Trip from Colfax, WA to Kent, WA

Drive Time

5h 31m

Distance

269.6 mi

434 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$57

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

5h 18m ★

6 AM

5h 32m

8 AM

5h 59m

10 AM

5h 41m

12 PM

5h 38m

3 PM

5h 42m

5 PM

5h 57m

8 PM

5h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Colfax, WA

Abraham Castro

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Colfax to Kent, you are looking at a 269.6-mile journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 31 minutes. This route is designed for efficiency, relying heavily on WA 26, I-90, and State Route 18. Because it is a highway-focused drive, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $57 for fuel to cover the distance across the state. While it is a straightforward transit, keep in mind that you are moving across Washington, so traffic patterns can shift significantly as you approach the more populated regions near your destination.

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

134.8 miles from Colfax, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a trip dominated by high-speed transit, as 96% of the route is comprised of highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on WA 26, which features a long, 129.3-mile stretch that serves as the backbone of your journey. The road character shifts from the open stretches of the interior to the busier, high-traffic corridors of the I-90 and State Route 18. While the drive is focused on getting you to your destination quickly, the transition between these different road types keeps the experience from feeling entirely static.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

WA 26 is the longest continuous segment at about 129.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 26 and I 90. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WA 272 / East Canyon Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 269.6 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (WA 272 / East Canyon Street): Navigation decision point; at 246.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 247 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | WA 272 / East Canyon Street

Turn right onto WA 272 / East Canyon Street

Navigation decision point

246.8 mi into trip | ~4h 57m in

Take the exit toward WA 18 West: Auburn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 25 Toward WA 18 West: Auburn

247 mi into trip | ~4h 57m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / left / right lanes. Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn,...

263.2 mi into trip | ~5h 18m in

Take the exit toward WA 516: South East 272nd Street, Covington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward WA 516: South East 272nd Street, Covingt...

269.1 mi into trip | ~5h 30m in | East Titus Street

Turn left onto East Titus Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Colfax, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.

Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn

247 mi in | ~4h 57m

Tacoma

247 mi in | ~4h 57m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
WA 26	129.3 mi	2h 44m
I 90	112.3 mi	2h 2m
State Route 18	15.8 mi	20m
Colfax Airport Road	3 mi	4m
Southeast 272nd Street	2 mi	3m
Southeast Kent Kangley Road	1.8 mi	3m
Canyon Drive	1 mi	1m
West Fairview Street	0.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: WA 26 — 129.3 mi, about 2h 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colfax, WA and Kent, WA.

Start on this road

98 ft · 9 sec · this road

Turn right onto WA 272

138 ft · 12 sec · East Canyon Street

Turn left onto US 195

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Continue on South Main Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · South Main Street

Turn right onto West Fairview Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Fairview Street

Continue on West Almota Road

0.2 mi · 30 sec · West Almota Road

Turn right onto Colfax Airport Road

3.0 mi · 4 min · Colfax Airport Road

Turn left onto WA 26

129 mi · 2 hr 44 min · WA 26

Continue on this road

0.7 mi · 1 min · this road

Toward I 90 West: Seattle

Merge onto I 90

112 mi · 2 hr 2 min · I 90

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 25 Toward WA 18 West: Auburn Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

448 ft · 13 sec

Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Merge onto WA 18

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Snoqualmie Parkway

Continue on WA 18

16 mi · 20 min · State Route 18

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward WA 516: South East 272nd Street, Covington Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto WA 516

2.0 mi · 3 min · Southeast 272nd Street

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Continue on WA 516

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Southeast Kent-Kangley Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on WA 516

1.8 mi · 3 min · Southeast Kent Kangley Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on WA 516

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Southeast 256th Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on WA 516

1.0 mi · 1 min · Canyon Drive

Use the none lane.

Continue on WA 516

0.1 mi · 20 sec · East Smith Street

Turn left onto East Titus Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · East Titus Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on East Gowe Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · East Gowe Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South

10 ft · 0 sec · 2nd Avenue South

Arrive at destination

2nd Avenue South

Trip Plan

To keep your 5-hour and 31-minute drive comfortable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the longest uninterrupted segment is 129.3 miles, try to time your break right after completing that portion to avoid driver fatigue. Checking traffic reports before you merge onto I-90 is a smart move, as congestion can impact your travel time significantly. Because the route is a single-day commitment, leaving early in the morning offers the most flexibility for your arrival. Always keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that long initial stretch on WA 26, as service station availability can vary.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 134.8 miles from Colfax, WA, or about 2h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.3 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 80 miles or 1h 44m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 134.8 miles or 2h 54m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kent, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

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 269.6 miles and 5h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colfax, WA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on WA 26 for about 129.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 134.8 mi from Colfax, WA · 2h 54m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Yakima, WA

135 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

College Place, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yakima, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.8 miles from Colfax, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before WA 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.3 miles.

Arriving in Kent, WA

The final approach into Kent, 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 Kent, WA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$56.58 one way

$113.17 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.57	$59.09	$118.18
premium	$5.77	$61.25	$122.51
diesel	$5.64	$59.90	$119.79

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: 94.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80.9	0	$28.31	$12.94
Efficient EV	67.4	0	$23.59	$10.78
EV Truck/SUV	107.8	1	$37.74	$17.25

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Colfax, WA

Evening in Colfax on Sunday

Local time

7:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

33°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kent, WA

Evening in Kent on Sunday

Local time

7:45 PM

PDT

Current temp

38°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

5 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

5h 31m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Colfax, WA to Kent, WA covers 269.6 miles and takes about 5h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are WA 26, I 90, State Route 18. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 134.8 miles from Colfax, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.58 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Colfax, WA and Kent, WA, road signs point toward Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.

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Return Trip

Kent, WA to Colfax, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

269.1 mi 5h 30m

Explore more options from Colfax, WA or browse trips ending in Kent, WA.

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Trip from Colfax, WA to Kent, WA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Kent, WA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Colfax, WA

Kent, WA

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 31m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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