The drive from Renton, WA to Sudden Valley, WA covers 96 miles and takes about 2h 6m 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 57.9 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.09 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
48 miles from Renton, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 96 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 6m highway drive covering 96 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and WA 900. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.9 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 25 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 57.9 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 96 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 1.5 miles (WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 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.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Renton, WA and Sudden Valley, WA, road signs point toward Vancouver British Columbia and Alger.
Vancouver British Columbia
27 mi in|~36m
Alger
85.4 mi in|~1h 44m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
57.9 mi
1h 7m
WA 900
15 mi
19m
I 405
10.3 mi
12m
South Lake Whatcom Boulevard
3.5 mi
6m
Alger Cain Lake Road
2.8 mi
4m
Cain Lake Road
2.1 mi
3m
Sudden Valley Drive
1 mi
4m
Lake Samish Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 57.9 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Sudden Valley, 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
58 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Alger
16
Turn right onto Lake Samish Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Lake Samish Road
17
Continue on Alger Cain Lake Road
2.8 mi·4 min·Alger Cain Lake Road
18
Continue on Cain Lake Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Cain Lake Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto South Lake Whatcom Boulevard
3.5 mi·6 min·South Lake Whatcom Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Sudden Valley Drive
169 ft·10 sec·Sudden Valley Drive
21
Continue on Sudden Valley Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Sudden Valley Drive
22
Continue on Sudden Valley Drive
0.7 mi·2 min·Sudden Valley Drive
23
Turn left onto Lost Fork Lane
0.2 mi·40 sec·Lost Fork Lane
24
Turn right onto Tawny Circle
280 ft·6 sec·Tawny Circle
25
Arrive at destination
Tawny Circle
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 48 miles from Renton, WA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.9 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48 miles or 1h 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sudden Valley, 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 96 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 57.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.8
0
$10.08
$4.61
Efficient EV
24
0
$8.40
$3.84
EV Truck/SUV
38.4
0
$13.44
$6.14
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 14, 2026
Origin
Renton, WA
Late night
in Renton on Saturday
Local time
12:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Light Rain
S 9 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 10:19PM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 10:19PM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Sudden Valley, WA
Late night
in Sudden Valley on Saturday
Local time
12:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°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
7 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 6m 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 Sudden Valley, WA covers 96 miles and takes about 2h 6m 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 48 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 $20.09 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 17 significant decision points across 96 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 1.5 miles (WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Renton, WA and Sudden Valley, WA, road signs point toward Vancouver British Columbia and Alger.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
