Origin
Seattle, WA
Afternoon in Seattle on Friday
Local time
12:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Seattle, WA to Machias, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
35.5 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Machias, WA
Jan van der Wolf
Trip Overview
This 35.5-mile drive from Seattle, WA to Machias, WA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 50 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at just $7, it's an economical option for a quick trip. The route predominantly utilizes I-5, making it a fast-paced drive. Since it's such a short distance, this trip is ideal as a single-day excursion, offering plenty of flexibility for departure times. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so expect a consistent regional feel throughout your travels.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 35.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect an 83% highway-focused experience on this route, primarily on I-5. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.6 miles on I-5, offering a consistent pace. While the majority of the drive is on this major interstate, you will transition to local roads like 20th Street Southeast and US 2 as you approach your destination. This means the latter part of your journey will involve navigating through more local traffic and potentially lower speed limits after the high-speed interstate segments.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 27.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and 20th Street Southeast. 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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 35.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
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 12 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 straight lane.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
University Street
Turn right onto University Street
Navigation decision point
8
28.3 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 2 East: Snohomish, Wenatchee
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 194
Toward US 2 East: Snohomish, Wenatchee
8
30.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 20th Street Southeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 20th Street Southeast
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 Machias, WA, road signs point toward Wenatchee and 20Th Street Southeast.
Wenatchee
28.3 mi in
|
~36m
20Th Street Southeast
30.6 mi in
|
~40m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 27.6 mi | 34m |
| 20th Street Southeast | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| US 2 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Machias Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Williams Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Machias Cutoff | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 27.6 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Machias, 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 straight 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
28 mi
·
34 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 194
Toward US 2 East: Snohomish, Wenatchee
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 2
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward WA 204 East: Lake Stevens, 20th Street Southeast
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward 20th Street Southeast
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn straight onto 20th Street Southeast
3.1 mi
·
6 min
·
20th Street Southeast
12
Continue on Williams Road
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Williams Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto Machias Cutoff
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Machias Cutoff
14
Turn left onto South Machias Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Machias Road
15
Turn left onto Division Street
299 ft
·
13 sec
·
Division Street
16
Arrive at destination
Division Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.8 mi from Seattle, WA · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Seattle, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Machias, WA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Machias, WA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.43 one way
$14.86 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $7.79 | $15.58 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.06 | $16.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.84 | $15.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Machias, WA
Afternoon in Machias on Friday
Local time
12:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
57°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
8 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
50m 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 Machias, WA covers 35.5 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, 20th Street Southeast, US 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.8 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 $7.43 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 12 decision points packed into just 35.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
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.
Between Seattle, WA and Machias, WA, road signs point toward Wenatchee and 20Th Street Southeast.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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