Origin
Sultan, WA
Morning in Sultan on Sunday
Local time
7:18 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sultan, 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
1h 17m
Distance
56.5 mi
91 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sultan, WA
nicholas hatherly
Trip Overview
Sultan to Federal Way is 56.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via I 405 and State Highway 522, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you from the Pacific Coast region into another part of the Pacific Coast region, primarily on well-traveled highways. With 78% of this route on highways, expect a fairly direct journey. This trip is best suited for a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick transit or a short excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 23.5 mi | 29m |
| Stevens Pass Highway | 7.9 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 522 | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| I 5 | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| State Route 522 | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 23.5 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sultan, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on 4th Street
304 ft
·
14 sec
·
4th Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 2
7.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Stevens Pass Highway
3
Take the exit onto WA 522
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 522
Toward WA 522 West
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on WA 522
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 522
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn slight left onto I 405
23 mi
·
29 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 5
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 147
Toward South 272nd Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto WA 99; WA 509
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pacific Highway South
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left onto South 312th Street
209 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 312th Street
13
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Sultan, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 8 and 53.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
WA 522 / State Highway 522
Take the exit onto WA 522 / State Highway 522 toward WA 522 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward WA 522 West
6
21.3 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue
6
45.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
7
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
53.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
South 272nd Street
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.82 one way
$23.65 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $12.40 | $24.80 |
| premium | $5.77 | $12.83 | $25.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.47 | $24.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.94 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.91 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Morning in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
7:18 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
N 3 mph
0% chance
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
1h 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the mileage spent on major roadways. You'll experience stretches of fast-paced travel, including a notable 23.5-mile segment on I 405 without needing to exit. While the route includes parts of Stevens Pass Highway and State Highway 522, the overall character leans towards efficient transit rather than leisurely cruising. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip.
78% 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: 23.5 mi on I 405.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and Stevens Pass Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near WA 522 / State Highway 522.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 56.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 8 miles (WA 522 / State Highway 522): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.5 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 1h 17m. Total distance: 56.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.5 miles on I 405. 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 8 miles (WA 522 / State Highway 522): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.5 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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