Origin
Federal Way, WA
Evening in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
7:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
1h 12m
Distance
55.8 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marysville, WA
William Jacobs
Connecting Federal Way to Marysville, this 55.8-mile journey is a straightforward transit across the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Plan for a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 12 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of about $12, it is an economical route for commuters or weekend travelers. Because the drive is relatively short and manageable, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Whether you are heading north for business or leisure, you will find this transition between cities efficient and easy to navigate.
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
27.9 miles from Federal Way, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 93% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will rely heavily on I-5, which accounts for the vast majority of your journey, including a single, uninterrupted stretch of 51.7 miles. The route begins with brief local navigation via South 272nd Street and Pacific Highway South before merging onto the interstate. While it lacks the winding character of rural backroads, the consistent highway pace helps you cover the distance quickly. Prepare for a steady, functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical turns.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Pacific Highway South. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WA 99 / Pacific Highway South.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 (WA 99 / Pacific Highway South): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 55.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto WA 99 / Pacific Highway South
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I-5 North: Seattle
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 528 East: Marysville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto WA 528 / 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto WA 529 / State Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 51.7 mi | 1h 4m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 4th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| State Avenue | <0.1 mi | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way, WA and Marysville, WA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto South 312th Street
Turn right onto WA 99
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn right onto WA 528
Turn right onto WA 529
Arrive at destination
Since this 55.8-mile stretch is quite short, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever it suits your plans. However, keep in mind that the heavy reliance on I-5 means traffic patterns can significantly influence your actual travel time, so checking road conditions before you pull out of Federal Way is a smart move. Because the entire trip should take only about 72 minutes, there is no pressing need to schedule formal rest stops unless you prefer to take a break. Your best strategy is to fuel up before you hit the main highway, as this will keep your $12 estimated cost predictable and prevent unnecessary detours. Take advantage of the route's simplicity by keeping your gear packed and ready for a quick, single-day transit.
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.
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 55.8 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.9 miles or 37m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marysville, WA than in the middle of the route.
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 55.8 miles and 1h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.9 mi from Federal Way, WA · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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.
A short stop after about 55.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.9 miles from Federal Way, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Marysville, 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 Marysville, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.71 one way
$23.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $12.23 | $24.46 |
| premium | $5.77 | $12.68 | $25.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.40 | $24.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.86 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
7:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Marysville on Sunday
Local time
7:43 PM
PDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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