Origin
South Bend, WA
Late night in South Bend on Sunday
Local time
3:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Bend, WA to Federal Way, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 28m
Distance
108.2 mi
174 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 18m
★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Bend, WA
Ken Cheatham
Trip Overview
South Bend, WA to Federal Way, WA is 108.2 miles and takes about 2h 28m via I 5, US 101, and WA 8, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive north. Expect a highway-focused experience that's perfectly suited for a single-day journey. With a relatively short duration and manageable distance, this route is ideal for those seeking efficient travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.1 miles from South Bend, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 38.8 mi | 48m |
| US 101 | 23.6 mi | 32m |
| WA 8 | 21.1 mi | 26m |
| Olympic Highway | 10.1 mi | 12m |
| State Route 107 | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| Ocean Avenue | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Robert Bush Drive West | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 38.8 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bend, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on First Street West
0.1 mi
·
56 sec
·
First Street West
2
Turn left onto Weir Street
169 ft
·
9 sec
·
Weir Street
3
Turn right onto US 101
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Robert Bush Drive West
4
Continue on US 101
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Ocean Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto US 101
104 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 101
6
Continue on US 101
18 mi
·
25 min
·
US 101
7
Turn right onto WA 107
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
State Route 107
8
Continue on WA 107
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
10
Merge onto US 12
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Olympic Highway
11
Continue on WA 8
21 mi
·
26 min
·
WA 8
12
Merge onto US 101
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
US 101
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
14
Merge onto I 5
29 mi
·
36 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto South 320th Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South 320th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Pacific Highway South
19
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 28m duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan to refuel before you leave South Bend, as the longest stretch without a stated stop is 38.8 miles. While this route is highway-focused, keep an eye on the WA 8 section for any potential traffic patterns. The estimated fuel cost of $23 makes budgeting straightforward for this trip.
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 54.1 miles from South Bend, WA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.8 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 24 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.1 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Federal Way, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Bend, 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 South Bend, WA
This is one driving day of about 108.2 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from South Bend, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 38.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.1 miles from South Bend, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 106.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Weir Street
Turn left onto Weir Street
Navigation decision point
5
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
96.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
106.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
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 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
6
106.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
South 320th Street
Turn left onto South 320th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.65 one way
$45.29 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $23.75 | $47.50 |
| premium | $5.77 | $24.57 | $49.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.89 | $47.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.36 | $5.19 |
| Efficient EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.47 | $4.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.15 | $6.92 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Late night in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
3:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
8 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
2h 28m 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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 108.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience the efficiency of major interstates and highways, including a significant 38.8-mile stretch on I 5. The route offers a blend of faster-paced driving and sections that may feel more like traditional highway travel. The profile suggests a consistent pace for much of the trip, allowing for steady progress towards your destination.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.8 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and US 101. 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 Weir Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 108.2 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 (Weir Street): Navigation decision point; at 67.7 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Federal Way, WA
Full guide →Federal Way is a city in King County on the Puget Sound of Washington State. It is the home of the Pacific Bonsai Museum and Rhododendron Species Botanical Gardens. With a population of 96,000 (2016), Federal Way is one of Seattle's largest suburbs.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 108.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.8 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 Federal Way, 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. 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 (Weir Street): Navigation decision point; at 67.7 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.5 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Federal Way, 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.
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