How far is Carson, WA from Federal Way, WA?
The driving distance from Carson, WA to Federal Way, WA is about 189.9 miles (305.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 21m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 112.8 miles (181.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 21m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Carson and Federal Way.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carson and Federal Way.
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1
Start on 1st Street
60 m · 16 sec · 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto Hot Springs Avenue
82 m · 15 sec · Hot Springs Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Wind River Road
1.6 km · 2 min · Wind River Road
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4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
13 m · 2 sec · Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
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5
Exit the roundabout onto Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
2.8 mi · 4 min · Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
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6
Continue on 2nd Street
1.2 km · 2 min · 2nd Street
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7
Continue on Evergreen Highway
22.3 mi · 31 min · Evergreen Highway
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8
Continue on Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
4.5 mi · 6 min · Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
-
9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Lewis and Clark Highway
45 m · 2 sec · Lewis and Clark Highway
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10
Exit the roundabout onto Lewis and Clark Highway
1.5 km · 1 min · Lewis and Clark Highway
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11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Lewis and Clark Highway
27 m · 1 sec · Lewis and Clark Highway
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12
Exit the roundabout onto Lewis and Clark Highway
4 mi · 5 min · Lewis and Clark Highway
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13
Continue on Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
5.5 mi · 7 min · Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 205: Salem, Seattle
1000 ft · 24 sec
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 205 North: Seattle
1.3 km · 2 min
-
16
Merge slight right
9.9 mi · 12 min
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17
Merge slight left
125.5 mi · 2 hr 22 min
-
18
Keep slight right
10 mi · 13 min
-
19
Take the exit slight right toward Federal Way, South 320th Street
1774 ft · 51 sec
-
20
Turn left onto South 320th Street
1.3 km · 2 min · South 320th Street
-
21
Turn right onto Pacific Highway South
2617 ft · 55 sec · Pacific Highway South
-
22
Turn right onto South 312th Street
48 m · 6 sec · South 312th Street
-
23
Turn right
7 m · 2 sec
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Carson and Federal Way.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 205 North
Merge slight left
126 mi · 02h 22m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Carson and Sunny near Federal Way.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Carson to Federal Way?
The road trip is about 189.9 miles (305.6 km) and usually takes 03h 21m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Castle Rock is a useful midpoint, sitting about 94.8 miles from Carson and 95.1 miles from Federal Way.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 112.8 miles (181.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 77.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:16 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.41 one way or $72.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Carson and Sunny near Federal Way.
Stop Ideas Near Castle Rock
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Castle Rock.
Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center
Centralia station
Elsie, Oregon
Manning, Oregon
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Carson and Federal Way. Straight-line distance: 112.8 mi (181.54 km).
#1 Carson
Positioned on the north bank of the Columbia River in Skamania County, this unincorporated community lies within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area at an elevation of 469 feet.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 45.7253900, -121.8192400 |
| Altitude | 143 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Federal Way
A city in King County, Washington.
| Population | 96,307 |
| Coordinates | 47.3223200, -122.3126200 |
| Altitude | 141 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-122.312612, 47.32232)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 306 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 19m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 44m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 47m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 09m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 42m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 22m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.44 | $36.41 | $72.83 |
| Mid-grade | $5.72 | $38.32 | $76.63 |
| Premium | $5.98 | $40.05 | $80.09 |
| Diesel | $7.29 | $48.86 | $97.71 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Washington · Oct 15, 2026