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Create accountDrive Time
49m
Distance
34.5 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sammamish, WA
nicholas hatherly
The drive from Sammamish, WA to Federal Way, WA covers 34.5 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 405, I 5, WA 520 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14.8 miles on I 405. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.24 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
17.3 miles from Sammamish, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
This is a 49m highway drive covering 34.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 405 and I 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 14.8 miles on I 405.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,027 ft
Total Descent
609 ft
Highest Point
465 ft
~34.5 mi in
Elevation Range
434 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 34.5 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward Northeast 40th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 520 West: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Renton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward South 272nd Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 14.8 mi | 18m |
| I 5 | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| WA 520 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Pacific Highway South | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| South 272nd Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Redmond Way | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 312th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Sammamish, WA and Federal Way, WA.
Start on East Lake Sammamish Parkway Northeast
Turn slight left onto WA 202
Take the ramp
Merge onto WA 520
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto WA 520
Take the exit
Merge onto I 405
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn right onto South 272nd Street
Turn left onto WA 99; WA 509
Turn left onto South 312th Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 34.5 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.3 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Federal Way, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Sammamish, 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 Sammamish, WA
This is one driving day of about 34.5 miles and 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.3 mi from Sammamish, WA · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Sammamish, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Federal Way, 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 Federal Way, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.24 one way
$14.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $7.56 | $15.12 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.84 | $15.68 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.66 | $15.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Sammamish on Sunday
Local time
9:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 10:35AM PDT until April 12 at 8:28PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Night in Federal Way on Sunday
Local time
9:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 10:35AM PDT until April 12 at 8:28PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
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