Origin
Covington, WA
Night in Covington on Friday
Local time
10:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Covington, WA to Renton, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great 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 24m
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.
Covington, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Covington and Renton, this 12.9-mile trip is an efficient way to navigate the Pacific Coast region. The drive takes approximately 23 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey that requires no overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via Southeast Kent-Kangley Road and Southeast 256th Street to reach your destination. With fuel costs estimated at around $3, this is an incredibly economical commute. Because the entire route is within the same state, you can expect a straightforward transit without the need for complex travel logistics. It is a practical, no-frills path for anyone needing to get between these two Washington locations quickly.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 12.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating local surface streets, which means your pace will be dictated by traffic signals and local flow rather than open highway stretches. Because the road consists entirely of local roads, you will experience a constant, steady driving environment throughout the 12.9-mile duration. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches here, so stay alert for frequent turns as you transition between Southeast Kent-Kangley Road and local connectors. It is a functional, suburban driving experience that prioritizes connectivity over scenic cruising.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Valley Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 4 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in near Central Avenue North.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.9 miles you will encounter 4 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 5.7 miles (Central Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles (WA 167 / Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
Central Avenue North
Turn right onto Central Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward WA 167 North: Renton, Seattle
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Seattle
5
7.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
WA 167 / Valley Freeway
Merge onto WA 167 / Valley Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
12.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Covington, WA to Renton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
Seattle
6.8 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Southeast 272nd Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Kent Kangley Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Central Avenue North | 1 mi | 2m |
| Canyon Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| Rainier Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Southeast 256th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Smith Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Valley Freeway
— 4.8 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Covington, WA and Renton, WA.
1
Start on WA 516
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast 272nd Street
2
Continue on WA 516
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Southeast Kent-Kangley Road
3
Continue on WA 516
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Kent Kangley Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on WA 516
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Southeast 256th Street
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on WA 516
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Canyon Drive
6
Continue on WA 516
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Smith Street
7
Turn right onto Central Avenue North
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue North
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Seattle
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto WA 167
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on WA 167
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Rainier Avenue South
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right
39 ft
·
2 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.70 one way
$5.40 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $2.83 | $5.66 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.93 | $5.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Renton, WA
Night in Renton on Friday
Local time
10:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°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
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
22m 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 Covington, WA to Renton, WA covers 12.9 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Valley Freeway, Southeast 272nd Street, Southeast Kent Kangley Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 miles from Covington, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.70 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 12.9 miles you will encounter 4 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 5.7 miles (Central Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles (WA 167 / Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Covington, WA to Renton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Seattle along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park.
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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