Origin
Walla Walla, WA
Afternoon in Walla Walla on Monday
Local time
12:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Walla Walla, WA to Federal Way, WA
Drive Time
5h 18m
Distance
277 mi
446 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 5m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 25m
3 PM
5h 29m
5 PM
5h 44m
8 PM
5h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Walla Walla, WA to Federal Way, WA covers 277 miles and takes about 5h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 12, US 97, I 82 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 116.8 miles on US 12. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
138.5 miles from Walla Walla, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 18m highway drive covering 277 miles, with most of the trip on US 12 and US 97. The longest continuous stretch is about 116.8 miles on US 12.
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.
US 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 116.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US 97. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 48.2 miles in near I 182; US 12.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 277 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 48.2 miles (I 182; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.9 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 247.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
48.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
I 182; US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12 toward I 182, US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 182, US 12
7
161.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
|
US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 West
9
247.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn,...
9
272.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley High...
8
273 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward West Valley Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward West Valley Highway
Towns Along This Route
Between Walla Walla, WA and Federal Way, WA, road signs point toward Yakima, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.
Yakima
60 mi in
|
~1h 10m
|
via US 12
Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn
247.9 mi in
|
~4h 37m
Tacoma
247.9 mi in
|
~4h 37m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 116.8 mi | 2h 10m |
| US 97 | 85.7 mi | 1h 35m |
| I 82 | 31 mi | 33m |
| State Route 18 | 24.2 mi | 31m |
| I 182 | 11.8 mi | 12m |
| South Peasley Canyon Road | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| South 320th Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| West Pine Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 116.8 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walla Walla, WA and Federal Way, WA.
1
Start on South 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South 5th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Rose Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Rose Street
3
Turn right onto WA 125
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
North 9th Avenue
4
Turn left onto WA 125
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pine Street
5
Enter roundabout onto WA 125 Spur
11 ft
·
0 sec
·
Northeast Myra Road
6
Continue on WA 125 Spur
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
Northeast Myra Road
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
8
Merge onto US 12
27 mi
·
31 min
·
US 12
9
Keep slight right at fork
287 ft
·
3 sec
10
Merge onto US 12
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 12
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 182; US 12
Toward I 182, US 12
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
71 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
13
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 82; US 97
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
86 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
US 97
Toward I 90 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 25
Toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft
·
13 sec
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Merge onto WA 18
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Snoqualmie Parkway
18
Continue on WA 18
24 mi
·
31 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward WA 167: Renton, Puyallup
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward WA 167 South: Puyallup, West Valley Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Toward West Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
At end of road, turn left onto West Valley Highway North
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
West Valley Highway North
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto South Peasley Canyon Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Peasley Canyon Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Enter roundabout onto South Peasley Canyon Road
67 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Peasley Canyon Road
25
Continue on South Peasley Canyon Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Peasley Canyon Road
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on South 320th Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South 320th Street
27
Turn right onto WA 99
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Pacific Highway South
28
Turn right onto South 312th Street
158 ft
·
5 sec
·
South 312th Street
Use the right lane.
29
Turn right
24 ft
·
1 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 138.5 miles from Walla Walla, WA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.8 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.5 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
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 Walla Walla, 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 Walla Walla, WA
This is one driving day of about 277 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Walla Walla, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 116.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.5 mi from Walla Walla, WA · 2h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.5 miles from Walla Walla, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 12 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 116.8 miles.
Arriving in Federal Way, WA
The final approach into Federal Way, 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 Federal Way, WA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.14 one way
$116.27 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $60.71 | $121.42 |
| premium | $5.77 | $62.94 | $125.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.54 | $123.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.1 | 1 | $29.08 | $13.30 |
| Efficient EV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.24 | $11.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.8 | 1 | $38.78 | $17.73 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Federal Way, WA
Afternoon in Federal Way on Monday
Local time
12:13 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°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
1 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
5h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Walla Walla, WA to Federal Way, WA covers 277 miles and takes about 5h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, US 97, I 82. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.5 miles from Walla Walla, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $58.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 277 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 48.2 miles (I 182; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.9 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 247.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Walla Walla, WA and Federal Way, WA, road signs point toward Yakima, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.
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