This 101.3-mile drive from Sequim, WA to Federal Way, WA will take you about 2 hours and 19 minutes of pure driving time. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that makes for a perfect day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Expect to spend around $21 on fuel for this journey, which primarily utilizes State Highway 16, State Highway 3 Northeast, and US 101. Given that 86% of the route is on highways, it's an efficient way to travel between the Pacific Coast regions of Washington. This is a practical option when you need to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.6 miles from Sequim, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 101.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
You'll find this drive is predominantly on highways, making up 86% of the total mileage. This means you'll experience a good amount of faster-paced driving, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.5 miles on State Highway 16. While the focus is on efficient travel, the route does incorporate sections of State Highway 3 Northeast and US 101, offering some variation. It’s less about winding scenic byways and more about covering ground effectively. The road's personality is geared towards getting you to your destination smoothly and directly.
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.
State Highway 16 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 16 and State Highway 3 Northeast. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.5 miles in near WA 104 / State Route 104.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 101.3 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: at 29.5 miles (WA 104 / State Route 104): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 88.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
29.5 mi into trip|~41m in|WA 104 / State Route 104
Enter roundabout onto WA 104 / State Route 104
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
89.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
6
89.5 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
99.6 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
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 143
Toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 16
26.5 mi
33m
State Highway 3 Northeast
23.2 mi
31m
US 101
19.9 mi
28m
I 5
10.3 mi
12m
State Route 104
5.2 mi
6m
State Highway 3 West
2.1 mi
3m
Hood Canal Floating Bridge
1.6 mi
2m
South 320th Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 16
— 26.5 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sequim, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on South Sequim Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·South Sequim Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
3
Merge onto US 101
20 mi·28 min·US 101
4
Take the exit
8.7 mi·11 min
5
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 104
0.1 mi·9 sec·State Route 104
6
Enter roundabout onto WA 104
101 ft·1 sec·State Route 104
7
Continue on WA 104
4.9 mi·6 min·State Route 104
8
Enter roundabout onto WA 104
117 ft·1 sec·State Route 104
9
Continue on WA 104
0.1 mi·16 sec·State Route 104
10
Continue on WA 104
1.6 mi·2 min·Hood Canal Floating Bridge
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto WA 3
23 mi·31 min·State Highway 3 Northeast
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on WA 3
2.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 3 West
14
Continue on WA 16
0.2 mi·19 sec·West State Route 16
15
Continue on WA 16
27 mi·33 min·State Highway 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 5 North: SeattleUse the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 5
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
10 mi·12 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 143Toward Federal Way, South 320th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto South 320th Street
0.8 mi·2 min·South 320th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi·55 sec·Pacific Highway South
23
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft·5 sec·South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn right
24 ft·1 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, 101.3-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush hour, though with a total duration of just over two hours, you can easily adjust your departure time. There are no specific stops recommended in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the estimated fuel cost is $21. A practical tip for this route: be aware that the longest stretch without a break is on State Highway 16, so ensure you're comfortable with that distance before setting off.
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 50.6 miles from Sequim, WA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.5 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.6 miles or 1h 10m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Federal Way, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sequim, 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 Sequim, WA
This is one driving day of about 101.3 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Sequim, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 16 for about 26.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.6 mi from Sequim, WA
· 1h 10m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 66.3
San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it w...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.20 one way
$42.40 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$22.23
$44.47
premium
$5.77
$23.00
$46.01
diesel
$5.61
$22.37
$44.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
Efficient EV
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
EV Truck/SUV
40.5
0
$14.18
$6.48
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Sequim, WA
Afternoon
in Sequim on Friday
Local time
4:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Federal Way, WA
Afternoon
in Federal Way on Friday
Local time
4:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 19m 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 Sequim, WA to Federal Way, WA covers 101.3 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 Highway 16, State Highway 3 Northeast, US 101. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.6 miles from Sequim, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.20 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 demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 101.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.5 miles (WA 104 / State Route 104): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 88.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sequim, WA to Federal Way, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park and San Juan Island 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.
