Origin
Lake Stevens, WA
Afternoon in Lake Stevens on Friday
Local time
4:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Stevens, 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
52m
Distance
36.2 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Stevens, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lake Stevens to Seattle is 36.2 miles and takes about 52 minutes via I 5, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Pacific Coast region, making it a straightforward hop between two Washington destinations. Given its highway-focused profile and relatively brief duration, this route is best suited for a single-day trip. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, and the low fuel cost makes it an economical choice for a quick journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 36.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the drive taking place on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.6 miles on I 5, indicating a primarily fast-paced experience. You'll navigate using I 5, State Route 204, and US 2. Expect a driving character that prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours, allowing you to cover the 36.2 miles relatively quickly. The road will largely feel like a typical interstate commute, especially during the substantial portion 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 25 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 27.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 204. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near WA 9 / State Route 9.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 36.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (WA 9 / State Route 9): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
WA 9 / State Route 9
Turn left onto WA 9 / State Route 9
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
7.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Seattle, Everett, Hewitt Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 South: Seattle, Everett, Hewitt Aven...
7
7.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
7
35.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward Union Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
7
35.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Seattle, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Everett along the way.
Everett
7.4 mi in
|
~14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 27.6 mi | 34m |
| State Route 204 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| US 2 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lundeen Parkway | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 20th Street Northeast | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| State Route 9 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Lake View Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 27.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Stevens, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on Main Street
65 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto North Lakeshore Drive
280 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Lakeshore Drive
3
Turn right onto 123rd Avenue Northeast
138 ft
·
12 sec
·
123rd Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left onto 20th Street Northeast
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
20th Street Northeast
5
Continue on Lake View Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake View Drive
6
Enter roundabout onto Lundeen Parkway
99 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lundeen Parkway
7
Continue on Lundeen Parkway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lundeen Parkway
8
Enter roundabout onto Lundeen Parkway
98 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lundeen Parkway
9
Continue on Lundeen Parkway
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lundeen Parkway
10
Turn left onto WA 9
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
State Route 9
Use the left lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto WA 9
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Route 9
12
Continue on WA 9
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Route 9
13
Enter roundabout onto WA 204
37 ft
·
0 sec
·
State Route 204
14
Continue on WA 204
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 204
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 2 West: Everett
16
Merge onto US 2
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 2
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle, Everett, Hewitt Avenue
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Merge onto I 5
28 mi
·
34 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 165B
Toward Union Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on Union Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Union Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
24
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.1 mi from Lake Stevens, WA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 miles from Lake Stevens, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Seattle, WA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Seattle, WA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.58 one way
$15.15 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.95 | $15.89 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.22 | $16.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.99 | $15.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.80 | $1.74 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
4:41 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
52m 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 Seattle, WA covers 36.2 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, State Route 204, US 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.1 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 $7.58 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 is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 36.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (WA 9 / State Route 9): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lake Stevens, WA to Seattle, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Everett 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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