Origin
Warden, WA
Late night in Warden on Tuesday
Local time
2:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Warden, WA to Seattle, 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
3h 41m
Distance
193.1 mi
311 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 29m
★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 7m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 48m
3 PM
3h 52m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Warden, WA
Alok Sharma
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Warden to Seattle is 193.1 miles and takes about 3h 41m via I 90 and State Route 17, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across Washington state, beginning in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same region. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for this trip. Given its relatively short duration and focus on major roads, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey. It's a straightforward option if you need to get from the central part of the state to the Seattle area efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.6 miles from Warden, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 176.6 mi | 3h 14m |
| State Route 17 | 11.1 mi | 16m |
| Road 8 Southeast | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| West 1st Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Madison Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 176.6 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Warden, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
East 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto WA 170
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West 1st Street
4
Continue on WA 170
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Road 8 Southeast
5
Turn right onto WA 17
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Route 17
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 90
177 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2C
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, Madison Street, Convention Center
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Madison Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable one-day drive of just over 3.5 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Seattle. With a longest stretch of over 176 miles, plan for a single fuel stop to be safe, though your estimated fuel cost is only $40. Keep an eye on traffic as you approach the Seattle metropolitan area, as congestion can significantly impact your arrival time, especially during peak hours. The route is mostly highway, so rest stops will be frequent and easy to find.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 96.6 miles from Warden, WA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.6 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 42 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.6 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Warden, 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 Warden, WA
This is one driving day of about 193.1 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Warden, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 176.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.6 miles from Warden, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 176.6 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 192.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
WA 17 / State Route 17
Turn right onto WA 17 / State Route 17
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
14.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
191.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison 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 2C
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, J...
6
192.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, Madison Street, Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, M...
8
192.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.41 one way
$80.83 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $42.38 | $84.77 |
| premium | $5.77 | $43.85 | $87.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.63 | $85.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.28 | $9.27 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.90 | $7.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.2 | 0 | $27.03 | $12.36 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Seattle, WA
Late night in Seattle on Tuesday
Local time
2:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°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
1 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
3h 41m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 176.6 miles primarily on I 90. The drive begins with State Route 17 and Road 8 Southeast before merging onto the interstate. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey. This character means it's less about winding scenic byways and more about covering ground efficiently.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Route 17. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near WA 17 / State Route 17.
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 193.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.8 miles (WA 17 / State Route 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 191.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Warden, WA
Full guide →Arriving in Seattle, WA
Full guide →Seattle, Washington sits at one of the most beautiful spots in the United States. Occupying a narrow isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest, with 780,000 people in Seattle and over four million people in the metro area. Seen from above, carpets of evergreen trees, pristine blue waters, and snowy white mountains surround the downtown's metallic skyscrapers, earning the city its nickname The Emerald City. On the ground, you will find a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. Next to the progressive downtown and the freewheeling feel of Capitol Hill, you can find a laid-back atmosphere in the districts to the north and ethnically diverse neighborhoods to the south.
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 3h 41m. Total distance: 193.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.6 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Seattle, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (WA 17 / State Route 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 191.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Seattle, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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