Origin
Spanaway, WA
Late night in Spanaway on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spanaway, 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
36m
Distance
23.9 mi
38 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spanaway, WA
Jack Davis
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip between Spanaway and Federal Way, expect a straightforward 23.9-mile journey that typically takes about 36 minutes. This route is best suited as a simple day trip, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight stays. Budgeting roughly $5 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trek. Since you are staying within the Pacific Coast region, the transition is seamless and familiar. It is a highly practical drive for those needing to move between these two Washington locations efficiently without the need for extensive travel logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 15.4 mi | 19m |
| Pacific Avenue South | 3.8 mi | 8m |
| WA 512 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South 320th Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Pacific Highway South | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 108th Street South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 15.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spanaway, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on this road
53 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto WA 7
3.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Pacific Avenue South
3
Turn right onto 108th Street South
361 ft
·
6 sec
·
108th Street South
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward WA 512 West
5
Merge onto WA 512
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
WA 512
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 North: Tacoma, Seattle
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 5
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto South 320th Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South 320th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Pacific Highway South
12
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 22.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
WA 512
Merge onto WA 512
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Tacoma, Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 5 North: Tacoma, Seattle
6
12.1 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
22.2 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
22.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
South 320th Street
Turn left onto South 320th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.00 one way
$10.00 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.25 | $10.49 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.43 | $10.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.28 | $10.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
4:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
36m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of local roads like Pacific Avenue South and WA 512 before merging onto the main artery of I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 15.4 miles on the interstate, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. While the route begins on smaller roads, the transition to high-speed highway driving defines the overall experience. Expect a functional, direct commute rather than a leisurely backroads cruise.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Pacific Avenue South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near WA 512.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 23.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (WA 512): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 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.
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 Spanaway, WA to Federal Way, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
Seattle
6 mi in
|
~11m
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 36m. Total distance: 23.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.4 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.
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: at 4.1 miles (WA 512): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 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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