Trip from Redmond, WA to Lacey, WA

Drive Time

1h 28m

Distance

67.5 mi

109 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 22m ★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Redmond, WA, WA

Redmond, WA

Harrison Reilly

Downtown Lacey, WA, WA

Lacey, WA

Guilherme Simão

Trip Overview

Spanning 67.5 miles across Western Washington, this trip from Redmond to Lacey is a straightforward transit between two Pacific Coast communities. You can expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your fuel budget for the journey will be around $14, keeping the cost of travel quite manageable. By sticking primarily to the interstate system, you maintain a consistent pace from start to finish. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick visit, this route offers a reliable, no-fuss connection across the region.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

33.8 miles from Redmond, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate a combination of WA 520, I-405, and I-5 to reach your destination. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 45.2-mile stretch on I-5, which serves as the backbone of the drive. Expect a standard interstate experience characterized by steady traffic flow and large-scale infrastructure. Because the route relies so heavily on major thoroughfares, you will find it to be a efficient, utilitarian drive rather than a winding backroad excursion.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 45.2 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

458 ft 14 ft

Total Climb

1,327 ft

Total Descent

1,168 ft

Highest Point

458 ft

~31 mi in

Elevation Range

445 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 67.5 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 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward Northeast 40th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Northeast 40th Street
7
2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward WA 520 West: Seattle

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward WA 520 West: Seattle
6
5.5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward I 405 South: Renton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 405 South: Renton
6
20.7 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward I 5 South: Portland

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 5 South: Portland
6
41.2 mi into trip | ~53m in | I 5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 45.2 mi 56m
I 405 14.8 mi 18m
WA 520 3.5 mi 4m
College Street Southeast 1.1 mi 2m
Leary Way 0.3 mi <1m
Martin Way East 0.1 mi <1m
Northeast 76th Street 0.1 mi <1m
164th Avenue Northeast 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 5 — 45.2 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Redmond, WA and Lacey, WA.

1

Start on WA 202

0.1 mi · 23 sec · 164th Avenue Northeast
2

Enter roundabout onto Northeast 76th Street

5 ft · 0 sec · Northeast 76th Street
3

Continue on Northeast 76th Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Northeast 76th Street
Use the left lane.
4

Turn slight left onto Leary Way

0.3 mi · 57 sec · Leary Way
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward WA 520 West Use the straight / left lanes.
6

Merge onto WA 520

0.7 mi · 53 sec · WA 520
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Toward Northeast 40th Street Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 48 sec
Toward WA 520 West: Seattle Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto WA 520

2.8 mi · 3 min · WA 520
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 405 South: Renton Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 405

15 mi · 18 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 5

20 mi · 25 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 31 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward Martin Way, College Street, Sleater-Kinney Road North
16

Turn right onto Martin Way East

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Martin Way East
17

Turn left onto College Street Southeast

1.0 mi · 2 min · College Street Southeast
18

Continue on College Street Southeast

249 ft · 6 sec · College Street Southeast
19

Arrive at destination

College Street Southeast

Trip Plan

Given the reliance on major interstates like I-5 and I-405, traffic patterns significantly dictate your travel time; try to avoid peak rush hours to ensure you stay closer to that 1-hour and 28-minute estimate. Since the entire trip is under 70 miles, you have the flexibility to power through without needing formal stops unless you prefer a quick break. Keep an eye on regional traffic reports before you pull out of Redmond, as accidents on these heavily used corridors can cause delays. With no mandatory stops required for this distance, you can easily complete the trip in one go, allowing you to maximize your time once you arrive in Lacey.

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 33.8 miles from Redmond, WA, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.2 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 67.5 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 33.8 miles or 44m 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 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lacey, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Redmond, 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 Redmond, WA

This is one driving day of about 67.5 miles and 1h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Redmond, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 45.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.8 mi from Redmond, WA · 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kent, WA

34 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

Centralia, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 67.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Federal Way, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.8 miles from Redmond, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lacey, WA

The final approach into Lacey, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lacey, WA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.17 one way

$28.33 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $14.79 $29.59
premium $5.77 $15.34 $30.67
diesel $5.64 $15.00 $29.99

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: 23.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.3 0 $7.09 $3.24
Efficient EV 16.9 0 $5.91 $2.70
EV Truck/SUV 27 0 $9.45 $4.32

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Redmond, WA

Evening in Redmond on Sunday

Local time

8:53 PM

PDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lacey, WA

Evening in Lacey on Sunday

Local time

8:53 PM

PDT

Current temp

36°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

16 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 28m 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 Redmond, WA to Lacey, WA covers 67.5 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, I 405, WA 520. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.8 miles from Redmond, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.17 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 demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 67.5 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 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Redmond, WA to Lacey, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 14 ft to 458 ft elevation with about 1,327 ft of total climbing.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Lacey, WA to Redmond, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

66.8 mi 1h 27m

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