Seattle, WA to Three Lakes, WA is 39.8 miles and takes about 59 minutes via I 5, US 2, and Three Lakes Road, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey stays within Washington state, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards a more inland Pacific Coast feel. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on major highways, making it an easy addition to any Seattle-area itinerary. Consider this route for a quick escape or an efficient connection between points.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 39.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 81% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 5 and US 2. You'll experience a significant stretch of 27.6 miles on I 5, offering a consistent, high-speed experience. The character shifts as you transition to US 2 and then onto Three Lakes Road, moving from interstate travel to more localized, potentially slower-paced segments. Expect a mix of efficient highway cruising and a final approach on less traveled roads.
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 US 2. 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 Effort7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 39.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
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 28.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These 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.
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
7
33.5 mi into trip|~44m in|WA 9 / State Route 9
Turn left onto WA 9 / State Route 9
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
33.7 mi into trip|~44m in|Bunk Foss Road
Turn right onto Bunk Foss Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Three Lakes, WA, road signs point toward Wenatchee, State Route 9: Arlington and Bothell.
Wenatchee
28.3 mi in|~36m
State Route 9: Arlington
33.2 mi in|~43m
Bothell
33.2 mi in|~43m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
27.6 mi
34m
US 2
4.6 mi
5m
Three Lakes Road
3 mi
7m
Bunk Foss Road
1.2 mi
2m
South Machias Road
1 mi
1m
163rd Avenue Southeast
0.7 mi
2m
Richey Road
0.3 mi
<1m
State Route 9
0.2 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 Three Lakes, 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 194Toward US 2 East: Snohomish, WenatcheeUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 2
4.6 mi·5 min·US 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward State Route 9: Arlington, Bothell
10
Turn left onto WA 9
0.2 mi·20 sec·State Route 9
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto Bunk Foss Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Bunk Foss Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Richey Road
0.3 mi·36 sec·Richey Road
13
Turn right onto South Machias Road
1.0 mi·1 min·South Machias Road
14
Turn left onto Three Lakes Road
3.0 mi·7 min·Three Lakes Road
15
Turn left onto 163rd Avenue Southeast
0.7 mi·2 min·163rd Avenue Southeast
16
Arrive at destination
163rd Avenue Southeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.9 mi from Seattle, WA
· 26m into the drive
The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from Seattle, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Three Lakes, WA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Three Lakes, 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
$8.33 one way
$16.66 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg14 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$8.74
$17.47
premium
$5.77
$9.04
$18.08
diesel
$5.61
$8.79
$17.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
11.9
0
$4.18
$1.91
Efficient EV
10
0
$3.48
$1.59
EV Truck/SUV
15.9
0
$5.57
$2.55
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Seattle, WA
Evening
in Seattle on Friday
Local time
6:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Sunny
S 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 6:46AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Three Lakes, WA
Evening
in Three Lakes on Friday
Local time
6:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
9 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
59m 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 Three Lakes, WA covers 39.8 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, US 2, Three Lakes Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.9 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 $8.33 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 13 decision points packed into just 39.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (4th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Seattle, WA and Three Lakes, WA, road signs point toward Wenatchee, State Route 9: Arlington and Bothell.
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.
