This straightforward 69.3-mile drive from Seattle to Clear Lake, Washington, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 30 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day trip. Predominantly on I-5, with brief excursions onto East College Way and State Route 9, this route offers a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $15, it's an economical choice for exploring the Pacific Coast region of Washington. There are no designated stops in the data, but the relatively short duration allows for flexibility in planning your journey. Consider this a simple, efficient transit rather than a scenic adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.6 miles from Seattle, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
61.5 mi
1h 13m
East College Way
3.6 mi
7m
State Route 9
3.2 mi
6m
4th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
University Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Madison Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Lake Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Clear Lake, 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
0.2 mi·39 sec·4th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto University Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·University Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 5 North
6
Merge onto I 5
62 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward WA 538 East: College Way
8
Turn right onto East College Way
3.6 mi·7 min·East College Way
Use the right lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto WA 9
183 ft·3 sec·State Route 9
10
Continue on WA 9
3.2 mi·6 min·State Route 9
11
Turn right onto Lake Street
181 ft·13 sec·Lake Street
12
Turn left
25 ft·1 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 30-minute duration, this trip offers a great deal of flexibility. You can depart Seattle at your leisure, as there's no need to break up the 69.3-mile journey. The $15 fuel cost is minimal, but it's always wise to start with a full tank, especially as the longest stretch is 61.5 miles on I-5. While no specific stops are listed, plan for a brief break if needed, perhaps before merging onto the main interstate sections. Keep an eye on traffic conditions leaving Seattle, as they can impact your overall travel time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.6 miles from Seattle, WA, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.6 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clear Lake, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Seattle, WA
This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Seattle, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 61.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 0.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|4th Avenue
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|University Street
Turn right onto University Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 5 North
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.50 one way
$29.01 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$15.21
$30.42
premium
$5.77
$15.74
$31.47
diesel
$5.61
$15.30
$30.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.28
$3.33
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Seattle, WA
Late night
in Seattle on Tuesday
Local time
1:52 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clear Lake, WA
Late night
in Clear Lake on Tuesday
Local time
1:52 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 30m 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.
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?
Expect a heavily highway-focused journey, with 93% of the drive utilizing major roadways like I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 61.5 miles on I-5, meaning you'll experience extended periods of consistent driving speeds. While the route is primarily interstate, you'll transition to East College Way and State Route 9, offering a slight change of pace before reaching your destination. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficiency rather than winding, picturesque byways, keeping you moving steadily toward Clear Lake.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.5 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and East College Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 30m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (University Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 61.5 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (University Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Clear Lake, WA before heading back.
