Extreme Commuting

Residents of South King County are more likely to have very long commutes than residents in other regions of King County.

Extreme commuting is considered traveling to work for more than 90 minutes in one direction. Development, displacement, poverty, and public transit access can have impacts on commuting.   

Between 2017-2021, 2.2% of King County residents traveled to or from work for 90 minutes or more.    

• Race and ethnicity: Black/African American (3.6%) commuters were more likely than the King County average to have a commute of 90 minutes or longer. Asian commuters (1.6%) were less likely than the county average to have a commute of 90 minutes or longer. People of color are more likely to commute to and from work via public transportation which can increase travel time.    

• Disability: People with a disability (3.7%) were more likely to have a commute that takes longer than 90 minutes one way than people without a disability (2.1%), and the King County average (2.2%).    

• Region/City/Neighborhood: Residents of South King County (3.3%) were more likely to have commutes exceeding 90 minutes than residents of other regions in the county. Among cities and neighborhoods, Vashon Island had the highest proportion of residents with very long commutes (17.2%), likely due to a large number of residents commuting by ferry and water taxi. Maple Valley (6.7%), Federal Way – Dash Point/Southern Rim (5.8%), and Enumclaw/Black Diamond/Southeast King County (5.6%) had the next highest rates of extreme commuting.