Origin
Federal Way, WA
Late night in Federal Way on Wednesday
Local time
2:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Federal Way, WA to Anacortes, WA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 10m
Distance
99.4 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 1m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 29m
10 AM
2h 17m
12 PM
2h 15m
3 PM
2h 18m
5 PM
2h 28m
8 PM
2h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anacortes, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Federal Way, WA to Anacortes, WA covers 99.4 miles and takes about 2h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, State Route 20, Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.80 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
49.7 miles from Federal Way, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 2h 10m highway drive covering 99.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and State Route 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 79 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 23 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 79 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 312th Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 99.4 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: 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese 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
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.
6
95.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
State Route 20 Spur
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 79 mi | 1h 35m |
| State Route 20 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Memorial Highway | 4 mi | 6m |
| State Route 20 Spur | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| R Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Division Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 79 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Anacortes, 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
79 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward WA 536 West: Kincaid Street
8
Turn left onto WA 536
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Kincaid Street
9
Turn right onto WA 536
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 3rd Street
10
Continue on WA 536
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Division Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on WA 536
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Memorial Highway
12
Take the ramp onto WA 536
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
WA 536
13
Merge onto WA 20
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
State Route 20
14
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 20 Spur
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
15
Turn right onto R Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
R Avenue
16
Keep slight left at fork onto R Avenue
90 ft
·
5 sec
·
R Avenue
17
Keep slight right at fork onto R Avenue
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
R Avenue
18
Enter roundabout onto R Avenue
101 ft
·
5 sec
·
R Avenue
19
Continue on R Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
R Avenue
20
Turn left onto 20th Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
20th Street
21
Turn right onto WA 20 SPUR
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Commercial Avenue
22
Turn left onto WA 20 SPUR
11 ft
·
0 sec
·
12th Street
23
Arrive at destination
WA 20 SPUR
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 49.7 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.7 miles or 1h 2m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anacortes, 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 99.4 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Federal Way, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 79 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.7 mi from Federal Way, WA · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 49.7 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 79 miles.
Arriving in Anacortes, WA
The final approach into Anacortes, 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 Anacortes, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.80 one way
$41.61 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $21.82 | $43.63 |
| premium | $5.77 | $22.57 | $45.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.95 | $43.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.44 | $4.77 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.70 | $3.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.92 | $6.36 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
Anacortes, WA
Late night in Anacortes on Wednesday
Local time
2:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
39°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
5 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
2h 10m 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 Anacortes, WA covers 99.4 miles and takes about 2h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, State Route 20, Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.7 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 $20.80 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 is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 99.4 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: 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.
The route from Federal Way, WA to Anacortes, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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