The drive from Fairwood, WA to Seattle, WA covers 288.4 miles and takes about 5h 28m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, North Division Street, US 2 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 275.1 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.36 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
144.2 miles from Fairwood, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 288.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 28m highway drive covering 288.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and North Division Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 275.1 miles on I 90.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 275.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,427 ft179 ft
Total Climb
2,571 ft
Total Descent
4,205 ft
Highest Point
2,427 ft
~20.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,249 ft
Notable High Points
2,359 ft at ~164.8 miles+785 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and North Division Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 395 / North Division Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 288.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 (US 395 / North Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.6 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 287 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|US 395 / North Division Street
Turn right onto US 395 / North Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
287 mi into trip|~5h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison Street
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.
Exit 2C
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, J...
6
287.8 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, Madison Street, Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, M...
8
287.9 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
275.1 mi
5h
North Division Street
7.6 mi
16m
US 2
3 mi
3m
West Hastings Road
0.6 mi
1m
North Browne Street
0.5 mi
1m
Madison Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West Bellwood Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 275.1 mi, about 5h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairwood, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
379 ft·29 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto West Bellwood Drive
0.1 mi·31 sec·West Bellwood Drive
3
Turn right onto West Hastings Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Hastings Road
4
Turn right onto US 395
7.6 mi·16 min·North Division Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 2; US 395
0.5 mi·1 min·North Browne Street
6
Take the ramp onto US 2; US 395
3.0 mi·3 min·US 2; US 395
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; US 395
57 mi·1 hr·I 90; US 395
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
218 mi·3 hr 59 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 2CToward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, Madison Street, Convention Center
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward Madison Street, Convention PlaceUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Madison Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left
31 ft·2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 144.2 miles from Fairwood, WA, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 275.1 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 63 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.2 miles or 2h 48m 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 Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairwood, 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 Fairwood, WA
This is one driving day of about 288.4 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Fairwood, 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 I 90 for about 275.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144.2 mi from Fairwood, WA
· 2h 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 288.4
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.5
1
$30.28
$13.84
Efficient EV
72.1
0
$25.23
$11.54
EV Truck/SUV
115.4
1
$40.38
$18.46
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fairwood, WA
Morning
in Fairwood on Friday
Local time
11:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Seattle, WA
Morning
in Seattle on Friday
Local time
11:33 AM
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
4 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 28m 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 Fairwood, WA to Seattle, WA covers 288.4 miles and takes about 5h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, North Division Street, US 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144.2 miles from Fairwood, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $60.36 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 288.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 (US 395 / North Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.6 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 287 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Fairwood, WA to Seattle, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
