Origin
White Center, WA
Late night in White Center on Tuesday
Local time
2:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from White Center, WA to Auburn, 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
33m
Distance
22.8 mi
37 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
White Center, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between White Center and Auburn, this 22.8-mile drive is a straightforward transit option. You can expect the journey to take roughly 33 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an economical route that stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Because of the short duration, there is no need to plan for overnight stops or extensive logistics. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of local errands, the simplicity of this trip allows for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 10 mi | 12m |
| West Marginal Way South | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| WA 599 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| I 405 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| C Street Northwest | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I 5 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Roxbury Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Olson Place Southwest | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Valley Freeway
— 10 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between White Center, WA and Auburn, WA.
1
Start on Southwest Roxbury Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Roxbury Street
2
Turn slight left onto Olson Place Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Olson Place Southwest
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Toward WA 509 North: Seattle
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto WA 509
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
WA 509
5
Take the exit
494 ft
·
12 sec
Toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way, Transfer Station
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto WA 99
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Marginal Way South
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on WA 599
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 599
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 154A
Toward I 405 North: Renton
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on I 405
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 405
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Kent, Auburn
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto WA 167
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward 15th Street Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto 15th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
15th Street Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto C Street Northwest
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
C Street Northwest
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 10.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way
9
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way, Transfer Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 99 South: West Marginal Way, Transfer...
7
8.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North: Renton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 154A
Toward I 405 North: Renton
8
9.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
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 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
8
10.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 South: Kent, Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167 South: Kent, Auburn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.77 one way
$9.54 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $5.00 | $10.01 |
| premium | $5.77 | $5.18 | $10.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.03 | $10.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Auburn, WA
Late night in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
2:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
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
19 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
33m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 63% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend a significant portion of your time navigating West Marginal Way South and WA 599 before transitioning onto the Valley Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Valley Freeway, where you will cover 10 miles of pavement. While the drive is functional rather than scenic, the transition from local corridors to major highways keeps the pace steady. It is a no-nonsense, efficient path that prioritizes speed over winding backroads.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10 mi on Valley Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Valley Freeway and West Marginal Way South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 22.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
382 ft
20 ft
Total Climb
119 ft
Total Descent
413 ft
Highest Point
382 ft
Elevation Range
362 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between White Center, WA and Auburn, WA, road signs point toward Transfer Station and 15Th Street Northwest.
Transfer Station
1.9 mi in
|
~4m
15Th Street Northwest
20.7 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Arriving in Auburn, WA
Full guide →Auburn is a city in south King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington.
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 33m. Total distance: 22.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10 miles on Valley Freeway. 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 Auburn, 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 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 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 Auburn, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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