Origin
Renton, WA
Evening in Renton on Sunday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Renton, WA to Arlington, WA
Drive Time
1h 15m
Distance
57.4 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, WA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
Spanning 57.4 miles, the drive from Renton to Arlington is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Because this is a compact trip within the Pacific Coast region, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to complete the trek. By utilizing a combination of WA 900, I-405, and I-5, you can efficiently navigate between these two Washington cities. This route is designed for those who prioritize a direct, highway-focused connection over a leisurely scenic detour, making it a functional option for commuters or travelers looking to reach their destination without unnecessary delays.
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
28.7 miles from Renton, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 96% of this route takes place on major highways. The drive begins with local transitions before shifting into the fast-paced flow of I-405 and I-5. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 25.7 miles once you settle onto I-5, which defines the bulk of your time behind the wheel. Because the profile is strictly highway-focused, the character of the road remains consistent and predictable throughout the duration of the trip. You won't find technical winding roads here, just a steady, high-speed pace that carries you north through the regional corridor.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 25.7 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.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 57.4 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 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 18 key pointsThese 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 none / 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 none / 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...
8
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington
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.
Exit 208
Toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington
Towns Along This Route
Between Renton, WA and Arlington, WA, road signs point toward Vancouver British Columbia and Darrington.
Vancouver British Columbia
27 mi in
|
~36m
Darrington
53.2 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 25.7 mi | 31m |
| WA 900 | 15 mi | 19m |
| I 405 | 10.3 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 530 Northeast | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| WA 530 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North 3rd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Airport Way | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Sunset Boulevard North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 25.7 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Arlington, 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 none / 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 East
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 405
Use the none / 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 Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 5
26 mi
·
31 min
·
I 5
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 208
Toward WA 530 East: Arlington, Darrington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto WA 530
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 530 Northeast
17
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
51 ft
·
0 sec
·
WA 530
18
Continue on WA 530
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
WA 530
19
Enter roundabout onto WA 530
89 ft
·
1 sec
·
WA 530
20
Continue on WA 530
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 530
21
Enter roundabout onto West Division Street
96 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Division Street
22
Continue on West Division Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Division Street
23
Enter roundabout
124 ft
·
3 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about strict pacing or mandatory rest stops. However, keep in mind that I-5 can experience heavy traffic, so checking live road conditions before you pull out of Renton is a smart move. You do not need to factor in complex refueling logistics, as the $12 fuel estimate is easily managed with standard station stops along the interstate. Given the lack of planned stops, use the duration of the 1 hour and 15 minute drive to catch up on podcasts or audiobooks. To make the most of your trip, try to avoid peak rush hour times to ensure you maintain that steady highway speed all the way to Arlington.
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 28.7 miles from Renton, WA, or about 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 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 57.4 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.7 miles or 38m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, 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 57.4 miles and 1h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Renton, 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 25.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.7 mi from Renton, WA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 57.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Renton, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arlington, WA
The final approach into Arlington, 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 Arlington, 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
$12.05 one way
$24.09 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $12.58 | $25.16 |
| premium | $5.77 | $13.04 | $26.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.75 | $25.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.04 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Arlington, WA
Evening in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°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
13 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 15m 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 Arlington, WA covers 57.4 miles and takes about 1h 15m 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 28.7 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 $12.05 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 18 significant decision points across 57.4 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 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.
Between Renton, WA and Arlington, WA, road signs point toward Vancouver British Columbia and Darrington.
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