Origin
La Center, WA
Late night in La Center on Wednesday
Local time
2:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Center, WA to Kent, WA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
138.9 mi
224 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Center, WA
Julio Lopez
Trip Overview
The drive from La Center, WA to Kent, WA covers 138.9 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 4th Street, Northwest Pacific Highway, Northwest La Center Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.07 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
69.5 miles from La Center, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 18m drive with frequent turns across 138.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 4th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from La Center, WA to Kent, WA is easy. At 2h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from La Center, WA to Kent, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest Pacific Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest La Center Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 18 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 18 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WA 167 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East 4th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Center, WA and Kent, WA.
1
Start on the route
59 ft
·
10 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto East 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East 4th Street
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Northwest Pacific Highway
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
Northwest Pacific Highway
4
Exit the roundabout onto Northwest Pacific Highway
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Northwest Pacific Highway
5
Continue on Northwest La Center Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest La Center Road
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward I 5 North: Seattle
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
I 5 North: Seattle
7
Exit the roundabout onto I 5 North: Seattle
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 5 North: Seattle
8
Merge slight left
116 mi
·
2 hr 11 min
9
Keep slight right
8.2 mi
·
10 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
11
Merge slight left onto State Route 18
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 18
12
Take the exit slight right toward WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
13
Keep slight right to continue on WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 167 North: Kent, Renton
14
Merge slight left onto Valley Freeway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Valley Freeway
15
Take the exit slight right toward WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
WA 516: Des Moines, Willis Street
16
Turn right onto West Willis Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Willis Street
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 4th Avenue South
240 ft
·
5 sec
·
4th Avenue South
18
Exit the roundabout onto 4th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
4th Avenue South
19
Turn right onto West Gowe Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Gowe Street
20
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue South
10 ft
·
2nd Avenue South
21
Arrive at your 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 69.5 miles from La Center, WA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.5 miles or 1h 9m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kent, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving La Center, 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 La Center, WA
This is one driving day of about 138.9 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from La Center, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.5 mi from La Center, WA · 1h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.5 miles from La Center, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kent, WA
The final approach into Kent, 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 Kent, 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
$29.07 one way
$58.14 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $30.49 | $60.97 |
| premium | $5.77 | $31.54 | $63.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.67 | $61.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.58 | $6.67 |
| Efficient EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.15 | $5.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.45 | $8.89 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Kent, WA
Late night in Kent on Wednesday
Local time
2:27 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
18 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 18m 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 La Center, WA to Kent, WA covers 138.9 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 4th Street, Northwest Pacific Highway, Northwest La Center Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.5 miles from La Center, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.07 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.
The drive from La Center, WA to Kent, WA is easy. At 2h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from La Center, WA to Kent, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from La Center, WA to Kent, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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