How far is Portland, OR from Seattle, WA?
The driving distance from Portland, OR to Seattle, WA is about 173.2 miles (278.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 144.8 miles (233.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 51m 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 25m.
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 and county seat of Lewis County, Washington, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Cloudy
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Portland and Seattle.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland and Seattle.
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1
Start on the route
34 m · 13 sec
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2
Turn left onto Northwest Couch Street
2482 ft · 2 min · Northwest Couch Street
-
3
Take the ramp right toward I 405 North, US 30 West
1059 ft · 24 sec
-
4
Merge slight left onto Stadium Freeway
1.2 mi · 2 min · Stadium Freeway
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5
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 North: Seattle
2776 ft · 51 sec
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6
Merge slight left
138.4 mi · 2 hr 39 min
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7
Keep slight right
31.9 mi · 40 min
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8
Take the exit slight left toward Seneca Street
1359 ft · 36 sec
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9
Turn left onto Seneca Street
98 m · 18 sec · Seneca Street
-
10
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
615 ft · 27 sec · 5th Avenue
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11
Turn right onto Madison Street
34 m · 9 sec · Madison Street
-
12
Turn left
9 m · 2 sec
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13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Portland and Seattle.
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 North
Merge slight left
138 mi · 02h 39m
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.
Partly Cloudy leaving Portland and Mostly Cloudy near Seattle.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Portland to Seattle?
The road trip is about 173.2 miles (278.8 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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?
Chehalis is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.6 miles from Portland and 86.7 miles from Seattle.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 144.8 miles (233.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.4 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 10:08 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.25 one way or $60.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Portland and Mostly Cloudy near Seattle.
Stop Ideas Near Chehalis
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 Chehalis.
Centralia station
Centennial Station
Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center
Tacoma Dome Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Portland and Seattle. Straight-line distance: 144.83 mi (233.08 km).
#1 Portland
The twenty-sixth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Portland metropolitan area.
| Population | 656,751 |
| Coordinates | 45.5234500, -122.6762100 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Seattle
The eighteenth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Seattle metropolitan area.
| Population | 769,714 |
| Coordinates | 47.6062100, -122.3320700 |
| Altitude | 56 |
| Country | United States |
End: Seattle (-122.33207, 47.60621)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 279 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 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.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.95 | $30.25 | $60.50 |
| Mid-grade | $5.34 | $32.62 | $65.23 |
| Premium | $5.57 | $34.01 | $68.02 |
| Diesel | $6.37 | $38.90 | $77.79 |
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 Oregon · Apr 29, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.