Anacortes, WA to Kent, WA is 94.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m via I 5, I 405, and State Route 20, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Washington state, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. Expect a highway-focused drive that’s straightforward and efficient for getting from point A to point B. It’s a manageable distance, making it ideal for a single day of travel without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.4 miles from Anacortes, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 94.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway experience, with 94% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 42.9 miles on I 5, indicating extended periods of consistent driving. The drive will likely feel like a typical interstate transit, characterized by consistent speed limits and straightforward navigation. While the profile is highway-focused, the inclusion of State Route 20 suggests a slight variation in the road's feel at some point, though the overall character remains one of efficient travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 42.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11 miles in near WA 536.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 94.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11 miles (WA 536): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
11 mi into trip|~17m in|WA 536
Take the exit onto WA 536 toward Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Mount Vernon
8
59.9 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
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 182
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
8
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue Sou...
7
88 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
7
93.1 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward 84th Avenue South, North Central Avenue
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.
Toward 84th Avenue South, North Central Avenue
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Anacortes, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Mount Vernon, Renton and Rainier Avenue South.
Mount Vernon
11 mi in|~17m|via WA 536
Renton
59.9 mi in|~1h 18m
Rainier Avenue South
87.5 mi in|~1h 53m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
42.9 mi
50m
I 405
26.7 mi
33m
State Route 20
7 mi
9m
WA 536
5.4 mi
10m
Valley Freeway
4.6 mi
5m
State Route 20 Spur
2.5 mi
3m
Central Avenue North
1.3 mi
3m
R Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 42.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anacortes, WA and Kent, WA.
1
Start on WA 20 SPUR
11 ft·4 sec·12th Street
2
Turn right onto WA 20 SPUR
0.6 mi·1 min·Commercial Avenue
3
Turn left onto 22nd Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·22nd Street
4
Enter roundabout onto R Avenue
13 ft·0 sec·R Avenue
5
Continue on R Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·R Avenue
6
Turn left onto R Avenue
12 ft·0 sec·R Avenue
7
Keep slight right at fork onto R Avenue
0.3 mi·45 sec·R Avenue
8
Take the ramp
215 ft·5 sec
9
Merge onto WA 20 SPUR
2.5 mi·3 min·State Route 20 Spur
Use the left lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto WA 20
167 ft·2 sec·State Route 20
11
Continue on WA 20
7.0 mi·9 min·State Route 20
12
Take the exit onto WA 536
5.4 mi·10 min·WA 536
Toward Mount VernonUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto WA 536
0.1 mi·12 sec·West Kincaid Street
14
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
15
Merge onto I 5
43 mi·50 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 182Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, RentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 405
0.9 mi·1 min·I 405
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
26 mi·32 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 2Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue SouthUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·57 sec
Toward WA 167 South: AuburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto WA 167
4.6 mi·5 min·Valley Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward 84th Avenue South, North Central AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Central Avenue North
1.3 mi·3 min·Central Avenue North
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right onto East Gowe Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·East Gowe Street
25
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South
10 ft·0 sec·2nd Avenue South
26
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue South
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2h 5m duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can leave any time of day and still comfortably reach your destination before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Anacortes, as there are no specified stops, and the longest stretch without a break is nearly 43 miles. Planning your departure to avoid peak commute times in the Seattle metropolitan area, which you'll traverse, will make for a smoother arrival in Kent.
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 47.4 miles from Anacortes, WA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.9 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 21 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.4 miles or 1h 4m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kent, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anacortes, 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 Anacortes, WA
This is one driving day of about 94.8 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Anacortes, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 42.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.4 mi from Anacortes, WA
· 1h 4m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 78.5
San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it w...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.84 one way
$39.68 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$20.81
$41.61
premium
$5.77
$21.53
$43.06
diesel
$5.61
$20.93
$41.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.4
0
$9.95
$4.55
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.30
$3.79
EV Truck/SUV
37.9
0
$13.27
$6.07
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Anacortes, WA
Evening
in Anacortes on Friday
Local time
6:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kent, WA
Evening
in Kent on Friday
Local time
6:02 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 5m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Anacortes, WA to Kent, WA covers 94.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 405, State Route 20. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.4 miles from Anacortes, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 94.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 11 miles (WA 536): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Anacortes, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Mount Vernon, Renton and Rainier Avenue South.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park and San Juan Island National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
