Origin
Lake Stevens, WA
Night in Lake Stevens on Friday
Local time
11:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Stevens, WA to Auburn, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
54.7 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Stevens, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 54.7-mile drive from Lake Stevens, WA to Auburn, WA is a manageable day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. With 85% of the journey on highways, it’s a largely focused drive. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, making it an economical option for a single-day excursion. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so expect a consistent feel throughout your travels. This route is ideal for a straightforward transit between these two Washington locations without the need for an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 54.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 54.7-mile route, with 85% of your travel occurring on major roadways like I-405 and the Valley Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.4 miles along I-405. While primarily a highway drive, you will also navigate sections of State Route 9. The character of the road is largely about efficient travel, with smooth transitions between these main arteries. You'll spend most of your time on faster-paced roads, facilitating a relatively quick journey.
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 405 is the longest continuous segment at about 20.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and State Route 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.2 miles in.
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 54.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
20.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Bellevue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue
8
41.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue Sou...
7
41.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
6
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward 15th Street Northwest
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 15th Street Northwest
6
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
15th Street Northwest
Turn left onto 15th Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight 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 Lake Stevens, WA to Auburn, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Rainier Avenue South along the way.
Rainier Avenue South
41.4 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 20.4 mi | 25m |
| State Route 9 | 13.7 mi | 21m |
| Valley Freeway | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| State Route 522 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| South Lake Stevens Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| East Lake Stevens Road | 1.4 mi | 4m |
| C Street Northwest | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Lakeshore Drive | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 20.4 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Stevens, WA and Auburn, WA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Lakeshore Drive
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Lakeshore Drive
3
Continue on East Lake Stevens Road
1.4 mi
·
4 min
·
East Lake Stevens Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto South Lake Stevens Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Lake Stevens Road
5
Enter roundabout onto State Route 9
190 ft
·
3 sec
·
State Route 9
6
Continue on State Route 9
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 9
Use the straight lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto WA 9
123 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Route 9
8
Continue on WA 9
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 9
9
Continue on WA 9
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
State Route 9
Use the left / uturn lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward WA 522 West: Seattle
11
Merge onto WA 522
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 522
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn slight left onto I 405
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto WA 167
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward 15th Street Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto 15th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
15th Street Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right onto C Street Northwest
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
C Street Northwest
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.3 mi from Lake Stevens, WA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Lake Stevens, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Auburn, WA
The final approach into Auburn, 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
$11.45 one way
$22.90 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $12.01 | $24.01 |
| premium | $5.77 | $12.42 | $24.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.08 | $24.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Auburn, WA
Night in Auburn on Friday
Local time
11:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 21m 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 Lake Stevens, WA to Auburn, WA covers 54.7 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, State Route 9, Valley Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.3 miles from Lake Stevens, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.45 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 54.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 20.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lake Stevens, WA to Auburn, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Rainier Avenue South along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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