This 110.4-mile drive from West Longview, WA, to Federal Way, WA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-5, with portions of Ocean Beach Highway and South 320th Street also part of the journey. Given the relatively short duration and the highway-focused profile, it’s a straightforward route. Expect a fuel cost of around $23 for this journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you'll be experiencing consistent coastal vibes throughout your travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.2 miles from West Longview, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
102.4 mi
1h 58m
Ocean Beach Highway
4 mi
9m
South 320th Street
0.8 mi
2m
North Kelso Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
West Cowlitz Way
0.7 mi
1m
Pacific Highway South
0.5 mi
<1m
North Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
46th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 102.4 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Longview, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on Lee Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·Lee Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Windemere Street
0.1 mi·36 sec·Windemere Street
3
Turn right onto 46th Avenue
0.2 mi·42 sec·46th Avenue
4
Turn left onto WA 4
4.0 mi·9 min·Ocean Beach Highway
5
Turn left onto WA 4
0.7 mi·1 min·West Cowlitz Way
6
Turn left onto North Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Pacific Avenue
7
Continue on North Kelso Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Kelso Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
9
Merge onto I 5
92 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
10 mi·12 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 143Toward Federal Way, South 320th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto South 320th Street
0.8 mi·2 min·South 320th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi·55 sec·Pacific Highway South
14
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft·5 sec·South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right
24 ft·1 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 17-minute drive, leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon can help you avoid peak traffic, especially as you approach the Federal Way area. Since there are no specific stops recommended, you have the flexibility to make impromptu breaks as needed. Keep in mind the estimated fuel cost of $23 and plan your refueling accordingly. A practical tip for this route is to stay aware of potential congestion on I-5 as you get closer to the Seattle metro area, even though it's a relatively short trip.
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 55.2 miles from West Longview, WA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.4 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.2 miles or 1h 11m 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 51m
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 West Longview, 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 West Longview, WA
This is one driving day of about 110.4 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from West Longview, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 102.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 109 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Windemere Street
At end of road, turn left onto Windemere Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
6.3 mi into trip|~15m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
98.7 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
108.7 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward Federal Way, South 320th 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 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
6
109 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|South 320th Street
Turn left onto South 320th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.11 one way
$46.21 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$24.23
$48.46
premium
$5.77
$25.07
$50.14
diesel
$5.61
$24.37
$48.75
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: 38.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.1
0
$11.59
$5.30
Efficient EV
27.6
0
$9.66
$4.42
EV Truck/SUV
44.2
0
$15.46
$7.07
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
West Longview, WA
Evening
in West Longview on Saturday
Local time
7:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Evening
in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
7:53 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 17m 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.
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 110.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 102.4 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of Ocean Beach Highway and South 320th Street provides some variation from the typical freeway experience. The road profile suggests a generally straightforward driving experience, allowing for steady progress towards your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Ocean Beach Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Windemere Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 110.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (Windemere Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.3 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.7 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 110.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.4 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 0.1 miles (Windemere Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.3 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.7 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
