Origin
North Yelm, WA
Evening in North Yelm on Thursday
Local time
6:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Yelm, WA to Seattle, WA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
64.9 mi
104 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 26m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Yelm, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from North Yelm to Seattle, this 63.6-mile trek is a straightforward journey that fits perfectly into a single day. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 18 minutes behind the wheel, making it an efficient trip for those needing to reach the city without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance. Since both the starting point in North Yelm and the destination of Seattle are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in a familiar geographic corridor throughout the drive. This route is best suited for travelers who prefer a direct connection rather than a multi-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.4 miles from North Yelm, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 64.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. You won't be cruising on high-speed highways, as the route consists entirely of local roads like Ordway Drive Southeast, Wilkenson Road Southeast, and Canal Road Southeast, resulting in 0% highway share. Because the roads are winding and technical, there isn't a long, straight stretch to relax on, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 0 miles on Ordway Drive Southeast. Navigating these local roads requires constant focus compared to a standard highway haul. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience as you transition away from the rural feel of North Yelm toward the urban center of Seattle.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 48.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Yelm Highway Southeast. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.2 miles in near Reservation Road Southeast.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 9.2 miles (Reservation Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12 miles (Old Pacific Highway Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
9.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Reservation Road Southeast
Enter roundabout onto Reservation Road Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
12 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
At end of road, turn right onto Old Pacific Highway Southeast
Navigation decision point
6
32.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
64.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
7
64.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 48.4 mi | 1h |
| Yelm Highway Southeast | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Reservation Road Southeast | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Nisqually Road Southwest | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Old Pacific Highway Southeast | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| WA 510 Alternate | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Ordway Drive Southeast | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Yelm Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 48.4 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Yelm, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on Joyce Court Southeast
345 ft
·
19 sec
·
Joyce Court Southeast
2
Turn right onto Ordway Drive Southeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ordway Drive Southeast
3
Continue on Wilkenson Road Southeast
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilkenson Road Southeast
4
Continue on Canal Road Southeast
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Canal Road Southeast
5
Turn right onto Railway Road Southeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Railway Road Southeast
6
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
1st Street Northeast
7
Turn right onto WA 510
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Yelm Avenue
8
Turn right onto Killion Road Southeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Killion Road Southeast
9
Turn left onto WA 510 Alt
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 510 Alternate
10
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
129 ft
·
2 sec
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
11
Continue on WA 510
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
12
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
13
Continue on WA 510
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
14
Enter roundabout onto Reservation Road Southeast
23 ft
·
0 sec
·
Reservation Road Southeast
15
Continue on Reservation Road Southeast
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Reservation Road Southeast
16
At end of road, turn right onto Old Pacific Highway Southeast
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
17
Continue on Nisqually Road Southwest
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Nisqually Road Southwest
18
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 5 North: Tacoma, Seattle
19
Merge onto I 5
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
22
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
23
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
25
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 18-minute drive with zero planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. You can easily complete the trip in one go, so there is no need to worry about pacing or intermediate rest stops. Given the nature of these local roads, try to avoid peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain a consistent pace through the turns. Keep your $13 fuel budget in mind before you depart North Yelm, as you will want to have a full tank before navigating the winding local segments. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert on Ordway Drive Southeast, as the lack of long straightaways means you should be ready for frequent adjustments to your speed and steering.
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 32.4 miles from North Yelm, WA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.4 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 14 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.4 miles or 52m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Yelm, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Yelm, WA
This is one driving day of about 64.9 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from North Yelm, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 48.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.4 mi from North Yelm, WA · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.4 miles from North Yelm, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Seattle, WA
The final approach into Seattle, 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
$13.58 one way
$27.17 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $14.24 | $28.49 |
| premium | $5.77 | $14.74 | $29.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.33 | $28.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.81 | $3.12 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26 | 0 | $9.09 | $4.15 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Seattle, WA
Evening in Seattle on Thursday
Local time
6:37 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Lakewood, WA
32 mi in
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
4 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 33m 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 North Yelm, WA to Seattle, WA covers 64.9 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Yelm Highway Southeast, Reservation Road Southeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.4 miles from North Yelm, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.58 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 9.2 miles (Reservation Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12 miles (Old Pacific Highway Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from North Yelm, WA to Seattle, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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