Drive Time
4h 37m
Distance
278.1 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
Photo: William Jacobs
The drive from Colfax, WA to Federal Way, WA covers 278.1 miles and takes about 4h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Canyon Street, South Main Street, West Fairview Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
139.1 miles from Colfax, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 37m drive with frequent turns across 278.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Canyon Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Fairview Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Almota Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Colfax Airport Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 18 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| SR 18 west | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Colfax, WA and Federal Way, WA.
Start on the route
Turn right onto East Canyon Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Continue on South Main Street
Turn right onto West Fairview Street
Continue on West Almota Road
Turn right onto Colfax Airport Road
Turn left
Continue on I 90 West: Seattle
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Keep slight left to continue on SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Merge slight right onto Snoqualmie Parkway
Continue on State Route 18
Take the exit slight right toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
Keep slight left to continue on WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley Highway
Keep slight left to continue on West Valley Highway
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Valley Highway North
Turn right onto South Peasley Canyon Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Peasley Canyon Road
Exit the roundabout onto South Peasley Canyon Road
Continue on South 320th Street
Turn right onto Pacific Highway South
Turn right onto South 312th Street
Turn right
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.1 miles or 2h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Federal Way, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Colfax, 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 Colfax, WA
This is one driving day of about 278.1 miles and 4h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 139.1 mi from Colfax, WA · 2h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 139.1 miles from Colfax, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Federal Way, 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 Federal Way, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$57.30 one way
$114.59 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $60.95 | $121.90 |
| premium | $5.77 | $63.19 | $126.37 |
| diesel | $5.47 | $59.86 | $119.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.4 | 1 | $29.20 | $13.35 |
| Efficient EV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.33 | $11.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.2 | 1 | $38.93 | $17.80 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Colfax on Saturday
Local time
4:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
33°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
4:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
34°F
Yakima, WA
139 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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