Origin
Yelm, WA
Night in Yelm on Thursday
Local time
11:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yelm, WA to Seattle, WA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
62.4 mi
100 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yelm, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Seattle, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Yelm to Seattle covers approximately 62.2 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $13 for fuel to complete the transit. The route keeps you within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, transitioning from the smaller community of Yelm to the urban hub of Seattle. This is a straightforward, practical commute that avoids complex multi-day planning, making it an ideal choice for travelers looking for efficiency. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this drive provides a reliable connection between the two locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 62.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate through local roads like North 1st Street, West Yelm Avenue, and Killion Road Southeast to reach your destination. Because the roads are primarily local, there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway; in fact, the longest stretch on North 1st Street is 0 miles. This character makes for a more active driving experience where you will need to remain attentive to turns and local traffic patterns. It is an honest, hands-on route that prioritizes surface streets over high-speed bypasses, resulting in a steady pace that reflects the local geography.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 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 48.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and Yelm Highway Southeast. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in near Reservation Road 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 62.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 6.7 miles (Reservation Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.5 miles (Old Pacific Highway Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 30 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Reservation Road Southeast
Enter roundabout onto Reservation Road Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
At end of road, turn right onto Old Pacific Highway Southeast
Navigation decision point
6
30 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m 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
62.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
5th Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 48.4 mi | 1h |
| Yelm Highway Southeast | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Reservation Road Southeast | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Nisqually Road Southwest | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Old Pacific Highway Southeast | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| WA 510 Alternate | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Yelm Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Killion Road Southeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 48.4 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yelm, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on this road
54 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto North 1st Street
164 ft
·
7 sec
·
North 1st Street
3
Turn right onto WA 510
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Yelm Avenue
4
Turn right onto Killion Road Southeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Killion Road Southeast
5
Turn left onto WA 510 Alt
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 510 Alternate
6
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
129 ft
·
2 sec
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
7
Continue on WA 510
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Yelm Highway Southeast
8
Enter roundabout onto WA 510
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
9
Continue on WA 510
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Saint Clair Cutoff Road Southeast
10
Enter roundabout onto Reservation Road Southeast
23 ft
·
0 sec
·
Reservation Road Southeast
11
Continue on Reservation Road Southeast
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Reservation Road Southeast
12
At end of road, turn right onto Old Pacific Highway Southeast
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Pacific Highway Southeast
13
Continue on Nisqually Road Southwest
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Nisqually Road Southwest
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 5 North: Tacoma, Seattle
15
Merge onto I 5
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
32 mi
·
39 min
·
I 5
Use the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 165
Toward Seneca Street
Use the slight left lane.
18
Turn left onto Seneca Street
323 ft
·
18 sec
·
Seneca Street
19
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
5th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn right onto Madison Street
113 ft
·
9 sec
·
Madison Street
21
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.2 mi from Yelm, WA · 47m 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 31.2 miles from Yelm, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$13.06 one way
$26.12 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $13.70 | $27.39 |
| premium | $5.77 | $14.17 | $28.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.78 | $27.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.8 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 | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
| Efficient EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25 | 0 | $8.74 | $3.99 |
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
Night in Seattle on Thursday
Local time
11:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Light Rain
S 12 mph
35% chance
Live forecast
46°F
Lakewood, WA
31 mi in
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
14 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 27m 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 Yelm, WA to Seattle, WA covers 62.4 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, Yelm Highway Southeast, Reservation Road Southeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.2 miles from Yelm, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.06 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 62.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 6.7 miles (Reservation Road Southeast): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 9.5 miles (Old Pacific Highway Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 30 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Yelm, WA to Seattle, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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