Origin
Federal Way, WA
Afternoon in Federal Way on Saturday
Local time
1:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Federal Way, WA to Arlington Heights, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
75 mi
121 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington Heights, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Trip Overview
The drive from Federal Way, WA to Arlington Heights, WA covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, Oso Slide Memorial Highway, Pacific Highway South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.2 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.70 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.
Midpoint
37.5 miles from Federal Way, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 61.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| Oso Slide Memorial Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 530 Northeast | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| 115th Avenue Northeast | 2 mi | 4m |
| WA 530 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 228th Street Northeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 61.2 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Arlington Heights, WA.
1
Start on this road
24 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
7 sec
·
South 312th Street
3
Turn right onto WA 99
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Pacific Highway South
4
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 272nd Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I-5 North: Seattle
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 5
61 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 208
Toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto WA 530
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 530 Northeast
9
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
51 ft
·
0 sec
·
WA 530
10
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
WA 530
11
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
89 ft
·
1 sec
·
WA 530
12
Continue on WA 530
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 530
13
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
96 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Division Street
14
Continue on West Division Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Division Street
15
Enter roundabout onto East Division Street
65 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Division Street
16
Continue on East Division Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Division Street
17
Turn left onto Manhattan Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Manhattan Avenue
18
At end of road, turn right onto WA 530
517 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Burke Avenue
19
Continue on WA 530
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Talcott Street
20
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
State Route 530 Northeast
21
Continue on WA 530
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Oso Slide Memorial Highway
22
Turn right onto 115th Avenue Northeast
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
115th Avenue Northeast
23
Turn left onto 228th Street Northeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
228th Street Northeast
24
Arrive at destination
228th Street Northeast
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.5 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.2 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.5 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington Heights, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Federal Way, WA
This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Federal Way, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 61.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Federal Way, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 64.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 312th Street
Turn left onto South 312th Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
South 272nd Street
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I-5 North: Seattle
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-5 North: Seattle
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington
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 208
Toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.70 one way
$31.39 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $16.46 | $32.92 |
| premium | $5.77 | $17.03 | $34.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.56 | $33.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
| Efficient EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.56 | $3.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30 | 0 | $10.50 | $4.80 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Arlington Heights, WA
Afternoon in Arlington Heights on Saturday
Local time
1:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
57°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
10 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
1h 41m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 20.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
75 mi in 1h 41m, mostly highway — 61.2 mi of that is on I 5.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.2 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Oso Slide Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 312th Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 17 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (South 272nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Arlington Heights, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Darrington along the way.
Darrington
64.9 mi in
|
~1h 23m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 75 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.2 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 312th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (South 272nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arlington Heights, WA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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