How far is La Center, WA from Federal Way, WA?

The driving distance from La Center, WA to Federal Way, WA is about 130.5 miles (210 km), with a travel time of about 02h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 102.3 miles (164.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
130.48 mi
02h 12m
Flight
102.3 mi
164.63 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from La Center.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
102.3 mi
Kilometers
164.63 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
130.48 mi
Kilometers
209.98 km
Drive Time
02h 12m

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 02h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Federal Way
Thu, Apr 30, 6:43 PM PDT
Return by in La Center
Thu, Apr 30, 8:56 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave La Center
2026-04-30T16:30
Arrive Federal Way
Thu, Apr 30, 6:43 PM PDT
Route Timing
02h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:13 AM to 12:13 PM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:04 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in La Center
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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
Chehalis
WA

City in and county seat of Lewis County, Washington, United States

From La Center
65.2 mi
01h 06m
To Federal Way
65.3 mi
01h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 mph NNW
Destination
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between La Center and Federal Way.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    18 m · 10 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 4th Street

    527 ft · 18 sec · East 4th Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Northwest Pacific Highway

    36 m · 2 sec · Northwest Pacific Highway

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Northwest Pacific Highway

    631 ft · 22 sec · Northwest Pacific Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Northwest La Center Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Northwest La Center Road

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward I 5 North: Seattle

    8 m · 1 sec

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto I 5 North: Seattle

    1729 ft · 42 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    116.3 mi · 2 hr 12 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    10 mi · 13 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Federal Way, South 320th Street

    1774 ft · 51 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto South 320th Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · South 320th Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Pacific Highway South

    2617 ft · 55 sec · Pacific Highway South

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South 312th Street

    48 m · 6 sec · South 312th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right

    7 m · 2 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 5 North
127 mi · 97%
Northwest La Center Road
1.77 mi · 1%
South 320th Street
0.83 mi · 1%
Pacific Highway South
0.5 mi
Northwest Pacific Highway
0.14 mi
East 4th Street
0.1 mi
Longest Stretch

I 5 North

Merge slight left

116 mi · 02h 12m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 12m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.2 mi
102.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chehalis
01h 06m from La Center
Leave By
2:04 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving La Center and Mostly Sunny near Federal Way.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from La Center to Federal Way?

The road trip is about 130.5 miles (210 km) and usually takes 02h 12m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chehalis is a useful midpoint, sitting about 65.2 miles from La Center and 65.3 miles from Federal Way.

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

The direct path is about 102.3 miles (164.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:04 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.07 one way or $48.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 40.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around La Center and Mostly Sunny near Federal Way.

Stop Ideas Near Chehalis

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chehalis, 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 Chehalis.

RAIL

Centralia station

6 mi away
210 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Centennial Station

39 mi away
6600 Yelm Highway S.E.
RAIL

Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center

58 mi away
501 South First Street
RAIL

Tacoma Dome Station

77 mi away
1001 Puyallup Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between La Center and Federal Way. Straight-line distance: 102.3 mi (164.63 km).

La Center

#1 La Center

City in Ballard County, Kentucky, United States of America

Population3,602
Coordinates45.8623400, -122.6703800
Altitude32
CountryUnited States
Federal Way

#2 Federal Way

A city in King County, Washington.

Population96,307
Coordinates47.3223200, -122.3126200
Altitude141
CountryUnited States
Start: (-122.67048, 45.862287)
End: (-122.312612, 47.32232)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 210 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.6 gal
17.43 L · about $24.07
Round trip
$48.14
9.2 gal · 34.86 L
Estimated CO2
40.9 kg one way
Round trip: 81.8 kg / 180 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.23 $24.07 $48.14
Mid-grade $5.57 $25.61 $51.22
Premium $5.77 $26.55 $53.09
Diesel $5.47 $25.15 $50.30

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 · Apr 30, 2026

There is no time difference between La Center and Federal Way. The current time is 16:30:44.

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.