Origin
College Place, WA
Evening in College Place on Sunday
Local time
6:10 PM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from College Place, WA to Federal Way, WA
Drive Time
5h 16m
Distance
274.6 mi
442 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 3m
★
6 AM
5h 16m
8 AM
5h 43m
10 AM
5h 26m
12 PM
5h 23m
3 PM
5h 27m
5 PM
5h 42m
8 PM
5h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
College Place, WA
david hou
Trip Overview
Traveling from College Place to Federal Way covers 274.6 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is entirely within Washington, you will stay within the Pacific Coast region for the duration of the trip. Plan for a fuel budget of approximately $58 to complete the drive. While it is feasible to tackle this as a one-day trek, it is a significant amount of time on the road, so prepare accordingly. You will rely primarily on US 12, US 97, and I-82 to navigate your way across the state. Whether you are heading west for business or a change of scenery, this route is a straightforward highway-focused drive that connects two distinct parts of the region.
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
137.3 miles from College Place, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 97% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend a good portion of your time on major corridors, including a long, uninterrupted 112.6-mile stretch on US 12. The road's personality is defined by these fast, high-speed segments that prioritize progress over winding, technical paths. Because the route is so heavily focused on highways, you should anticipate a consistent driving experience rather than frequent stops or slow-moving local traffic. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that allows you to cover the 274.6-mile distance with minimal navigation stress.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 112.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US 97. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45.8 miles in near I 182; US 12.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 274.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 45.8 miles (I 182; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 159.5 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
45.8 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
I 182; US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12 toward I 182, US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 182, US 12
7
159.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
|
US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward I 90 West
9
245.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 35m 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,...
9
270.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley Highway
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 South: Puyallup, West Valley High...
8
270.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward West Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward West Valley Highway
Towns Along This Route
Between College Place, WA and Federal Way, WA, road signs point toward Yakima, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.
Yakima
57.6 mi in
|
~1h 8m
|
via US 12
Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn
245.5 mi in
|
~4h 35m
Tacoma
245.5 mi in
|
~4h 35m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 112.6 mi | 2h 5m |
| US 97 | 85.7 mi | 1h 35m |
| I 82 | 31 mi | 33m |
| State Route 18 | 24.2 mi | 31m |
| I 182 | 11.8 mi | 12m |
| Wallula Avenue | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| South Peasley Canyon Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| South 320th Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 112.6 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between College Place, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on East Whitman Drive
61 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Whitman Drive
2
Turn right onto North College Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
North College Avenue
3
Turn left
174 ft
·
7 sec
4
Continue on North College Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North College Avenue
5
Enter roundabout
88 ft
·
2 sec
6
Continue
137 ft
·
6 sec
7
Continue on Wallula Avenue
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Wallula Avenue
8
At end of road, turn left onto Old Highway 12
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Highway 12
9
Turn right onto Spalding Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Spalding Road
10
Turn left onto US 12
23 mi
·
26 min
·
US 12
11
Keep slight right at fork
287 ft
·
3 sec
12
Merge onto US 12
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 12
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 182; US 12
Toward I 182, US 12
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
71 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
15
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 82; US 97
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
86 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
US 97
Toward I 90 West
Use the none lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 25
Toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft
·
13 sec
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Merge onto WA 18
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Snoqualmie Parkway
20
Continue on WA 18
24 mi
·
31 min
·
State Route 18
Use the none lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Toward West Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
At end of road, turn left onto West Valley Highway North
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Valley Highway North
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto South Peasley Canyon Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Peasley Canyon Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Enter roundabout onto South Peasley Canyon Road
67 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Peasley Canyon Road
27
Continue on South Peasley Canyon Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Peasley Canyon Road
Use the left / none lanes.
28
Continue on South 320th Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South 320th Street
Use the none lane.
29
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Pacific Highway South
30
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
31
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a 5-hour and 16-minute drive, aim to depart early in the morning to beat potential congestion as you approach the Federal Way area. You only need to plan for one major stop to keep your schedule on track and stay refreshed throughout the 274.6-mile trek. Given the heavy reliance on US 12, US 97, and I-82, keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longer highway stretches, as service stations may be spaced out. Use your single planned stop to stretch your legs after the longest 112.6-mile segment on US 12 to ensure you remain alert for the final leg of your journey. Having this flexibility allows you to manage the drive comfortably in a single day.
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 137.3 miles from College Place, WA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.6 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.3 miles or 2h 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 4h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Federal Way, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving College Place, 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 College Place, WA
This is one driving day of about 274.6 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from College Place, 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 US 12 for about 112.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.3 mi from College Place, WA · 2h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 137.3 miles from College Place, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 12 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.6 miles.
Arriving in Federal Way, WA
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.
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
$57.63 one way
$115.27 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $60.18 | $120.37 |
| premium | $5.77 | $62.39 | $124.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.01 | $122.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.4 | 1 | $28.83 | $13.18 |
| Efficient EV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.03 | $10.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.8 | 1 | $38.44 | $17.57 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Evening in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
6:10 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
1 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 16m 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 College Place, WA to Federal Way, WA covers 274.6 miles and takes about 5h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, US 97, I 82. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.3 miles from College Place, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.63 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 274.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 45.8 miles (I 182; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 159.5 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between College Place, WA and Federal Way, WA, road signs point toward Yakima, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.
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