A (possible) faster route through Seattle

A lot of us drive back and forth to the North Cascades during the summer cursing the Seattle traffic. One way to potentially save time, avoid wrecks and definitely save on stress is to detour around Seattle. [The following directions are given as if you are traveling North from Portland.] If you are traveling at a time when you’ll hit Seattle at rush hour, consider turning off just beyond Olympia on 512 East and detour towards Puyallup.

At the end of 512E, turn north on 167. This is multi-lane free-way that runs up the Kent Valley from Puyallup, by Auburn, and then into Renton. Where 167 and 405 join is the one spot where you may meet congestion. Avoid the far right lane. At Renton you then pick up I405N and 30 minutes later rejoin I5 close to Everett. If you are carpooling on your climb, on 167 and on I405 you can enjoy the benefits of the faster carpool lanes. Approximate times from a recent Friday morning trip were 2 hours to 512, 30 minutes around I405 to Everett and 1 hour to Mt. Vernon.

Thanks for Mazama Jon Putnam for this tip