DriveCosts

Road trip cost

How Much Does It Cost to Drive From Portland to Seattle?

The drive from Portland, OR to Seattle, WA covers about 175 miles and takes around 2 hr 48 min — a comfortable day trip. Plan one fuel stop and a meal break and you'll arrive without overspending on gas.

Easy day tripEasy drive
  • Updated for 2026
  • US avg fuel prices
  • EPA-style MPG
  • EV rates vary by state
  • US units
Distance

175 mi

Driving time

2 hr 48 min

Fuel stops

0

EV charges

0

Route overview175 mi

Key takeaway

Plan on about $22 in gas one-way in a 28 MPG sedan, with 0 fuel stops and roughly 2 hr 48 min behind the wheel.

Drive intensity

Easy day trip

Doable in a single day.

Estimate your trip cost

Pre-filled with the Portland → Seattle distance.

miles
mpg
$/gal

Estimated Trip Cost

$0.00

Per Person

$0.00

Gallons

0.00gal

Total miles: 175 (one way).

How we estimate this trip

Distance
Great-circle distance between city centers × 1.18 road factor, rounded to whole miles.
Fuel cost formula
(miles ÷ MPG) × price per gallon, computed one-way unless noted.
Gas price assumption
Recent US average retail regular gas (AAA-style baseline).
EV charging assumption
Combined MPGe with average US residential electricity rate.
Tolls & weather
Not included — add manually for I-95, I-90 and mountain routes.
Driving time
Estimated at typical highway average speeds; excludes long breaks.

Sources & assumptions

  • EPA fuel economy data — City / highway / combined MPG and MPGe baselines.
  • U.S. Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov) — Vehicle efficiency and EV range references.
  • AAA gas price trends — Recent national and regional retail fuel averages.
  • EIA electricity rates — Average residential per-kWh prices used for EV charging.

We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.

Fuel cost by vehicle type

Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.

Compact car· 35 MPG · 5.0 gal$17.25
Sedan· 28 MPG · 6.3 gal$21.56
SUV· 22 MPG · 8.0 gal$27.44
Pickup truck· 18 MPG · 9.7 gal$33.54

Cost at different gas prices

Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 175-mile route.

Gas at $3.15/gal

$19.69

one way · ~6.3 gal

Gas at $3.45/gal

$21.56

one way · ~6.3 gal

Gas at $3.85/gal

$24.06

one way · ~6.3 gal

Fuel & charging stops

No fill-up needed

At ~175 miles, a full tank in a typical sedan (~350-mile range) covers this drive end-to-end. Top up before you leave and you're set.

No EV charging needed

A modern EV with 230+ miles of real-world highway range can make this drive on a single charge. Start at 100% and you'll arrive with margin.

Halfway stop suggestion

Midpoint

Tacoma, WA

Roughly halfway between Portland and Seattle. A natural place to fuel up, grab a meal, swap drivers, or stop overnight on longer drives.

Route personality

Weekend getaway routeEV-friendly corridorMetro-to-metro

Pacific Northwest driving context

  • Wet road conditions October–April — allow extra following distance on I-5 and I-90.
  • Strong EV infrastructure along the West Coast Green Highway (I-5 corridor).

City insights

Portland, OR

  • Portland traffic is heaviest 7–9 am and 4–7 pm — time your arrival around it.

Seattle, WA

  • Seattle traffic is heaviest 7–9 am and 4–7 pm — time your arrival around it.
  • Seattle draws year-round visitors — book parking and lodging ahead in peak weeks.

Best stops along the way

  • Tacoma, WA sits near the midpoint — natural fuel, food and restroom stop.
  • Scenic pull-offs and coastal overlooks add 15–30 min but break up the monotony on tourism corridors.
  • Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America hubs cluster around major interchanges — easy 20-min top-ups.

Seasonal notes

Late summer / early fall

Western wildfire smoke can drop visibility and force I-5 / I-80 detours — check InciWeb.

Fall–Spring

Pacific Northwest rain is steady October–April; allow extra braking distance on I-5 and US-101.

Recommendations for this route

  • EV-suitable: a 250+ mile EV makes this drive on 1–2 fast charges.
  • Off-peak departure (10 am or after 7 pm) saves the most time and fuel.

Is it cheaper to fly or drive?

Driving is almost always cheaper here — short flights cost more than fuel once you factor in airport parking, bags and a rental car.

A one-way drive uses about $22 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.

Weather & best time

Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.

  • • Mostly straightforward weather year-round, though summer heat and winter rain can still slow traffic.

Tolls

Mostly toll-free — you can drive this without a transponder.

Best vehicle

A mid-size sedan or hybrid is the sweet spot — comfortable for the distance with strong MPG.

Driving difficulty

Easy day trip · 2 hr 48 min

Low — one driver can comfortably handle this with a single break.

Doable in a single day

Most drivers complete this route in a single day. Leave early to avoid arriving tired in evening traffic.

About the drive from Portland to Seattle

This 175-mile route between Portland, OR and Seattle, WA is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 2 hr 48 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.

Fuel-saving tips

  • Keep your speed near 65 mph — fuel economy drops sharply above 70.
  • Fill up before mountain or desert stretches; remote stations charge a premium.
  • Use GasBuddy or AAA to spot cheap stations along your route before you leave.
  • Plan to avoid rush hour in both cities — stop-and-go traffic can cut highway MPG by 20%.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Portland to Seattle?

The drive is about 175 miles and takes roughly 2 hr 48 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.

How much gas does the trip use?

In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 6.3 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 8.0 gallons.

What's the typical fuel cost?

At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $21.56 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.

How many fuel or charging stops will I need?

A typical gas sedan needs about 0 fuel stops one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 0 DC fast-charges.

Is it cheaper to drive or fly from Portland to Seattle?

Driving is almost always cheaper here — short flights cost more than fuel once you factor in airport parking, bags and a rental car.

What's the best time of year to drive this route?

Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.

Where's a good halfway stop?

Tacoma, WA is roughly halfway and makes a natural fuel, food, or overnight break.

Best vehicles for this route

Estimated 175-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.

Cheapest to drive

Toyota Prius

57 MPG · hybrid

~$11

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best EV

Lucid Air

134 MPGe · ev

~$7

est. one-way charging cost

See full breakdown

Best sedan

Hyundai Elantra

37 MPG · sedan

~$16

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best SUV for comfort

Nissan Rogue

33 MPG · suv

~$18

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best truck for cargo

Ford Maverick

26 MPG · truck

~$23

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Related routes

More routes like Portland to Seattle

Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.

Reverse drive

Seattle to Portland driving cost

175 mi · 2.8 h

Related road trips

More routes from Portland, Seattle, and the surrounding region.

Seattle → Portland

~175 mi · 2 hr 48 min

See cost

Portland → Bend

~143 mi · 2 hr 18 min

See cost

Portland → Tacoma

~142 mi · 2 hr 18 min

See cost

Portland → Eugene

~122 mi · 2 hr

See cost

Bellingham → Seattle

~94 mi · 1 hr 30 min

See cost

Portland → Bellingham

~264 mi · 4 hr 18 min

See cost

Spokane → Seattle

~269 mi · 4 hr 18 min

See cost

Eugene → Seattle

~293 mi · 4 hr 42 min

See cost

Bend → Seattle

~295 mi · 4 hr 48 min

See cost

Tacoma → Seattle

~30 mi · 30 min

See cost
More OR road trips →More WA road trips →Cheapest road trips →Weekend road trips →Long-distance drives →EV-friendly routes →Browse all routes →Custom trip calculator →