How far is Federal Way, WA from Waterville, WA?

The driving distance from Federal Way, WA to Waterville, WA is about 173.2 miles (278.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 107.1 miles (172.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
173.25 mi
03h 41m
Flight
107.03 mi
172.25 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Federal Way.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
107.03 mi
Kilometers
172.25 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
173.25 mi
Kilometers
278.82 km
Drive Time
03h 41m

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 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterville
Mon, Jun 1, 6:06 PM PDT
Return by in Federal Way
Mon, Jun 1, 9:48 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Federal Way
2026-06-01T14:25
Arrive Waterville
Mon, Jun 1, 6:06 PM PDT
Route Timing
03h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:42 AM to 11:42 AM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:36 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Federal Way
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
South Cle Elum
WA

Town of the United States

From Federal Way
86.5 mi
01h 50m
To Waterville
86.7 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 9:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph N
Destination
72°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 12:00 PM PDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Federal Way and Waterville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Federal Way and Waterville.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    7 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South 312th Street

    48 m · 6 sec · South 312th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Pacific Highway South

    2669 ft · 1 min · Pacific Highway South

  4. 4

    Turn left onto South 320th Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South 320th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on South Peasley Canyon Road

    1 mi · 2 min · South Peasley Canyon Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Peasley Canyon Road

    29 m · 2 sec · South Peasley Canyon Road

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto South Peasley Canyon Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · South Peasley Canyon Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West Valley Highway North

    102 m · 11 sec · West Valley Highway North

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right toward WA 18 East, WA 167 North: Renton, North Bend

    1154 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on WA 18 East

    1261 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto State Route 18

    24.4 mi · 31 min · State Route 18

  12. 12

    Continue on Snoqualmie Parkway

    656 ft · 8 sec · Snoqualmie Parkway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Spokane

    3019 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    59.8 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Cle Elum, Leavenworth

    1101 ft · 32 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Sunset Highway

    2128 ft · 34 sec · Sunset Highway

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn right

    642 ft · 10 sec

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right

    9.8 mi · 13 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    35.2 mi · 44 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit right toward US 2

    14.8 mi · 20 min · US 2

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US2, US97

    40 m · 6 sec

  22. 22

    Exit the rotary

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Sunset Highway

    3 mi · 5 min · Sunset Highway

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Sunset Highway

    26 m · 3 sec · Sunset Highway

  25. 25

    Exit the roundabout onto Sunset Highway

    8.9 mi · 12 min · Sunset Highway

  26. 26

    Turn slight right

    9.3 mi · 15 min

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto South Central Avenue

    551 ft · 16 sec · South Central Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn right onto West Beech Street

    665 ft · 35 sec · West Beech Street

  29. 29

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South Chelan Avenue

    1446 ft · 29 sec · South Chelan Avenue

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Chelan Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Federal Way and Waterville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
30 steps
17 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
2 merges, 11 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 East
60.4 mi · 35%
Sunset Highway
57.3 mi · 33%
State Route 18
24.4 mi · 14%
US 2
14.8 mi · 9%
US2
1.8 mi · 1%
South Peasley Canyon Road
1.79 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 90 East

Merge slight left

59.8 mi · 01h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
03h 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+66.1 mi
107.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Cle Elum
01h 50m from Federal Way
Leave By
9:36 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Federal Way and Mostly Cloudy near Waterville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Federal Way to Waterville?

The road trip is about 173.2 miles (278.8 km) and usually takes 03h 41m 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?

South Cle Elum is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.5 miles from Federal Way and 86.7 miles from Waterville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 107.1 miles (172.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 66.1 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 9:36 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.97 one way or $63.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Federal Way and Mostly Cloudy near Waterville.

Stop Ideas Near South Cle Elum

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around South Cle Elum, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to South Cle Elum.

BUS

Leavenworth, Washington

51 mi away
Hwy 2 and 12th St.
RAIL

Leavenworth

52 mi away
11645 North Rd
RAIL

Columbia Station

55 mi away
Kittitas & South Columbia Sts.
BUS

Stevens Pass, Washington

61 mi away
US Highway 2 at Summit Parking Lot

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Federal Way and Waterville. Straight-line distance: 107.03 mi (172.25 km).

Federal Way

#1 Federal Way

A city in King County, Washington.

Population96,307
Coordinates47.3223200, -122.3126200
Altitude141
CountryUnited States
Waterville

#2 Waterville

Town in Douglas County, Washington

Population1,197
Coordinates47.6470800, -120.0711800
Altitude800
CountryUnited States
Start: Federal Way (-122.31262, 47.32232)
End: Waterville (-120.07118, 47.64708)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 279 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.11 gal
23.14 L · about $31.97
Round trip
$63.95
12.22 gal · 46.28 L
Estimated CO2
54.3 kg one way
Round trip: 108.6 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $31.97 $63.95
Mid-grade $5.57 $34.01 $68.03
Premium $5.77 $35.26 $70.52
Diesel $5.47 $33.40 $66.81

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 · Jun 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Federal Way and Waterville. The current time is 14:25:03.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.