Origin
Arlington, WA
Afternoon in Arlington on Friday
Local time
4:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arlington, WA to Seattle, WA is 47.4 miles and takes about 1h 2m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region of Washington state. Expect a primarily highway-focused experience, making it an efficient option for commuting or a quick trip. The relatively short distance and predictable duration mean you can easily fit this into a single day, whether for business or leisure. Consider this route for its simplicity and directness.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This trip is predominantly on the highway, with 98% of the drive taking place on major roads like I 5 and WA 530. You'll experience a consistent, fast-paced journey for the most part. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 42.5 miles on I 5, offering a solid period of steady driving. While the main roads are the focus, the route does incorporate segments of 5th Avenue, hinting at a transition into more urban environments as you approach your destination. Overall, it's a highway-centric experience designed for 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 17 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 42.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 530. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Division Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Division Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.6 miles (WA 530): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Division Street
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
WA 530
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Seattle
Navigation decision point
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
7
46.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward Union Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
7
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 42.5 mi | 52m |
| WA 530 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Union Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Division Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Division Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 42.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on East Division Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East Division Street
3
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
78 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Division Street
4
Continue on West Division Street
345 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Division Street
5
Continue on WA 530
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 530
6
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
42 ft
·
0 sec
·
WA 530
7
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
WA 530
8
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
58 ft
·
1 sec
·
WA 530
9
Continue on WA 530
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
WA 530
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
11
Merge onto I 5
42 mi
·
52 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on Union Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Union Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
16
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.7 mi from Arlington, WA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Arlington, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.92 one way
$19.84 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $10.40 | $20.81 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.76 | $21.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Afternoon in Seattle on Friday
Local time
4:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
9 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
1h 2m 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 Arlington, WA to Seattle, WA covers 47.4 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, WA 530, 5th Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 miles from Arlington, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.92 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 straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Division Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.6 miles (WA 530): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Arlington, WA to Seattle, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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