Origin
John Sam Lake, WA
Late night in John Sam Lake on Monday
Local time
3:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from John Sam Lake, WA to Mountlake Terrace, WA
Drive Time
44m
Distance
30.1 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from John Sam Lake, WA to Mountlake Terrace, WA covers 30.1 miles and takes about 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, 140th Street Northwest, 12th Avenue Northwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.6 miles on I 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.32 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
15.1 miles from John Sam Lake, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 44m highway drive covering 30.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and 140th Street Northwest. The longest continuous stretch is about 22.6 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 17 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 22.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and 140th Street Northwest. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near 140th Street Northwest.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 30.1 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 1.1 miles (140th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 6.1 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
140th Street Northwest
At end of road, turn right onto 140th Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
6.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
28.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward Mountlake Terrace
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 179
Toward Mountlake Terrace
7
29 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
29 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
220th Street Southwest
Turn left onto 220th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 22.6 mi | 28m |
| 140th Street Northwest | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| 12th Avenue Northwest | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 34th Avenue Northeast | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 56th Avenue West | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Quil Ceda Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Stimson Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 220th Street Southwest | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 22.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between John Sam Lake, WA and Mountlake Terrace, WA.
1
Start on this road
69 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 125th Place Northwest
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
125th Place Northwest
3
Turn right onto 12th Avenue Northwest
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
12th Avenue Northwest
4
At end of road, turn right onto 140th Street Northwest
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
140th Street Northwest
5
Continue on Stimson Road
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Stimson Road
6
Turn right onto 34th Avenue Northeast
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
34th Avenue Northeast
7
Enter roundabout onto Quil Ceda Boulevard
94 ft
·
2 sec
·
Quil Ceda Boulevard
8
Continue on Quil Ceda Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Quil Ceda Boulevard
9
Turn left onto 116th Street Northeast
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
116th Street Northeast
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
11
Merge onto I 5
23 mi
·
28 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 179
Toward Mountlake Terrace
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
141 ft
·
10 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn left onto 220th Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
220th Street Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto 56th Avenue West
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
56th Avenue West
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right
72 ft
·
5 sec
17
Arrive at destination
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 15.1 miles from John Sam Lake, WA, or about 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.6 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 30.1 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.1 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mountlake Terrace, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving John Sam Lake, 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 John Sam Lake, WA
This is one driving day of about 30.1 miles and 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from John Sam Lake, 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 22.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.1 mi from John Sam Lake, WA · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from John Sam Lake, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mountlake Terrace, WA
The final approach into Mountlake Terrace, 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 Mountlake Terrace, 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
$6.32 one way
$12.63 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $6.60 | $13.19 |
| premium | $5.77 | $6.84 | $13.68 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.69 | $13.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Mountlake Terrace, WA
Late night in Mountlake Terrace on Monday
Local time
3:47 AM
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
22 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
44m 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 John Sam Lake, WA to Mountlake Terrace, WA covers 30.1 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, 140th Street Northwest, 12th Avenue Northwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.1 miles from John Sam Lake, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.32 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 30.1 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 1.1 miles (140th Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 6.1 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from John Sam Lake, WA to Mountlake Terrace, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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