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Trip from Renton, WA to Birch Bay, WA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 28m

Distance

120.1 mi

193 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 19m ★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m

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

Downtown Birch Bay, WA, WA

Birch Bay, WA

Veronika V

Trip Overview

The drive from Renton, WA to Birch Bay, WA covers 120.1 miles and takes about 2h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Rainier Avenue South, Airport Way, Logan Avenue South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.14 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

60 miles from Renton, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 120.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 28m drive with frequent turns across 120.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rainier Avenue South is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Renton, WA to Birch Bay, WA is easy. At 2h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Renton, WA to Birch Bay, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Rainier Avenue South
Airport Way
Logan Avenue South
North 3rd Street
Sunset Boulevard North
I 405 North
I 5 North
Birch Bay

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Rainier Avenue South — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Birch Bay, WA.

1

Start on the route

62 ft · 5 sec · the route
2

Turn left

72 ft · 8 sec
3

Turn left

98 ft · 9 sec
4

Turn right onto Rainier Avenue South

518 ft · 13 sec · Rainier Avenue South
5

Turn right onto Airport Way

0.4 mi · 1 min · Airport Way
6

Continue on Logan Avenue South

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Logan Avenue South
7

Turn right onto North 3rd Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North 3rd Street
8

Turn left onto Sunset Boulevard North

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Sunset Boulevard North
9

Keep slight right to continue on Sunset Boulevard North

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Sunset Boulevard North
10

Take the ramp slight left toward I 405 North, WA 900 East

15 mi · 19 min · I 405 North, WA 900 East
11

Keep slight right

8.4 mi · 10 min
12

Keep slight right

1.9 mi · 2 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia

0.5 mi · 49 sec · I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia
14

Merge slight left

87 mi · 1 hr 41 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward Birch Bay, Lynden

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Birch Bay, Lynden
16

Turn left onto Birch Bay Lynden Road

3.0 mi · 4 min · Birch Bay Lynden Road
17

Turn left onto Blaine Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Blaine Road
18

Turn right onto Alderson Road

0.8 mi · 2 min · Alderson Road
19

Turn right

46 ft · 3 sec
20

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 60 miles from Renton, WA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.

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 26 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 60 miles or 1h 14m 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 1m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Renton, 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 Renton, WA

This is one driving day of about 120.1 miles and 2h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Renton, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 60 mi from Renton, WA · 1h 14m into the drive

city in Washington, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marysville, WA

60 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

Bellevue, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marysville, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60 miles from Renton, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Birch Bay, WA

The final approach into Birch Bay, 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 Birch Bay, 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

$25.14 one way

$50.27 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $26.36 $52.72
premium $5.77 $27.27 $54.55
diesel $5.61 $26.52 $53.03

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 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 0 $12.61 $5.76
Efficient EV 30 0 $10.51 $4.80
EV Truck/SUV 48 0 $16.81 $7.69

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

Renton, WA

Evening in Renton on Friday

Local time

6:17 PM

PDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Birch Bay, WA

Evening in Birch Bay on Friday

Local time

6:17 PM

PDT

Current temp

58°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

10 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 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 Renton, WA to Birch Bay, WA covers 120.1 miles and takes about 2h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Rainier Avenue South, Airport Way, Logan Avenue South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 60 miles from Renton, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.14 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.

The drive from Renton, WA to Birch Bay, WA is easy. At 2h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Renton, WA to Birch Bay, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Renton, WA to Birch Bay, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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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