The drive from Renton, WA to Anacortes, WA covers 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5, WA 900, I 405 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.4 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.38 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
43.9 miles from Renton, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 87.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 56m highway drive covering 87.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and WA 900. The longest continuous stretch is about 43.4 miles on I 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 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 43.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 900. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near North 3rd Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.8 miles you will encounter 22 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 0.7 miles (North 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|North 3rd Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|WA 900
Take the ramp onto WA 900 toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
6
16.7 mi into trip|~23m 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.
7
27 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia
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.
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Co...
6
83.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|State Route 20 Spur
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
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 Renton, WA to Anacortes, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Vancouver British Columbia along the way.
Vancouver British Columbia
27 mi in|~36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
43.4 mi
51m
WA 900
15 mi
19m
I 405
10.3 mi
12m
State Route 20
7 mi
9m
Memorial Highway
4 mi
6m
State Route 20 Spur
2.6 mi
3m
R Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
West Division Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 43.4 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Anacortes, WA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn left
71 ft·8 sec
3
Turn left
98 ft·9 sec
4
Turn right onto Rainier Avenue South
520 ft·12 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·21 sec·Logan Avenue South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North 3rd Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto WA 900
0.2 mi·36 sec·Sunset Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 900
0.2 mi·23 sec·Sunset Boulevard North
10
Take the ramp onto WA 900
15 mi·19 min·WA 900
Toward I 405 North, WA 900 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
8.4 mi·10 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
1.9 mi·2 min·I 405
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 5
43 mi·51 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward WA 536 West: Kincaid Street
16
Turn left onto WA 536
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Kincaid Street
17
Turn right onto WA 536
0.3 mi·27 sec·South 3rd Street
18
Continue on WA 536
0.8 mi·2 min·West Division Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on WA 536
4.0 mi·6 min·Memorial Highway
20
Take the ramp onto WA 536
0.3 mi·29 sec·WA 536
21
Merge onto WA 20
7.0 mi·9 min·State Route 20
22
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur
2.6 mi·3 min·State Route 20 Spur
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
23
Turn right onto R Avenue
0.3 mi·46 sec·R Avenue
24
Keep slight left at fork onto R Avenue
90 ft·5 sec·R Avenue
25
Keep slight right at fork onto R Avenue
0.4 mi·58 sec·R Avenue
26
Enter roundabout onto R Avenue
101 ft·5 sec·R Avenue
27
Continue on R Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·R Avenue
28
Turn left onto 20th Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·20th Street
29
Turn right onto WA 20 SPUR
0.5 mi·1 min·Commercial Avenue
30
Turn left onto WA 20 SPUR
11 ft·0 sec·12th Street
31
Arrive at destination
WA 20 SPUR
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 43.9 miles from Renton, WA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 56m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anacortes, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Renton, WA
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Renton, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 43.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.9 mi from Renton, WA
· 56m into the drive
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Renton, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Anacortes, WA
The final approach into Anacortes, 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.
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...
San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it w...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 87.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.38 one way
$36.75 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$19.27
$38.54
premium
$5.77
$19.94
$39.88
diesel
$5.61
$19.39
$38.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.22
$4.21
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.68
$3.51
EV Truck/SUV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Renton, WA
Afternoon
in Renton on Friday
Local time
4:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 8 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:49AM PDT until April 17 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:33AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Anacortes, WA
Afternoon
in Anacortes on Friday
Local time
4:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
9 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 56m 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 Renton, WA to Anacortes, WA covers 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, WA 900, I 405. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.9 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 $18.38 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 87.8 miles you will encounter 22 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 0.7 miles (North 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Renton, WA to Anacortes, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Vancouver British Columbia along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park and San Juan Island 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.
