How far is Federal Way, WA from Carson, WA?
The driving distance from Federal Way, WA to Carson, WA is about 189.5 miles (304.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 52m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 112.8 miles (181.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 44m 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 52m.
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
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Federal Way and Carson.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way and Carson.
-
1
Start on the route
7 m · 7 sec
-
2
Turn left onto South 312th Street
48 m · 6 sec · South 312th Street
-
3
Turn left onto Pacific Highway South
1.8 mi · 3 min · Pacific Highway South
-
4
Turn left onto 16th Avenue South
2572 ft · 1 min · 16th Avenue South
-
5
Turn left onto State Route 18
152 m · 14 sec · State Route 18
-
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Seattle, Tacoma
633 ft · 16 sec
-
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 South: Tacoma
1763 ft · 45 sec
-
8
Merge slight left
7.5 mi · 9 min
-
9
Keep slight right
126.2 mi · 2 hr 23 min
-
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 205 South: Salem
10.1 mi · 13 min
-
11
Take the exit slight right toward WA 14: Camas, City Center
643 ft · 14 sec
-
12
Keep slight left to continue on WA 14 East: Camas
1.5 km · 2 min
-
13
Merge slight left onto Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
5.6 mi · 7 min · Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
-
14
Continue on Lewis and Clark Highway
3.9 mi · 5 min · Lewis and Clark Highway
-
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Lewis and Clark Highway
26 m · 1 sec · Lewis and Clark Highway
-
16
Exit the roundabout onto Lewis and Clark Highway
1.5 km · 1 min · Lewis and Clark Highway
-
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
31 m · 2 sec · Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
-
18
Exit the roundabout onto Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
4.5 mi · 6 min · Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
-
19
Continue on Evergreen Highway
22.3 mi · 31 min · Evergreen Highway
-
20
Continue on 2nd Street
1.2 km · 2 min · 2nd Street
-
21
Continue on Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
2.8 mi · 4 min · Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
-
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wind River Road
60 m · 9 sec · Wind River Road
-
23
Exit the roundabout onto Wind River Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Wind River Road
-
24
Turn right onto Hot Springs Avenue
82 m · 9 sec · Hot Springs Avenue
-
25
Turn right onto 1st Street
60 m · 9 sec · 1st Street
-
26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 1st Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Federal Way and Carson.
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 5 South
Keep slight right
126 mi · 02h 23m
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 Federal Way and Sunny near Carson.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Federal Way to Carson?
The road trip is about 189.5 miles (304.9 km) and usually takes 03h 52m 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 94.6 miles from Federal Way and 94.8 miles from Carson.
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 76.7 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 9:16 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.36 one way or $72.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Federal Way and Sunny near Carson.
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 Federal Way and Carson. Straight-line distance: 112.8 mi (181.54 km).
#1 Federal Way
A city in King County, Washington.
| Population | 96,307 |
| Coordinates | 47.3223200, -122.3126200 |
| Altitude | 141 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Carson (-121.81924, 45.72539)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 305 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 18m |
| 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 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.44 | $36.36 | $72.72 |
| Mid-grade | $5.72 | $38.26 | $76.52 |
| Premium | $5.98 | $39.99 | $79.97 |
| Diesel | $7.29 | $48.78 | $97.57 |
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