Trip from Seattle, WA to Port Townsend, WA

Drive Time

2h 19m

Distance

62.3 mi

100 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 10m ★

6 AM

2h 20m

8 AM

2h 39m

10 AM

2h 26m

12 PM

2h 25m

3 PM

2h 27m

5 PM

2h 38m

8 PM

2h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in and county seat of King County, State of Washington, United States

Seattle, WA

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Washington, United States

Port Townsend, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Seattle, WA to Port Townsend, WA covers 62.3 miles and takes about 2h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on State Route 525, I 5, Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22 miles on State Route 525. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.08 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

31.1 miles from Seattle, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 19m highway drive covering 62.3 miles, with most of the trip on State Route 525 and I 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 22 miles on State Route 525.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

State Route 525 is the longest continuous segment at about 22 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 525 and I 5. 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 19 significant decision points across 62.3 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 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Madison Street

Turn left onto Madison Street

Navigation decision point

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 4th Avenue

Turn right onto 4th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

16.8 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward WA 525 North, I 405 South: Mukilteo, Bellevue

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 182 Toward WA 525 North, I 405 South: Mukilteo, Bel...

17 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork toward WA 525 North: Alderwood Mall Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward WA 525 North: Alderwood Mall Parkway

24 mi into trip | ~34m in | WA 526 / 84th Street Southwest

Turn left onto WA 526 / 84th Street Southwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Seattle, WA to Port Townsend, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.

Bellevue

16.8 mi in | ~22m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
State Route 525	22 mi	32m
I 5	16.1 mi	20m
Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry	5.8 mi	34m
WA 525	5.6 mi	10m
State Route 20	3.3 mi	5m
Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry	3 mi	20m
Mukilteo Speedway	1.9 mi	4m
Paine Field Boulevard	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: State Route 525 — 22 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Port Townsend, WA.

Start on this road

31 ft · 7 sec · this road

Turn left onto Madison Street

204 ft · 11 sec · Madison Street

Turn right onto 4th Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · 4th Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto University Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · University Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 5 North

Merge onto I 5

16 mi · 20 min · I 5

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 182 Toward WA 525 North, I 405 South: Mukilteo, Bellevue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward WA 525 North: Alderwood Mall Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto WA 525

5.2 mi · 8 min · WA 525

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Continue on WA 525 Spur

0.8 mi · 1 min · Paine Field Boulevard

Turn left onto WA 526

0.4 mi · 44 sec · 84th Street Southwest

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto WA 525

1.9 mi · 4 min · Mukilteo Speedway

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto WA 525

0.1 mi · 14 sec · WA 525

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn slight left onto WA 525

0.3 mi · 1 min · WA 525

Continue on WA 525

3.0 mi · 20 min · Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry

Continue on WA 525

0.1 mi · 40 sec · Ferry Dock

Continue on WA 525

22 mi · 32 min · State Route 525

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto WA 20

3.3 mi · 5 min · State Route 20

Use the left lane.

Continue on WA 20

0.2 mi · 1 min · South Engle Road

Continue on Engle Road

235 ft · 8 sec · Engle Road

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 29 sec

Turn left onto WA 20

92 ft · 1 sec · State Route 20

Turn straight onto WA 20

5.8 mi · 34 min · Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry

Continue on WA 20

0.1 mi · 38 sec · Ferry Dock

Use the left / right lanes.

At end of road, turn right onto Water Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Water Street

Turn left onto Quincy Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Quincy Street

Continue on Jefferson Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Jefferson Street

Turn right onto Tyler Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Tyler Street

Arrive at destination

Tyler Street

Trip Plan

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 31.1 miles from Seattle, WA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22 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 62.3 miles or 2h 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 31.1 miles or 1h 4m 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 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Townsend, 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 62.3 miles and 2h 19m.

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 State Route 525 for about 22 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.1 mi from Seattle, WA · 1h 4m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Everett, WA

31 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.

Popular next leg

Everett, WA to Port Townsend, WA

46.6 mi · 1h 57m

Pacing Suggestions

Bremerton, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Everett, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.1 miles from Seattle, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Port Townsend, WA

The final approach into Port Townsend, 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 Port Townsend, 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

$13.08 one way

$26.15 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.57	$13.65	$27.31
premium	$5.77	$14.15	$28.31
diesel	$5.64	$13.84	$27.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	18.7	$6.54	$2.99
Efficient EV	15.6	$5.45	$2.49
EV Truck/SUV	24.9	$8.72	$3.99

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

Seattle, WA

Afternoon in Seattle on Monday

Local time

2:52 PM

PDT

Current temp

53°F

Chance Light Rain

SSW 8 mph 52% chance Live forecast

Winter Storm Watch

Winter Storm Watch issued April 13 at 2:38AM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA

Winter Storm Watch

Winter Storm Watch issued April 13 at 12:01AM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR

Destination

Port Townsend, WA

Afternoon in Port Townsend on Monday

Local time

2:52 PM

PDT

Current temp

51°F

Chance Light Rain

W 8 mph 37% chance Live forecast

Winter Storm Watch

Winter Storm Watch issued April 13 at 2:38AM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA

Winter Storm Watch

Winter Storm Watch issued April 13 at 12:01AM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR

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

2h 19m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Seattle, WA to Port Townsend, WA covers 62.3 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are State Route 525, I 5, Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.1 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 $13.08 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.

On the drive from Seattle, WA to Port Townsend, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bellevue along the way.

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Return Trip

Port Townsend, WA to Seattle, WA

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61.9 mi 2h 17m

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Trip from Seattle, WA to Port Townsend, WA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Port Townsend, WA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Seattle, WA

Port Townsend, WA

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 19m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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