Origin
Bethel, WA
Afternoon in Bethel on Wednesday
Local time
12:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethel, WA to Seattle, WA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethel, WA
cottonbro studio
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bethel, WA to Seattle, WA covers 21.6 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southeast Sedgwick Road, Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry, Fauntleroy Way Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.5 miles on Southeast Sedgwick Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.52 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
10.8 miles from Bethel, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 5m drive with frequent turns across 21.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southeast Sedgwick Road is the longest continuous segment at about 6.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (Fauntleroy Way Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road
Turn right onto WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
12.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Fauntleroy Way Southwest
At end of road, turn left onto Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
18.6 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
7
21.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
7
21.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Sedgwick Road | 6.5 mi | 12m |
| Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry | 4.8 mi | 29m |
| Fauntleroy Way Southwest | 3.7 mi | 10m |
| West Seattle Bridge | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| I 5 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Bethel Road Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Southworth Ferry | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southeast Sedgwick Road
— 6.5 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethel, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on Southeast Cedar Road
129 ft
·
7 sec
·
Southeast Cedar Road
2
Turn right onto Bethel Road Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bethel Road Southeast
3
Turn right onto WA 160
6.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Southeast Sedgwick Road
Use the right lane.
4
At end of road, turn right onto WA 160
171 ft
·
4 sec
·
Southeast Sedgwick Road
5
Continue on WA 160
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Southworth Ferry
6
Turn straight onto WA 160
4.8 mi
·
29 min
·
Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry
7
Continue on Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal
8
At end of road, turn left onto Fauntleroy Way Southwest
3.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Fauntleroy Way Southwest
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Continue on West Seattle Bridge
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Seattle Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
13
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
14
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
16
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 10.8 miles from Bethel, WA, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.5 miles.
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 21.6 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.8 miles or 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethel, 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 Bethel, WA
This is one driving day of about 21.6 miles and 1h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bethel, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Southeast Sedgwick Road for about 6.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.8 mi from Bethel, WA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 21.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 10.8 miles from Bethel, 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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.52 one way
$9.04 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $4.74 | $9.48 |
| premium | $5.77 | $4.91 | $9.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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 Wednesday
Local time
12:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 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
1h 5m 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 Bethel, WA to Seattle, WA covers 21.6 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southeast Sedgwick Road, Fauntleroy - Southworth Ferry, Fauntleroy Way Southwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.8 miles from Bethel, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.52 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (WA 160 / Southeast Sedgwick Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (Fauntleroy Way Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bethel, WA to Seattle, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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