Drive Time
54m
Distance
39 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Photo: William Jacobs
The drive from Auburn, WA to East Port Orchard, WA covers 39 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on WA 16, I 5, State Route 18 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22 miles on WA 16. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
19.5 miles from Auburn, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
This is a 54m highway drive covering 39 miles, with most of the trip on WA 16 and I 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 22 miles on WA 16.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near C Street Southwest.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 39 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 0.2 miles (C Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Auburn, WA and East Port Orchard, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma, Bremerton and Southworth Ferry.
Tacoma
Bremerton
Southworth Ferry
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WA 16 | 22 mi | 27m |
| I 5 | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| State Route 18 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Bethel Road Southeast | 1 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Sedgwick Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Southeast Lund Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hoover Avenue Southeast | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and East Port Orchard, WA.
Start on East Main Street
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
Take the ramp
Merge onto WA 18
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto WA 16
Take the exit
Turn right onto WA 160
Turn left onto Bethel Road Southeast
Turn right onto Southeast Lund Avenue
Turn left onto Hoover Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto McKinley Place Southeast
Arrive at destination
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.
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 39 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.5 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Port Orchard, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Auburn, 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 Auburn, WA
This is one driving day of about 39 miles and 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.5 mi from Auburn, WA · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.5 miles from Auburn, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into East Port Orchard, 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 East Port Orchard, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$8.19 one way
$16.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $8.55 | $17.10 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.86 | $17.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.66 | $17.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.41 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
3:08 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in East Port Orchard on Saturday
Local time
3:08 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
38°F
Tacoma, WA
20 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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