Origin
Seattle, WA
Night in Seattle on Thursday
Local time
11:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Seattle, WA to Graham, WA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
45 mi
72 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Graham, WA
nicholas hatherly
Trip Overview
The drive from Seattle, WA to Graham, WA covers 45 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Valley Freeway, I 5, Meridian Avenue East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.6 miles on Valley Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.42 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 45 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 45 miles, with most of the trip on Valley Freeway and I 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.6 miles on Valley Freeway.
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.
Valley Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Valley Freeway and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Spring Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Spring Street
Turn right onto Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
7
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport
8
13.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
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.
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
8
13.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 South: Kent, Auburn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 167 South: Kent, Auburn
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Seattle, WA and Graham, WA, road signs point toward Auburn, Olympia and Eatonville.
Auburn
13.1 mi in
|
~17m
Olympia
33.5 mi in
|
~43m
Eatonville
36.8 mi in
|
~48m
|
via WA 161
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Freeway | 19.6 mi | 24m |
| I 5 | 10.8 mi | 13m |
| Meridian Avenue East | 5.8 mi | 11m |
| WA 161 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| I 405 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| South Meridian | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Meridian East | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 31st Avenue Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Valley Freeway
— 19.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Graham, 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
308 ft
·
14 sec
·
4th Avenue
4
Turn right onto Spring Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Spring Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
6
Continue on I 5
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
147 ft
·
2 sec
·
I 5
Toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 5
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma, Portland
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
305 ft
·
4 sec
·
I 5
Toward Airport Way
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 5
Toward I 5 South: Sea-Tac Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 154A
Toward I 405 North: Renton
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on I 405
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 405
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 2
Toward WA 167 South: Renton, Auburn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Kent, Auburn
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto WA 167
20 mi
·
24 min
·
Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 512 West, WA 161 South: Puyallup, Olympia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on WA 161; WA 512
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
WA 161; WA 512
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto WA 161
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 161
Toward WA 161 South: South Hill, Eatonville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
At end of road, turn left onto WA 161
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
31st Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on WA 161
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Meridian
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on WA 161
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Meridian Avenue East
22
Continue on WA 161
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Meridian East
23
Continue on WA 161
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Meridian Avenue East
24
Turn left onto 224th Street East
129 ft
·
3 sec
·
224th Street East
25
Arrive at destination
224th Street East
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.5 mi from Seattle, WA · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Seattle, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Graham, WA
The final approach into Graham, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.42 one way
$18.84 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $9.88 | $19.75 |
| premium | $5.77 | $10.22 | $20.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.94 | $19.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Graham, WA
Night in Graham on Thursday
Local time
11:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Auburn, WA
23 mi in
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
16 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
1h 4m 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 Graham, WA covers 45 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Valley Freeway, I 5, Meridian Avenue East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.5 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 $9.42 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 45 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Seattle, WA and Graham, WA, road signs point toward Auburn, Olympia and Eatonville.
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