Origin
Frederickson, WA
Afternoon in Frederickson on Friday
Local time
1:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Frederickson, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
43.9 mi
71 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frederickson, WA
Mykhailo Petrenko
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 43.9-mile drive from Frederickson to Seattle, Washington, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just over an hour to complete. The route primarily utilizes major highways like I-5 and WA 512, making it a focused, efficient journey. With an estimated fuel cost of around $9, this drive offers a budget-friendly way to connect two points within the Pacific Coast region. Its highway-centric profile means you'll spend most of your time on faster-paced roads, ideal for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. This is a practical option for a quick transition between locations in Washington.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 43.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 43.9-mile route, with 78% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll navigate stretches of I-5 and Valley Freeway, including a continuous 15.8-mile segment on I-5 where you can maintain a steady speed. The character of the drive is defined by its efficiency and directness, rather than winding scenic byways. While the bulk of the journey is on high-speed freeways, be prepared for the typical traffic flow associated with the approach to a major metropolitan area like Seattle.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 15.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Valley Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.9 miles you will encounter 17 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: Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
8
10.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, Yakima
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, Yaki...
7
24 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
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 WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
7
43.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
7
43.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
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 Frederickson, WA to Seattle, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Yakima along the way.
Yakima
10.3 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| Valley Freeway | 13 mi | 16m |
| WA 512 | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Canyon Road East | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| South Kent Des Moines Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| West Willis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 176th Street East | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 15.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frederickson, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
227 ft
·
18 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
104 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn sharp right
461 ft
·
37 sec
4
Turn right onto 176th Street East
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
176th Street East
5
Turn left onto Canyon Road East
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Canyon Road East
Use the left / uturn lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward WA 512 East: Puyallup
7
Merge onto WA 512
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
WA 512
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, Yakima
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto WA 167
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto WA 516
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Willis Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on WA 516
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Kent Des Moines Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
14
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
this road
15
Merge onto I 5
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
17
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
18
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
20
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22 mi from Frederickson, WA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22 miles from Frederickson, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Seattle, WA
The final approach into Seattle, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.19 one way
$18.38 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.64 | $19.27 |
| premium | $5.77 | $9.97 | $19.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.69 | $19.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
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.
Destination
Seattle, WA
Afternoon in Seattle on Friday
Local time
1:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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 1m 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 Frederickson, WA to Seattle, WA covers 43.9 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Valley Freeway, WA 512. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22 miles from Frederickson, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.19 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.9 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Frederickson, WA to Seattle, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Yakima along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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