Auburn to Green River College: A GMC Terrain Day-Trip Guide

You won’t need to refuel anywhere near Green River College for a trip this short, and the tank range is generous enough to cover the Lea Hill run several times over before a gas stop even crosses your mind. So a day trip like this asks nothing of you at the pump, since the EPA rates the 2026 Terrain FWD at 24 city / 28 highway mpg. Of course, real-world fuel economy varies with temperature, load, and driving style.

If you’re combining the GRC visit with a longer errand loop across South King County, there are fuel stations on Auburn Way S and along Auburn Way N near the dealership (whichever way your errands take you). Browse our current inventory to see which Terrain trims are on the lot, including AWD configurations that may show slightly different fuel economy figures.

Driving an EV in the GMC lineup instead changes the calculus a little. Green River College’s campus has Level 2 charging available in two parking areas at the 12401 SE 320th Street location, according to ChargeHub station records. Worth knowing if you’re comparing vehicles, or if a family member is driving a different plug-in on the same trip.

Schedule a Pre-Trip Service Check

Plan It This Way

We’d run this trip in a Terrain from the lot on Auburn Way N pretty simply, and the short list below covers fueling, the Lea Hill climb, and where to park, so none of it catches you off guard on a first visit.

Start fueled, obviously. You don’t need to for this run, but a full tank costs nothing and takes the range math off the table. Easy call.

Head south on Auburn Way N, then turn left onto 8th Street NE. From there you head toward 124th Ave SE, which climbs onto Lea Hill, and the signage to SE 320th Street is easy to follow.

Budget time for the hill. The Terrain climbs without drama, so speed isn’t the issue. First-time visitors sometimes underestimate the transition from Auburn’s flat valley floor up to the campus plateau. Give it a minute.

Park at Schoenfeld Way if you’re visiting during a busy session. The campus covers 180 acres of forested ground, and the main lots near the Student Center can be crowded on weekday mornings.

On the return leg, the downhill on SE 320th feeds you back to 124th Ave SE. The Terrain’s hill descent is smooth, and you’ll likely recover some of that higher instantaneous consumption from the climb in the form of lighter throttle on the way back.

One thing our team points out when customers weigh the Terrain for Auburn’s terrain, Lea Hill included, is that the AWD option is the more confident choice once we get into November and the roads on that hill turn wet. The EPA rates the 2026 Terrain AWD at 24 city and 26 highway, a modest efficiency tradeoff for year-round traction. For a late-summer campus visit like this one, FWD is perfectly comfortable. When the leaves come down and the hill gets slick, you’ll appreciate having the extra grip.

Explore financing options before you come in and test the route yourself. Want the extra third-row space for a bigger family day-trip crew? We’re happy to pull up an Acadia side by side. Come drive it first.