Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
145.2 mi
234 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
Photo: Ritvars Garoza
The drive from Auburn, WA to Orchards, WA covers 145.2 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on C Street Southwest, WA 18 West, State Route 18 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.47 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.6 miles from Auburn, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 51m drive with frequent turns across 145.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Auburn, WA to Orchards, WA is easy. At 2h 51m 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 Auburn, WA to Orchards, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| C Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 18 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 18 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 205 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Padden Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Padden Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Orchards, WA.
Start on East Main Street
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
Take the ramp right toward WA 18 West
Merge slight left onto State Route 18
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Tacoma
Merge slight left
Keep slight right
Keep slight right to continue on I 205 South: Salem
Take the exit slight right toward Padden Parkway, Northeast Andresen Road
Turn left onto Northeast Padden Parkway
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto Northeast 94th Avenue
Continue on Northeast Covington Road
Turn left onto Northeast Rosewood Avenue
Turn right onto Northeast 109th Avenue
Turn left
Arrive at your 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.6 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orchards, 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 145.2 miles and 2h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.6 mi from Auburn, WA · 1h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 72.6 miles from Auburn, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Orchards, 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 Orchards, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.47 one way
$60.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $31.82 | $63.65 |
| premium | $5.77 | $32.99 | $65.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.26 | $64.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.25 | $6.97 |
| Efficient EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.70 | $5.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.33 | $9.29 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Orchards on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
35°F
Centralia, WA
73 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
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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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