Origin
Anacortes, WA
Late night in Anacortes on Wednesday
Local time
4:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anacortes, WA to Seattle, WA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
80.3 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anacortes, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 80.3-mile drive from Anacortes, WA to Seattle, WA takes approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes and is a perfect option for a single-day trip. You'll navigate using local roads like Commercial Avenue, 22nd Street, and R Avenue, with no highway driving involved. Expect a fuel cost of around $17 for this journey. The route has a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than cruising on a straight path. This is a straightforward drive that doesn't require an overnight stop, offering flexibility for when you depart and how you structure your time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Anacortes, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The character of this drive is distinctly 'turn-heavy local.' With 0% highway share, you'll be engaged with city streets and local thoroughfares for the entire 80.3 miles. There isn't a 'longest stretch' noted, suggesting a continuous series of turns and adjustments are part of the experience. This isn't a route for settling into a long, uninterrupted cruise; rather, it demands attention to navigation and local road conditions. You'll be actively managing your direction as you transition between Commercial Avenue, 22nd Street, and R Avenue.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Commercial Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Anacortes, WA to Seattle, WA is easy. At 1h 25m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Anacortes, WA to Seattle, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 22nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| R Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 20 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sharpes Corner | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mount Vernon | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Kincaid Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Commercial Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anacortes, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on 12th Street
10 ft
·
4 sec
·
12th Street
2
Turn right onto Commercial Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Commercial Avenue
3
Turn left onto 22nd Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
22nd Street
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward R Avenue
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
R Avenue
5
Exit the roundabout onto R Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
R Avenue
6
Turn left onto R Avenue
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
R Avenue
7
Keep slight right to continue on R Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
R Avenue
8
Take the ramp left
217 ft
·
6 sec
9
Merge slight right onto State Route 20 Spur
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 20 Spur
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Sharpes Corner
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
Sharpes Corner
11
Exit the rotary onto State Route 20
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
State Route 20
12
Take the exit slight right toward Mount Vernon
5.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Mount Vernon
13
Turn left onto West Kincaid Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
West Kincaid Street
14
Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
15
Merge slight left
60 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward Union Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Union Street
17
Continue on Union Street
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Union Street
18
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
5th Avenue
19
Turn right onto Madison Street
112 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
20
Turn left
30 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 25 minutes, this route offers ample flexibility for when you choose to depart. There are no specific 'stops' recommended, so you can easily pull over as needed or drive straight through. The estimated fuel cost is $17, so ensure you have enough gas before you leave Anacortes. Pay close attention to your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means frequent adjustments are necessary. Keeping an eye on local traffic patterns will be key to a smooth journey into Seattle.
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 40.2 miles from Anacortes, WA, or about 42m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 42m 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 12m
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 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 80.3 miles and 1h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Anacortes, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.2 mi from Anacortes, WA · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from Anacortes, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Seattle, WA
The final approach into Seattle, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Seattle, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.81 one way
$33.61 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $17.62 | $35.25 |
| premium | $5.77 | $18.24 | $36.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.73 | $35.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.43 | $3.85 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.24 | $5.14 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 Wednesday
Local time
4:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°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
2 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
1h 25m 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 Seattle, WA covers 80.3 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Commercial Avenue, 22nd Street, R Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.2 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 $16.81 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.
The drive from Anacortes, WA to Seattle, WA is easy. At 1h 25m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Anacortes, WA to Seattle, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Anacortes, WA to Seattle, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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