Trip from Federal Way, WA to Artondale, WA

Drive Time

34m

Distance

23.3 mi

38 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 32m ★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Artondale, WA, WA

Artondale, WA

Kelly

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick trip from Federal Way to Artondale, you are looking at an efficient 23.3-mile journey that typically takes about 34 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops along the way. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, it is an economical drive that keeps you within the Pacific Coast region for the duration of the trip. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like I-5, WA-16, and Pacific Highway South. Whether you are heading out for business or a brief visit, this straightforward connection offers a reliable path between these two Washington locations.

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

11.7 miles from Federal Way, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 70% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on high-speed roads. The drive kicks off with an 8.8-mile stretch on I-5, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. As you transition between the interstate and WA-16, you will notice the character of the road shift from major arterial traffic to a more directed highway flow. Because the entire route is relatively short, you won't encounter the fatigue associated with long-distance hauling. You can anticipate a steady, predictable pace that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, secondary backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 8.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 16. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 23.3 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: 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. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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
7
2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Tacoma

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
8
11.6 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the exit toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton

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 132B Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
7
12.2 mi into trip | ~18m in

Keep slight left at fork toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
7
20.2 mi into trip | ~28m in

Take the exit toward Olympic Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 10 Toward Olympic Drive

Towns Along This Route

Between Federal Way, WA and Artondale, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma and Bremerton.

Tacoma

2.4 mi in | ~5m

Bremerton

11.6 mi in | ~17m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 8.8 mi 10m
WA 16 7.5 mi 9m
Pacific Highway South 1.8 mi 3m
56th Street 0.9 mi 1m
Olympic Drive 0.7 mi 1m
Wollochet Drive Northwest 0.7 mi 1m
16th Avenue South 0.5 mi 1m
Fillmore Drive Northwest 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 8.8 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Artondale, 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
Use the none lane.
4

Turn left onto 16th Avenue South

0.5 mi · 1 min · 16th Avenue South
Use the none lane.
5

Turn left onto WA 18

497 ft · 13 sec · State Route 18
Use the left / none lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma Use the none lane.
8

Merge onto I 5

7.5 mi · 9 min · I 5
Use the slight left / none lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 5
Use the none lane.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 132B Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 45 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto WA 16

7.5 mi · 9 min · WA 16
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 51 sec
Exit 10 Toward Olympic Drive Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn left onto Olympic Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · Olympic Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
15

Continue on 56th Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · 56th Street
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on Fillmore Drive Northwest

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Fillmore Drive Northwest
17

At end of road, turn left onto Wollochet Drive Northwest

0.7 mi · 1 min · Wollochet Drive Northwest
18

Turn right onto Artondale Drive Northwest

503 ft · 12 sec · Artondale Drive Northwest
19

Arrive at destination

Artondale Drive Northwest

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 34-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on I-5 is always a smart move. You will not need to plan for any formal stops given the short distance, allowing you to reach your destination in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Federal Way, as your $5 gas budget is based on efficient highway driving. A helpful tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the transition from I-5 to WA-16 in advance, as navigating the interchange is the most critical part of your transit. Enjoy the ease of such a brief, uncomplicated commute.

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 11.7 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.8 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 23.3 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 11.7 miles or 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Artondale, 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 23.3 miles and 34m.

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 8.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 11.7 mi from Federal Way, WA · 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tacoma, WA

12 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

Tacoma, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tacoma, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 11.7 miles from Federal Way, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Artondale, WA

The final approach into Artondale, 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 Artondale, 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

$4.89 one way

$9.78 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $5.11 $10.21
premium $5.77 $5.29 $10.59
diesel $5.64 $5.18 $10.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7 0 $2.45 $1.12
Efficient EV 5.8 0 $2.04 $0.93
EV Truck/SUV 9.3 0 $3.26 $1.49

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Federal Way, WA

Evening in Federal Way on Sunday

Local time

7:43 PM

PDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Artondale, WA

Evening in Artondale on Sunday

Local time

7:43 PM

PDT

Current temp

38°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

34m 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 Artondale, WA covers 23.3 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, WA 16, Pacific Highway South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.7 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 $4.89 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 15 significant decision points across 23.3 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: 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. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Federal Way, WA and Artondale, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma and Bremerton.

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