Origin
Seattle, WA
Afternoon in Seattle on Friday
Local time
3:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Seattle, WA to Stanwood, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Stanwood, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 53.4-mile drive from Seattle, WA, to Stanwood, WA, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 9 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With 95% of the journey on highways, you'll spend most of your time on Interstate 5. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $11, and since there are no recommended stops, you can complete this trip without much interruption. This route keeps you within the Pacific Coast region, offering a simple and efficient connection between two Washington locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip, with 95% of the 53.4 miles on major roadways. You'll primarily be on I-5, experiencing a consistent driving pace for the longest stretch of 46.4 miles. This section is designed for efficiency, transitioning to State Route 532 and then 268th Street Northwest as you approach your destination. The road's character remains largely consistent, prioritizing direct travel over varied scenery.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 46.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 532. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 8 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
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 straight / slight right lanes.
5
47.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward WA 532 West: Stanwood, Camano Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WA 532 West: Stanwood, Camano Island
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 Seattle, WA to Stanwood, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Camano Island along the way.
Camano Island
47.1 mi in
|
~59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 46.4 mi | 57m |
| State Route 532 | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| 268th Street Northwest | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Stanwood Bryant Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 102nd Avenue Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 46.4 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Stanwood, 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
46 mi
·
57 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward WA 532 West: Stanwood, Camano Island
8
Turn left onto WA 532
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Stanwood Bryant Road
9
Continue on WA 532
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Route 532
10
Continue on WA 532
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
268th Street Northwest
11
Continue on WA 532
490 ft
·
12 sec
·
State Route 532
12
Turn right onto 102nd Avenue Northwest
53 ft
·
1 sec
·
102nd Avenue Northwest
13
Arrive at destination
102nd Avenue Northwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.7 mi from Seattle, WA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from Seattle, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Stanwood, WA
The final approach into Stanwood, 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
$11.18 one way
$22.35 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $11.72 | $23.44 |
| premium | $5.77 | $12.13 | $24.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.79 | $23.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Stanwood, WA
Afternoon in Stanwood on Friday
Local time
3:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
78°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
29 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 9m 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 Stanwood, WA covers 53.4 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, State Route 532, 268th Street Northwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.7 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 $11.18 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 straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 Stanwood, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Camano Island along the way.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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