Trip from Federal Way, WA to Bremerton, WA

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

43.7 mi

70 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 58m ★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m

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

Downtown Bremerton, WA, WA

Bremerton, WA

Harrison Reilly

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a straightforward trip across the Pacific Coast region, the 43.7-mile drive from Federal Way to Bremerton is an efficient choice. You can easily complete this journey in about 1 hour and 2 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the route is both accessible and budget-friendly for a quick getaway. You will primarily utilize I-5, Pacific Highway South, and WA 16 to navigate between these two points. Since the drive is short, you do not need to worry about splitting it into multiple days, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.

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

21.8 miles from Federal Way, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 85% of this 43.7-mile route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on major arterial roads, including a significant 28.1-mile stretch on WA 16, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The transition from the urban corridors near Federal Way to the geography surrounding Bremerton is relatively seamless. While you won't encounter technical mountain passes, the reliance on I-5 and WA 16 ensures a consistent pace throughout the drive. It is a functional, streamlined commute that prioritizes speed and directness over complex navigation.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
WA 16 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 16 and I 5. 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 13 significant decision points across 43.7 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 13 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
40.8 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward WA 304 East: Bremerton

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

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 36 Toward WA 304 East: Bremerton

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Federal Way, WA to Bremerton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Tacoma along the way.

Tacoma

2.4 mi in | ~5m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
WA 16 28.1 mi 36m
I 5 8.8 mi 10m
Pacific Highway South 1.8 mi 3m
Charleston Boulevard 1.3 mi 2m
6th Street 1 mi 3m
16th Avenue South 0.5 mi 1m
North Callow Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
State Route 18 <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: WA 16 — 28.1 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Bremerton, 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

28 mi · 36 min · WA 16
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Exit 36 Toward WA 304 East: Bremerton Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Continue on WA 304

1.3 mi · 2 min · Charleston Boulevard
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on WA 304

0.3 mi · 51 sec · North Callow Avenue
16

Turn right onto 6th Street

1.0 mi · 3 min · 6th Street
Use the none lane.
17

Arrive at destination

6th Street

Trip Plan

Because this drive is only about an hour long, you have the advantage of total schedule flexibility. Even with a short travel time, it is wise to monitor traffic levels on the major highways to avoid peak congestion periods. Since you are looking at a $9 fuel cost, filling up before you leave Federal Way will keep your trip simple and uninterrupted. There are no mandatory stops required for this 43.7-mile distance, so feel free to head straight to your destination. Keep a close eye on the WA 16 signage, as that 28.1-mile stretch is the core of your journey and where you will likely spend the majority of your time.

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 21.8 miles from Federal Way, WA, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.1 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 43.7 miles or 1h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 21.8 miles or 30m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bremerton, 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 43.7 miles and 1h 2m.

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 WA 16 for about 28.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.8 mi from Federal Way, WA · 30m into the drive

Downtown Port Orchard, WA, WA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Port Orchard, WA

22 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

Port Orchard, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Port Orchard, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Federal Way, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bremerton, WA

The final approach into Bremerton, 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 Bremerton, 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

$9.17 one way

$18.34 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $9.58 $19.16
premium $5.77 $9.93 $19.86
diesel $5.64 $9.71 $19.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.1 0 $4.59 $2.10
Efficient EV 10.9 0 $3.82 $1.75
EV Truck/SUV 17.5 0 $6.12 $2.80

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 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

Bremerton, WA

Evening in Bremerton 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

1h 2m 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 Bremerton, WA covers 43.7 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are WA 16, I 5, 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 21.8 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 $9.17 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 13 significant decision points across 43.7 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.
On the drive from Federal Way, WA to Bremerton, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Tacoma along the way.

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