Origin
Tumwater, WA
Afternoon in Tumwater on Friday
Local time
3:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tumwater, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
62.8 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tumwater, WA
Ken Cheatham
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 62.8-mile drive from Tumwater to Seattle, Washington, will take approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-5, this route is an easy day trip, easily manageable within a single day. You can expect a fuel cost of around $13 for this journey. Given its short distance and focus on major highways, this is a practical option for getting between these two Pacific Coast locations without needing an overnight stay. The drive is efficient and gets you where you need to go with minimal fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
With a 97% highway share, this route is largely a highway-focused experience. You'll spend most of your time on I-5, with a significant uninterrupted stretch of 60.8 miles on this major interstate. The journey begins on roads like 2nd Avenue Southwest and Deschutes Way before merging onto the interstate. The character is predominantly that of a fast-paced, direct connection between points, offering a consistent driving experience as you head north.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 60.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and 2nd Avenue Southwest. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Boston Street Southeast.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Boston Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Deschutes Way): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Boston Street Southeast
Turn right onto Boston Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Deschutes Way
At end of road, turn right onto Deschutes Way
Navigation decision point
6
30.4 mi into trip
|
~39m 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.
7
62.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward Seneca Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
7
62.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 60.8 mi | 1h 15m |
| 2nd Avenue Southwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Deschutes Way | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Boston Street Southeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Custer Way Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Seneca Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 60.8 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tumwater, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
80 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on 2nd Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
3
Turn right onto Custer Way Southwest
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Custer Way Southwest
4
Turn right onto Boston Street Southeast
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Boston Street Southeast
5
At end of road, turn right onto Deschutes Way
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Deschutes Way
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
7
Merge onto I 5
29 mi
·
36 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
10
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
11
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
13
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.4 mi from Tumwater, WA · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Tumwater, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.8 miles.
Arriving in Seattle, WA
The final approach into Seattle, 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
$13.14 one way
$26.29 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $13.78 | $27.57 |
| premium | $5.77 | $14.26 | $28.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.87 | $27.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.59 | $3.01 |
| Efficient EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.79 | $4.02 |
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.
Destination
Seattle, WA
Afternoon in Seattle on Friday
Local time
3:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
10 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
1h 21m 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 Tumwater, WA to Seattle, WA covers 62.8 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, 2nd Avenue Southwest, Deschutes Way. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.4 miles from Tumwater, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.14 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Boston Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Deschutes Way): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tumwater, WA to Seattle, 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.
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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