Drive Time
30m
Distance
27.8 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Photo: Josh Hild
The drive from Auburn, WA to Seattle, WA covers 27.8 miles and takes about 30m 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 $5.73 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
13.9 miles from Auburn, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Expect a 30m drive with frequent turns across 27.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| C Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 18 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 18 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 167 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 167 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 516 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Willis Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Seattle, 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 WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
Keep slight right to continue on WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Merge slight left onto Valley Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
Turn left onto West Willis Street
Continue on South Kent Des Moines Road
Take the exit right
Continue straight
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight left toward Seneca Street
Turn left onto Seneca Street
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Turn right onto Madison Street
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 27.8 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.9 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, 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 27.8 miles and 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.9 mi from Auburn, WA · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 13.9 miles from Auburn, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$5.73 one way
$11.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $6.09 | $12.19 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.32 | $12.63 |
| diesel | $5.47 | $5.98 | $11.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.92 | $1.33 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.43 | $1.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Morning in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Seattle on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
38°F
Kent, WA
14 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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