Origin
Spanaway, WA
Late night in Spanaway on Tuesday
Local time
3:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spanaway, WA to Renton, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
34.9 mi
56 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
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
Spanning 34.9 miles across the Pacific Coast region, this drive connects Spanaway and Renton in approximately 49 minutes. Because of the short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend about $7 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly transit option. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like WA 512, Pacific Avenue South, and the Valley Freeway to move you between these two Washington hubs. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that prioritizes efficiency over leisure, ideal for commuters or travelers looking to reach their destination quickly.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 20.1 mi | 25m |
| WA 512 | 9.2 mi | 11m |
| Pacific Avenue South | 3.7 mi | 8m |
| Rainier Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Valley Freeway
— 20.1 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spanaway, WA and Renton, WA.
1
Start on this road
53 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto WA 7
3.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Pacific Avenue South
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward WA 512 East: Puyallup
4
Merge onto WA 512
9.2 mi
·
11 min
·
WA 512
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, Yakima
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Merge onto WA 167
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on WA 167
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Rainier Avenue South
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right
39 ft
·
2 sec
9
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Spanaway, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WA 7 / Pacific Avenue South
Turn right onto WA 7 / Pacific Avenue South
Navigation decision point
4
3.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward WA 512 East: Puyallup
Navigation decision point
Toward WA 512 East: Puyallup
5
4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
WA 512
Merge onto WA 512
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
13.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, Yakima
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, Yaki...
5
13.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
WA 167 / Valley Freeway
Merge onto WA 167 / Valley Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.30 one way
$14.61 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.93 | $15.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.71 | $15.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.66 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.05 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.23 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Renton, WA
Late night in Renton on Tuesday
Local time
3:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
49m 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 defined by a high-intensity highway experience, with 84% of your time spent on major roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the drive features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20.1 miles on the Valley Freeway. Expect a consistent, fast-paced environment that transitions from local connections like Pacific Avenue South onto high-capacity transit corridors. While the road lacks the complexity of winding backroads, the highway-focused nature of the trip ensures a predictable and steady pace. Being behind the wheel here requires focus as you navigate these primary arteries connecting the Pacific Coast landscape.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.1 mi on Valley Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Valley Freeway and WA 512. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WA 7 / Pacific Avenue South.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 34.9 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WA 7 / Pacific Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (WA 512): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Renton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Yakima along the way.
Yakima
13.2 mi in
|
~20m
About the Cities
Starting in Spanaway, WA
Full guide →The South Sound refers to the area along the far reaches of the Puget Sound in Washington State. It consists of Pierce County and Thurston County, which includes the state capital of Olympia and the major port city of Tacoma.
Arriving in Renton, WA
Full guide →Renton is a city in King County, Washington south of Bellevue and north of Kent. It is a quiet suburb of Seattle at the base of Lake Washington. Renton is primarily known as the site of the Boeing 737 plant, where the popular commercial jetliner is built. Renton is also notable for being the resting place of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. Its relatively inexpensive property prices make it a solid choice of stay while visiting Seattle, and the downtown area has many quiet charms of its own.
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 49m. Total distance: 34.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.1 miles on Valley Freeway. 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 (WA 7 / Pacific Avenue South): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (WA 512): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Renton, 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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