Stanwood to Federal Way is 75 miles and takes about 1 hour 37 minutes via I-5 and Pacific Highway South, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Washington State, moving from the Pacific Coast region south towards the same region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's perfect for a single-day trip, offering a practical way to cover ground between these two points. Expect a mostly steady pace with minimal detours, making it a reliable option for getting from A to B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.5 miles from Stanwood, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
65.2 mi
1h 20m
State Route 532
4.2 mi
6m
Pacific Highway South
2.5 mi
4m
268th Street Northwest
1.8 mi
3m
South 272nd Street
0.5 mi
1m
South 312th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
102nd Avenue Northwest
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stanwood, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on 102nd Avenue Northwest
53 ft·8 sec·102nd Avenue Northwest
2
Turn left onto WA 532
490 ft·8 sec·State Route 532
3
Continue on WA 532
1.8 mi·3 min·268th Street Northwest
4
Continue on WA 532
4.1 mi·6 min·State Route 532
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
6
Merge onto I 5
65 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 147Toward South 272nd StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto WA 99; WA 509
2.5 mi·4 min·Pacific Highway South
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left onto South 312th Street
209 ft·9 sec·South 312th Street
11
Turn right
24 ft·1 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 37 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. With only 75 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $16, you won't need to worry extensively about fuel stops, though it's always wise to start with a full tank. The longest stretch on I-5 means you can cover a good distance without interruption, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps before you begin the longest segment. Since there are no designated stops mentioned, be prepared to utilize standard services along I-5 or Pacific Highway South as needed.
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 37.5 miles from Stanwood, WA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.5 miles or 48m 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 20m
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 Stanwood, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stanwood, WA
This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Stanwood, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 65.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75 — 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 532 / State Route 532
Turn left onto WA 532 / State Route 532
Navigation decision point
5
6.3 mi into trip|~9m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward South 272nd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 147
Toward South 272nd Street
6
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|South 272nd Street
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
75 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.70 one way
$31.39 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$16.46
$32.92
premium
$5.77
$17.03
$34.06
diesel
$5.61
$16.56
$33.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.5
0
$7.87
$3.60
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.56
$3.00
EV Truck/SUV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Jun 22, 2022
Origin
Stanwood, WA
Late night
in Stanwood on Sunday
Local time
12:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Late night
in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
12:31 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
31 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
1h 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey on major roadways like I-5 and Pacific Highway South. You'll experience a significant stretch of 65.2 miles on I-5, indicating long, uninterrupted segments of faster travel. While the bulk of the drive is on the interstate, there are opportunities to transition to State Route 532 and Pacific Highway South, which might offer a slight change of scenery or pace before rejoining the main highway. Overall, anticipate a driving experience characterized by consistent speed and efficient travel.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.2 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 532. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WA 532 / State Route 532.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 37m drive. You will face about 8 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 (WA 532 / State Route 532): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 65.2 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 (WA 532 / State Route 532): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Federal Way, WA before heading back.
