turn right onto Spring Street
Take the ramp
Continue on I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn straight onto WA 900
Continue on WA 900
Continue on WA 900
Continue on WA 900
Turn left onto WA 900
Turn right onto WA 900
Continue on WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
Continue on WA 169
Turn left onto Lawson Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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.
A short stop after about 30.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.3 miles from Seattle, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 8.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 900 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.40 one way
$12.81 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $6.72 | $13.43 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.95 | $13.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.76 | $13.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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 Seattle on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Black Diamond on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°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 transition from fast-paced urban infrastructure to a more technical, turn-heavy local drive as you head toward your destination. Only 25% of this route consists of highway driving, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on local roads. The longest stretch you will encounter is a 7.7-mile segment on I-5, which serves as the primary high-speed portion before you shift gears. As you leave the interstate behind, the driving experience becomes more involved, requiring you to navigate the winding turns characteristic of the Maple Valley and Black Diamond roads. It is a drive that demands a bit more engagement from the operator compared to a standard, monotonous freeway cruise.
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 around 0.1 miles in near Spring 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 17 decision points packed into just 30.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Seattle, WA to Black Diamond, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Renton along the way.
Renton
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 30.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m 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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