Origin
Sudden Valley, WA
Late night in Sudden Valley on Sunday
Local time
5:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sudden Valley, 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 21m
Distance
107.8 mi
173 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 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sudden Valley, WA
Ken Cheatham
Trip Overview
This 107.8-mile drive from Sudden Valley, WA, to Federal Way, WA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-5, this highway-focused route will likely cost around $23 in fuel. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's perfectly suited for a day trip without the need for an overnight stop. The journey stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward transit between two Washington State locations. Plan for a focused drive with minimal detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.9 miles from Sudden Valley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 93.6 mi | 1h 52m |
| Lake Whatcom Boulevard | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Alger Cain Lake Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Cain Lake Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Sudden Valley Drive | 1 mi | 4m |
| Lake Samish Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 93.6 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sudden Valley, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on Tawny Circle
280 ft
·
11 sec
·
Tawny Circle
2
Turn left onto Lost Fork Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Lost Fork Lane
3
At end of road, turn right onto Sudden Valley Drive
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Sudden Valley Drive
4
Continue on Sudden Valley Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sudden Valley Drive
5
Continue on Sudden Valley Drive
169 ft
·
8 sec
·
Sudden Valley Drive
6
Turn right onto Lake Whatcom Boulevard
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Lake Whatcom Boulevard
7
Turn right onto Cain Lake Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Cain Lake Road
8
Continue on Alger Cain Lake Road
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Alger Cain Lake Road
9
Continue on Lake Samish Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Samish Road
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
11
Merge onto I 5
94 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 147
Toward South 272nd Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto WA 99; WA 509
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pacific Highway South
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn left onto South 312th Street
209 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 312th Street
16
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 21-minute trip, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and potentially avoid peak traffic. With only 0 designated stops, you have the flexibility to pull over as needed. The longest stretch on I-5 is substantial, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained driving. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $23, and plan your refueling accordingly. Since this is a day trip, you can adapt your schedule easily, but remember to factor in potential I-5 slowdowns, especially closer to Federal Way.
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 53.9 miles from Sudden Valley, WA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.6 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 1h 14m 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 55m
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 Sudden Valley, 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 Sudden Valley, WA
This is one driving day of about 107.8 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Sudden Valley, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 93.6 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 53.9 miles from Sudden Valley, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.6 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 107.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sudden Valley Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Sudden Valley Drive
Navigation decision point
5
10.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
104.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m 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
104.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
|
South 272nd Street
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
107.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.56 one way
$45.12 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $23.66 | $47.32 |
| premium | $5.77 | $24.48 | $48.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.80 | $47.60 |
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: 37.7 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 | 32.3 | 0 | $11.32 | $5.17 |
| Efficient EV | 27 | 0 | $9.43 | $4.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.09 | $6.90 |
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
5:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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
4 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
2h 21m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 85.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 87% of the drive on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 93.6 miles on I-5, indicating a significant period of consistent speed and traffic flow. While Lake Whatcom Boulevard and Alger Cain Lake Road offer brief diversions, the core of this journey is defined by its interstate character. This means you'll encounter the typical on-and-off-ramp sequences and steady cruising associated with long-haul highway driving.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Lake Whatcom Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Sudden Valley Drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Sudden Valley Drive): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 21m. Total distance: 107.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.6 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Sudden Valley Drive): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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