This 210.8-mile drive from Seattle, WA, to Carson, WA, is a manageable 4-hour and 17-minute journey, making it an ideal one-day trip. With a projected fuel cost of $44, it's an economical option for exploring the Pacific Coast region. The route primarily utilizes I-5, with segments on Evergreen Highway and Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway, offering a predominantly highway-focused experience. You'll find this drive to be straightforward and efficient, perfect for a quick getaway without needing an overnight stop. Planning for one main stop should be sufficient given the relatively short duration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.4 miles from Seattle, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
157.4 mi
3h 1m
Evergreen Highway
22.3 mi
31m
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
10.1 mi
13m
I 205
10.1 mi
13m
Lewis and Clark Highway
4.9 mi
6m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
2.8 mi
4m
Wind River Road
1 mi
1m
2nd Street
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 157.4 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Carson, WA.
1
Start on this road
31 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Madison Street
204 ft·11 sec·Madison Street
3
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
308 ft·14 sec·4th Avenue
4
Turn right onto Spring Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Spring Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
6
Continue on I 5
0.6 mi·1 min·I 5
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
147 ft·2 sec·I 5
Toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 5
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
305 ft·4 sec·I 5
Toward Airport Way
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
30 mi·38 min·I 5
Toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
126 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205
10 mi·13 min·I 205
Toward I 205 South: SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 27Toward WA 14: Camas, City CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward WA 14 East: CamasUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto WA 14
5.6 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on WA 14
3.9 mi·5 min·Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Enter roundabout onto WA 14
85 ft·1 sec·Lewis and Clark Highway
18
Continue on WA 14
0.9 mi·1 min·Lewis and Clark Highway
19
Enter roundabout onto WA 14
102 ft·1 sec·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
20
Continue on WA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
21
Continue on WA 14
22 mi·31 min·Evergreen Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on WA 14
0.7 mi·2 min·2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on WA 14
2.8 mi·4 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
24
Enter roundabout onto Wind River Road
196 ft·8 sec·Wind River Road
Toward Carson
25
Continue on Wind River Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Wind River Road
Toward Carson
26
Turn right onto Hot Springs Avenue
270 ft·9 sec·Hot Springs Avenue
27
Turn right onto 1st Street
196 ft·8 sec·1st Street
28
Arrive at destination
1st Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 17-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Seattle to maximize your time in Carson and avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, flexibility is key; choose a rest area or a quick stop that suits your needs along I-5. The fuel cost is estimated at $44, so ensure your tank is full before you set off. Keep an eye on the mileage, particularly the 157.4-mile stretch on I-5, to gauge your progress and plan your break accordingly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 105.4 miles from Seattle, WA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 46 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.4 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carson, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Seattle, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Seattle, WA
This is one driving day of about 210.8 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Seattle, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 157.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 167.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Spring Street
Turn right onto Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 5
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
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
7
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport
7
157.9 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|I 205
Keep slight right at fork onto I 205 toward I 205 South: Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 205 South: Salem
8
167.9 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward WA 14: Camas, City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward WA 14: Camas, City Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.12 one way
$88.24 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$46.27
$92.54
premium
$5.77
$47.87
$95.74
diesel
$5.61
$46.54
$93.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.13
$10.12
Efficient EV
52.7
0
$18.45
$8.43
EV Truck/SUV
84.3
1
$29.51
$13.49
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Seattle, WA
Late night
in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carson, WA
Late night
in Carson on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Ridgefield, WA
105 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is largely defined by its highway focus, with 79% of the route on major interstates and highways. You'll experience a significant 157.4-mile stretch on I-5, which provides a consistent and relatively fast pace. While the Evergreen Highway and Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway offer some variation, the overall feel remains geared towards efficient travel. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes covering ground, with the road maintaining a predictable nature for most of the journey.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 157.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Evergreen Highway. 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.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 210.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Seattle, WA to Carson, WA, road signs begin pointing toward City Center along the way.
City Center
167.9 mi in|~3h 16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 210.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 157.4 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Carson, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Carson, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
