The drive from Renton, WA to McCleary, WA covers 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 35m 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 8, US 101 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.8 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.38 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
36.8 miles from Renton, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 73.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 73.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and WA 8. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.8 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 18 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 49.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (I 405): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Burien, Seattle, Tacoma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 South: Burien, Seattle, Tacoma
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|I 405
Merge onto I 405
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
3.5 mi into trip|~6m 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
5
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
24.1 mi into trip|~32m 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.
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 McCleary, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Port Angeles along the way.
Port Angeles
53.6 mi in|~1h 9m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
49.8 mi
1h 2m
WA 8
13.1 mi
16m
US 101
5.5 mi
6m
I 405
2 mi
2m
Rainier Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Mox Chehalis Road
0.1 mi
<1m
South 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 49.8 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and McCleary, WA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn left
71 ft·8 sec
3
Turn left
98 ft·12 sec
4
Turn left onto Rainier Avenue South
0.9 mi·2 min·Rainier Avenue South
5
Continue on WA 167
324 ft·7 sec·Valley Freeway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 405 South: Burien, Seattle, TacomaUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 405
2.0 mi·2 min·I 405
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 South: PortlandUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
20 mi·25 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
30 mi·36 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·34 sec
Toward US 101: Aberdeen, Port Angeles
12
Continue on US 101
5.5 mi·6 min·US 101
13
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 8
13 mi·16 min·WA 8
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
15
Turn right onto Mox Chehalis Road
0.1 mi·23 sec·Mox Chehalis Road
16
Continue on South 3rd Street
403 ft·15 sec·South 3rd Street
17
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·South Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
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 36.8 miles from Renton, WA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.8 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.8 miles or 48m 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 McCleary, 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 73.5 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 49.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.8 mi from Renton, WA
· 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.38 one way
$30.77 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$16.13
$32.26
premium
$5.77
$16.69
$33.38
diesel
$5.61
$16.23
$32.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.1
0
$7.72
$3.53
Efficient EV
18.4
0
$6.43
$2.94
EV Truck/SUV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Renton, WA
Night
in Renton on Thursday
Local time
9:39 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
McCleary, WA
Night
in McCleary on Thursday
Local time
9:39 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
4 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 35m 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 McCleary, WA covers 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, WA 8, US 101. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.8 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 $15.38 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 73.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.5 miles (I 405): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Renton, WA to McCleary, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Port Angeles along the way.
