Origin
Auburn, WA
Afternoon in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
12:31 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, WA to Tukwila, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
16.1 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Tukwila, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Auburn, WA to Tukwila, WA covers 16.1 miles and takes about 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Valley Freeway, I 405, Interurban Avenue South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.5 miles on Valley Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 11.5 mi | 14m |
| I 405 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Interurban Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| C Street Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 58th Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| State Route 18 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 141st Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Valley Freeway
— 11.5 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Tukwila, WA.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
C Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WA 18 West
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto WA 18
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Route 18
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto WA 167
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 405 South: Sea-Tac, Seattle, I-5
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 405
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 405
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 1
Toward WA 181 South: Tukwila, Tukwila Station, West Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
137 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn left onto Interurban Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interurban Avenue South
13
Turn left onto South 141st Place
445 ft
·
12 sec
·
South 141st Place
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on 58th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
58th Avenue South
15
Turn right onto South 144th Street
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 144th Street
16
Arrive at destination
South 144th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 14.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
C Street Southwest
Turn left onto C Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
8
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
7
13.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Sea-Tac, Seattle, I-5
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 405 South: Sea-Tac, Seattle, I-5
8
14.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward WA 181 South: Tukwila, Tukwila Station, West Valley Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward WA 181 South: Tukwila, Tukwila Station,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.37 one way
$6.74 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.53 | $7.07 |
| premium | $5.77 | $3.66 | $7.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.55 | $7.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.41 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Tukwila, WA
Afternoon in Tukwila on Saturday
Local time
12:31 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°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
20 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
23m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
16.1 mi in 23m, mostly highway — 11.5 mi of that is on Valley Freeway.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.5 mi on Valley Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Valley Freeway and I 405. 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.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 16.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 23m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (C Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburn, WA and Tukwila, WA, road signs point toward Puyallup, Renton, Seattle, Tukwila Station and Valley Highway.
Puyallup
0.9 mi in
|
~1m
Renton
1.1 mi in
|
~2m
Seattle
13.1 mi in
|
~17m
Tukwila Station
14.6 mi in
|
~19m
Valley Highway
14.6 mi in
|
~19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 16.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.5 miles on Valley Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tukwila, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (C Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tukwila, WA before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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