The drive from Federal Way, WA to Amboy, WA covers 140.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Northeast Cedar Creek Road, Northwest Hayes Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.7 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.3 miles from Federal Way, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 140.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 51m highway drive covering 140.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and Northeast Cedar Creek Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 119.7 miles on I 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 119.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Northeast Cedar Creek Road. 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 South 312th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 140.5 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 (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South 312th Street
Turn left onto South 312th Street
Navigation decision point
8
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma
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 I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma
5
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
5
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
10.3 mi into trip|~15m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 Federal Way, WA to Amboy, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Cougar along the way.
Cougar
122.6 mi in|~2h 22m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
119.7 mi
2h 16m
Northeast Cedar Creek Road
10.9 mi
16m
Northwest Hayes Road
4 mi
6m
Pacific Highway South
1.8 mi
3m
Northeast Hayes Road
1.3 mi
1m
Pacific Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
16th Avenue South
0.5 mi
1m
Northeast 221st Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 119.7 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Amboy, WA.
1
Start on this road
24 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South 312th Street
158 ft·5 sec·South 312th Street
3
Turn left onto WA 99
1.8 mi·3 min·Pacific Highway South
4
Turn left onto 16th Avenue South
0.5 mi·1 min·16th Avenue South
5
Turn left onto WA 18
497 ft·13 sec·State Route 18
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, TacomaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
8
Merge onto I 5
7.5 mi·9 min·I 5
Use the slight left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
112 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward WA 503 East: Woodland, Cougar
11
Continue on Pacific Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Pacific Avenue
12
Continue on Pacific Avenue
175 ft·13 sec·Pacific Avenue
13
Turn left onto WA 503
0.1 mi·23 sec·Lewis River Road
14
Turn right onto East CC Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·East CC Street
15
Turn straight onto Northwest Hayes Road
4.0 mi·6 min·Northwest Hayes Road
16
Continue on Northeast Hayes Road
1.3 mi·1 min·Northeast Hayes Road
17
Continue on Northeast Cedar Creek Road
11 mi·16 min·Northeast Cedar Creek Road
18
Turn right onto Northeast 221st Avenue
0.5 mi·46 sec·Northeast 221st Avenue
19
Turn left onto Northeast Amboy Road
80 ft·1 sec·Northeast Amboy Road
20
Arrive at destination
Northeast Amboy Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.3 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.7 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amboy, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Federal Way, 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 Federal Way, WA
This is one driving day of about 140.5 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Federal Way, 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 5 for about 119.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.3 mi from Federal Way, WA
· 1h 23m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.95 one way
$57.89 round trip
$5.23/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.57
$30.79
$61.59
premium
$5.77
$31.92
$63.84
diesel
$5.47
$30.24
$60.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.75
$6.74
Efficient EV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
EV Truck/SUV
56.2
0
$19.67
$8.99
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Federal Way, WA
Afternoon
in Federal Way on Friday
Local time
2:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Amboy, WA
Afternoon
in Amboy on Friday
Local time
2:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°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
11 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
2h 51m 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 Federal Way, WA to Amboy, WA covers 140.5 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Northeast Cedar Creek Road, Northwest Hayes Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.3 miles from Federal Way, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.95 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 140.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Federal Way, WA to Amboy, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Cougar 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
