Origin
SeaTac, WA
Night in SeaTac on Friday
Local time
11:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from SeaTac, WA to Bellevue, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
16.6 mi
27 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
SeaTac, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between SeaTac and Bellevue is a straightforward 16.6-mile commute that typically takes about 24 minutes. Because of the short distance, this is easily managed as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via WA-518, International Boulevard, and the I-405 corridor. Budgeting roughly $3 for fuel should be sufficient for this quick journey across the Pacific Coast region. Whether you are heading to the Eastside for business or leisure, this route offers a practical, no-nonsense connection between two major hubs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 16.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 81% of this drive consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-405, which features the route's longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.3 miles. While the start involves local transitions near International Boulevard, the road quickly shifts into a standard interstate grind. It is a functional, efficient drive rather than a scenic tour, keeping you locked into highway speeds for the majority of the trip. Stay alert as you merge into the heavier traffic flows that characterize this specific corridor.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 405 is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
433 ft
30 ft
Total Climb
271 ft
Total Descent
622 ft
Highest Point
433 ft
Elevation Range
403 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 405 and WA 518. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South 170th Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 16.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South 170th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (WA 99 / International Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (WA 518): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South 170th Street
At end of road, turn left onto South 170th Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
WA 99 / International Boulevard
Turn right onto WA 99 / International Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WA 518
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 518 toward I 405 North: Renton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 North: Renton
8
15.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue Southeast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12
Toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue South...
8
15.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 116th Avenue Southeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward 116th Avenue Southeast
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 SeaTac, WA to Bellevue, WA, road signs begin pointing toward 116Th Avenue Southeast along the way.
116Th Avenue Southeast
15.1 mi in
|
~20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 405 | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| WA 518 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| International Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 116th Avenue Southeast | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South 170th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 32nd Avenue South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 405
— 12.3 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between SeaTac, WA and Bellevue, WA.
1
Start on this road
140 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
52 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto 32nd Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
32nd Avenue South
4
At end of road, turn left onto South 170th Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
South 170th Street
5
Turn right onto WA 99
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
International Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward WA 518 East
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto WA 518
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 518
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 518
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
WA 518
Toward I 405 North: Renton
Use the slight left lane.
9
Continue on I 405
12 mi
·
15 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 12
Toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue Southeast
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward 116th Avenue Southeast
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto 116th Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
116th Avenue Southeast
13
Turn left onto Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right
45 ft
·
3 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.47 one way
$6.95 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $3.64 | $7.29 |
| premium | $5.77 | $3.77 | $7.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.67 | $7.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.45 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bellevue, WA
Night in Bellevue on Friday
Local time
11:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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
24m 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 SeaTac, WA to Bellevue, WA covers 16.6 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 405, WA 518, International Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.3 miles from SeaTac, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.47 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 short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 16.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South 170th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (WA 99 / International Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (WA 518): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from SeaTac, WA to Bellevue, WA, road signs begin pointing toward 116Th Avenue Southeast along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 30 ft to 433 ft elevation with about 271 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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