Origin
Seattle, WA
Evening in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Seattle, WA to Anacortes, WA
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
77.7 mi
125 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seattle, WA
Josh Hild
Anacortes, WA
Alok Sharma
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick getaway from Seattle to Anacortes, you can expect a manageable 77.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast locations. Because the route is straightforward and relatively short, it offers great flexibility for your travel schedule. By sticking to this highway-focused itinerary, you can easily transition from the city to the coast in under two hours.
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
38.9 miles from Seattle, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, as 90% of your travel takes place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-5, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 60.2 miles. Once you exit the interstate, the journey shifts onto State Route 20 and Memorial Highway to complete the final leg of the trip. The transition from high-speed interstate travel to the more localized corridors of State Route 20 provides a clear change in pace as you approach your destination. It is a functional, highway-heavy route that prioritizes getting you to Anacortes as directly as possible.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 60.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 77.7 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: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (University Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
4th Avenue
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
University Street
Turn right onto University Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
73.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
State Route 20 Spur
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Seattle, WA to Anacortes, WA, road signs begin pointing toward San Juans Ferry along the way.
San Juans Ferry
73.6 mi in
|
~1h 34m
|
via State Route 20 Spur
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 60.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| State Route 20 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Memorial Highway | 4 mi | 6m |
| State Route 20 Spur | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| R Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Division Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Commercial Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| WA 536 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 60.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Anacortes, WA.
1
Start on this road
31 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Madison Street
204 ft
·
11 sec
·
Madison Street
3
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
4th Avenue
Use the none lane.
4
Turn right onto University Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
University Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 5 North
6
Merge onto I 5
60 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 5
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward WA 536 West: Kincaid Street
8
Turn left onto WA 536
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Kincaid Street
9
Turn right onto WA 536
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 3rd Street
10
Continue on WA 536
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Division Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on WA 536
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Memorial Highway
12
Take the ramp onto WA 536
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
WA 536
13
Merge onto WA 20
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
State Route 20
14
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 20 Spur
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 20 Spur
Toward Anacortes, San Juans Ferry
15
Turn right onto R Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
R Avenue
16
Keep slight left at fork onto R Avenue
90 ft
·
5 sec
·
R Avenue
17
Keep slight right at fork onto R Avenue
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
R Avenue
18
Enter roundabout onto R Avenue
101 ft
·
5 sec
·
R Avenue
19
Continue on R Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
R Avenue
20
Turn left onto 20th Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
20th Street
21
Turn right onto WA 20 SPUR
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Commercial Avenue
22
Turn left onto WA 20 SPUR
11 ft
·
0 sec
·
12th Street
23
Arrive at destination
WA 20 SPUR
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 1-hour and 42-minute drive, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours when merging onto I-5 from Seattle. Since this is a direct route with no planned stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you head out to keep your $16 budget on track. The lack of required stops gives you total control over your arrival time, so feel free to adjust your departure to suit your personal schedule. Keep a close eye on the transition from I-5 to State Route 20, as this is where the route character shifts from a major interstate to a secondary highway. Enjoy the simplicity of this short drive by keeping your focus on the road ahead.
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 38.9 miles from Seattle, WA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.2 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 77.7 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.9 miles or 47m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anacortes, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Seattle, 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 Seattle, WA
This is one driving day of about 77.7 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Seattle, 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 60.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.9 mi from Seattle, WA · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 77.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.9 miles from Seattle, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.2 miles.
Arriving in Anacortes, WA
The final approach into Anacortes, 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 Anacortes, 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
$16.31 one way
$32.62 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $17.03 | $34.06 |
| premium | $5.77 | $17.65 | $35.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.26 | $34.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.16 | $3.73 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.88 | $4.97 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Anacortes, WA
Evening in Anacortes on Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
39°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
2 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 42m 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 Seattle, WA to Anacortes, WA covers 77.7 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, State Route 20, Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.9 miles from Seattle, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.31 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 16 significant decision points across 77.7 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: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (University Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Seattle, WA to Anacortes, WA, road signs begin pointing toward San Juans Ferry along the way.
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