The drive from Kent, WA to Ocean Shores, WA covers 119.4 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, WA 8, Olympic Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.8 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.99 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.7 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
36.8 mi
45m
WA 8
21 mi
26m
Olympic Highway
19 mi
25m
State Route 109
14.6 mi
21m
US 101
5.5 mi
6m
Valley Freeway
4.4 mi
5m
Point Brown Avenue Northeast
2.3 mi
5m
Sumner Avenue
2.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 36.8 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Ocean Shores, WA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue South
10 ft·4 sec·2nd Avenue South
2
Turn right onto West Gowe Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·West Gowe Street
3
Turn left onto 4th Avenue South
0.2 mi·23 sec·4th Avenue South
4
Turn slight right
182 ft·6 sec
5
Turn straight onto WA 516
0.4 mi·53 sec·West Willis Street
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward WA 167 South: AuburnUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto WA 167
4.4 mi·5 min·Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward WA 18 West: Federal WayUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto WA 18
1.5 mi·1 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5: Seattle, TacomaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, TacomaUse the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
13
Merge onto I 5
7.2 mi·9 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
30 mi·36 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·34 sec
Toward US 101: Aberdeen, Port Angeles
16
Continue on US 101
5.5 mi·6 min·US 101
17
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 8
21 mi·26 min·WA 8
18
Continue on US 12
19 mi·25 min·Olympic Highway
19
Continue on US 12
1.6 mi·3 min·East Wishkah Street
20
Turn slight right onto Fuller Way
397 ft·11 sec·Fuller Way
21
Enter roundabout onto East Market Street
174 ft·4 sec·East Market Street
22
Continue on East Market Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Market Street
23
Turn right onto US 101
0.4 mi·59 sec·North Alder Street
24
Turn slight left onto US 101
2.1 mi·5 min·Sumner Avenue
25
Continue on US 101
0.5 mi·1 min·Riverside Avenue
26
Turn right onto US 101
0.1 mi·24 sec·Levee Street
27
Turn left onto WA 109
1.5 mi·3 min·Emerson Avenue
Toward Ocean Shores, Taholah
28
Continue on WA 109
15 mi·21 min·State Route 109
29
Turn left onto WA 115
1.9 mi·3 min·State Route 115
30
Continue on WA 115
0.3 mi·52 sec·Damon Road
31
Turn left onto Point Brown Avenue Northeast
0.7 mi·1 min·Point Brown Avenue Northeast
32
Enter roundabout onto Point Brown Avenue Northeast
146 ft·4 sec·Point Brown Avenue Northeast
33
Continue on Point Brown Avenue Northeast
1.6 mi·3 min·Point Brown Avenue Northeast
34
Turn left onto Ocean Lake Way Northeast
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ocean Lake Way Northeast
35
Turn right onto Canal Drive Southeast
0.4 mi·1 min·Canal Drive Southeast
36
Keep slight right at fork onto Canal Drive Southeast
0.3 mi·1 min·Canal Drive Southeast
37
Arrive at destination
Canal Drive Southeast
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.7 miles from Kent, WA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.8 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 26 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.7 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ocean Shores, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kent, 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 Kent, WA
This is one driving day of about 119.4 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Kent, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 36.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 16.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn left toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
6
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 West: Federal Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 18 West: Federal Way
7
7.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 5: 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: Seattle, Tacoma
8
8.5 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway Sou...
6
16.6 mi into trip|~24m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.99 one way
$49.98 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$26.21
$52.41
premium
$5.77
$27.11
$54.23
diesel
$5.61
$26.36
$52.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.8
0
$12.54
$5.73
Efficient EV
29.9
0
$10.45
$4.78
EV Truck/SUV
47.8
0
$16.72
$7.64
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Kent, WA
Afternoon
in Kent on Saturday
Local time
12:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ocean Shores, WA
Afternoon
in Ocean Shores on Saturday
Local time
12:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 7 to 10 mph5% chanceLive 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
3 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
2h 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
119.4 mi in 2h 50m, mostly highway — 36.8 mi of that is on I 5.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.8 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 119.4 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kent, WA and Ocean Shores, WA, road signs point toward Tacoma, Port Angeles and Taholah.
Tacoma
7.9 mi in|~12m
Port Angeles
46.1 mi in|~1h 1m
Taholah
97.7 mi in|~2h 13m|via WA 109
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 119.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.8 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ocean Shores, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ocean Shores, WA before heading back.
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.
