This 120.7-mile journey from Longview Heights to Renton, Washington, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 34 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on I-5, which accounts for 93% of the drive, offering a straightforward highway experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, this route is budget-friendly for a day excursion. The drive stays within the Pacific Coast region, meaning you won't be crossing major geographical divides. Plan for just one stop along the way to break up the drive, keeping your travel time efficient.
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
60.4 miles from Longview Heights, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 120.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with a substantial 93% of the drive utilizing major highways like I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 111.1 miles on I-5, allowing for consistent progress. While the majority is high-speed interstate, you will also encounter segments on Westside Highway and Columbia Heights Road, which may offer a slight change of pace. This route is designed for efficient travel, prioritizing directness over winding scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 111.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Westside Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 116.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 120.7 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 116.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
116.9 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue
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.
Exit 154A-B
Toward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma...
9
117 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 154B
Toward I 405 North: Renton, Bellevue
8
118.7 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
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.
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
8
119.1 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Renton, Rainier Avenue South
9
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue Sou...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
111.1 mi
2h 9m
Westside Highway
1.6 mi
3m
Columbia Heights Road
1.6 mi
5m
Nevada Drive
1.4 mi
5m
I 405
1.3 mi
1m
Rainier Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
Lexington Bridge Drive
0.4 mi
1m
Valley Freeway
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 111.1 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longview Heights, WA and Renton, WA.
1
Start on this road
29 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Crestmont Avenue
321 ft·15 sec·Crestmont Avenue
3
Turn left onto Alpine Way
283 ft·18 sec·Alpine Way
4
Turn left onto Cedar Gates Road
508 ft·23 sec·Cedar Gates Road
5
Turn right onto Laulainen Road
523 ft·24 sec·Laulainen Road
6
Turn left onto Gates Road
0.1 mi·35 sec·Gates Road
7
Turn right onto Columbia Heights Road
1.6 mi·5 min·Columbia Heights Road
8
Turn left onto Nevada Drive
1.4 mi·5 min·Nevada Drive
9
At end of road, turn left onto WA 411
1.6 mi·3 min·Westside Highway
10
Turn right onto Lexington Bridge Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Lexington Bridge Drive
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
12
Merge onto I 5
90 mi·1 hr 43 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
21 mi·25 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
448 ft·10 sec
Exit 154A-BToward WA 518 West, I 405 North: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, BellevueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 154BToward I 405 North: Renton, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 405
1.3 mi·1 min·I 405
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·30 sec
Exit 2Toward WA 167 South: Renton, AuburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward Renton, Rainier Avenue SouthUse the straight lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·42 sec
Toward WA 167 North: Renton, Rainier Avenue SouthUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto WA 167
0.2 mi·22 sec·Valley Freeway
21
Continue on WA 167
0.9 mi·2 min·Rainier Avenue South
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right
39 ft·2 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 34-minute duration, departing in the morning or mid-afternoon will help you avoid peak traffic congestion, especially as you approach the Seattle metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop, consider planning it strategically around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The longest stretch on I-5 means you can cover significant ground efficiently, but be mindful of potential traffic slowdowns as you near Renton. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $25 estimate is based on the total mileage, and filling up before the longest stretch on I-5 is advisable.
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 60.4 miles from Longview Heights, WA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.1 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 27 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.4 miles or 1h 20m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Renton, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Longview Heights, 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 Longview Heights, WA
This is one driving day of about 120.7 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Longview Heights, 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 111.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.4 mi from Longview Heights, WA
· 1h 20m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 120.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.26 one way
$50.52 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$26.49
$52.98
premium
$5.77
$27.41
$54.82
diesel
$5.61
$26.65
$53.30
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: 42.2 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
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
Efficient EV
30.2
0
$10.56
$4.83
EV Truck/SUV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.72
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 15, 2026
Origin
Longview Heights, WA
Afternoon
in Longview Heights on Friday
Local time
2:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Renton, WA
Afternoon
in Renton on Friday
Local time
2:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°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
1 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
2h 34m 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 Longview Heights, WA to Renton, WA covers 120.7 miles and takes about 2h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Westside Highway, Columbia Heights Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.4 miles from Longview Heights, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.26 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 120.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 116.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Longview Heights, WA to Renton, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park.
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.
