Origin
Mukilteo, WA
Night in Mukilteo on Thursday
Local time
9:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mukilteo, WA to Auburn, WA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
49.1 mi
79 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mukilteo, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 49.1-mile drive from Mukilteo, WA to Auburn, WA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 8 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $10, it's an economical option for a quick journey within the Pacific Coast region. The route primarily uses major freeways like I-405 and the Valley Freeway, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You'll find this drive to be efficient, with no overnight stops necessary, and it's well-suited for those looking to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 49.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 76% of the journey taking place on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 27.2 miles on I-405, offering a consistent pace. The route utilizes Mukilteo Speedway and the Valley Freeway, interspersed with the main interstate. While predominantly highway, these roads are designed for efficient travel, so prepare for a driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 27.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and Valley Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 miles in near I 405.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 10.1 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
10.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.9 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
36.3 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
47.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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 Mukilteo, WA to Auburn, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Rainier Avenue South along the way.
Rainier Avenue South
35.9 mi in
|
~48m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 27.2 mi | 33m |
| Valley Freeway | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| Mukilteo Speedway | 7.5 mi | 13m |
| C Street Northwest | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Paine Field Boulevard | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| 15th Street Northwest | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 84th Street Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 27.2 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mukilteo, WA and Auburn, WA.
1
Start on WA 525
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Mukilteo Speedway
2
Turn left onto WA 526
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
84th Street Southwest
3
Turn right onto WA 525 Spur
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Paine Field Boulevard
4
Turn slight left onto WA 525
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Mukilteo Speedway
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on I 405
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 405
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
26 mi
·
32 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn, Rainier Avenue South
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Auburn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto WA 167
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward 15th Street Northwest
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto 15th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
15th Street Northwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto C Street Northwest
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
C Street Northwest
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.6 mi from Mukilteo, WA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Mukilteo, 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
$10.28 one way
$20.55 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $10.78 | $21.55 |
| premium | $5.77 | $11.15 | $22.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Thursday
Local time
9:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
SSW 5 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
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
7 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
1h 8m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mukilteo, WA to Auburn, WA covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, Valley Freeway, Mukilteo Speedway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.6 miles from Mukilteo, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.28 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 49.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 10.1 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Mukilteo, WA to Auburn, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Rainier Avenue South along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park.
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