Centralia, WA Road Trips
Centralia, WA serves as a quiet starting point in the Pacific Coast, connecting drivers to 3 outbound routes across the area. Most drives stay under 121 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from Centralia, WA head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
236.1 mi
Pasco, WA
Quickest Drive
1h 20m
Federal Way, WA
Plan Around Centralia, WA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Centralia, WA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Centralia, WA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Centralia, WA
Driving from Centralia, WA
The typical drive from Centralia, WA covers about 121 miles and takes around 2h 28m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 236 miles (4h 41m), while the shortest is just 64 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Centralia, WA most often head toward Kennewick, WA (235.8 mi, 4h 41m), Auburn, WA (64.8 mi, 1h 21m), and Federal Way, WA (63.8 mi, 1h 20m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in WA currently averages around $5.23 per gallon. For the typical 121-mile trip from Centralia, WA, budget about $25 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 mapped routes leaving Centralia, WA and 2 routes heading into Centralia, WA, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 64 to 236 miles.
The longest mapped route from Centralia, WA covers 236 miles and takes approximately 4h 41m. Shorter options start at just 64 miles.
The average route from Centralia, WA runs about 121 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 28m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $5.23/gallon for regular), the average 121-mile trip from Centralia, WA costs roughly $25 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Centralia, WA include Kennewick, WA, Auburn, WA and Federal Way, WA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Centralia, WA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
18,457
Median Income
$52,387
Median Home Value
$267,600
Median Age
37.8
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Centralia, WA
Centralia is a city in southwestern Washington State. It is a great place to stop for food and supplies when traveling between Seattle and Portland, as it is almost exactly halfway between the two. It is a twin city with Chehalis to the south.
1 Great Wolf Lodge (Grand Mound’s Water Park), 20500 Old Highway 99 SW, Grand Mound, toll-free: +1-800-640-9653.
There are many restaurants along Harrison Ave, west of I-5. 1 Burgerville, 818 Harrison Ave, ☏ +1 360 736-5212. Daily 7AM-11PM. Founded in 1961, the NW's own fast food chain with a decidedly NW flavor promoting sustainable practices and fresh, local ingredients. Great burgers and traditional fast food fare. Amazing seasonal items including sweet potato fries, asparagus, strawberries, blackberries, onion rings and more. The original Burgerville USA was established in Vancouver, WA.
1 Olympic Club Pub, 112 N Tower Ave (former card room of the Olympic Club Hotel, along Tower Ave between Main & Pine), ☏ +1 360 736-5164. Su-Th 7AM-midnight, F Sa 7AM-1AM. One of the McMenamin's bar and hotels. (updated Dec 2018)
The following are off Harrison Ave (Exit #82), surrounding the Factory Outlet Mall northwest of downtown 1 King Oscar, 1049 Eckerson Rd (NW of the I-5/Harrison Ave junction (Exit #82)), ☏ +1 360 736-1661. (updated Sep 2019) The following are off Mellen St (Exit #81), close to the Greyhound station: 2 Peppermill Express Inn, 1233 Alder St (SW of the I-5/Mellen Ave junction (Exit #81)), ☏ +1 360 330-9441. Off of Exit #81 on Elsbury & Alder, behind Shell gas station. The following are downtown, close to the Amtrak station: 3 McMenamins Olympic Club Hotel, 112 N Tower Ave (former card room of the Olympic Club Hotel, along Tower Ave between Main & Pine in downtown Centralia), ☏ +1 360 736-5164. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. One of the McMenamin's bar and hotels. (updated Dec 2018) 4 Centralia Square Grand Ballroom & Hotel, 202 W Centralia College Blvd (W Centralia College Blvd & S Pearl St, downtown), ☏ +1 360 807-1212, [email protected]. (updated Sep 2021)
Centralia is just east of Interstate 5 (I-5). From the northbound lanes, it is accessed from Exits #81 (Mellan St/City Center) & 82 (Harris Ave/Factory Outlet Way). From the southbound lanes, it can be only be accessed from Exit #82. To get to Mellan St (where Exit/Mile Marker #81 is at) continue along the parallel lanes after exiting off at #82, follow the signs. US Highway 12 (US-12) goes east through the mountains, south of Mt. Rainier, towards Yakima from Exit 68 of I-5 and west to Aberdeen through Tenino from Exit 88 of I-5. Between Exits 68 and 88, US Hwy 12 goes along I-5 through Centralia and Chehalis. State Route 507 (SR-507) goes through town as Pearl St (SB) & Tower St (NB). At 6th St, north of downtown, Tower St joins Pearl where SR-507 continues north into the countryside towards Yelm. From the south end of the downtown core, SR-507 goes west as Cherry St which becomes Alder and then Mellan St and ends at its junction with I-5 (Exit #81). South of Cherry St, Pearl & Tower St merges and continues south as Kresky Ave towards Chehalis. On some parts of the way Kresky Ave splits with the southbound traffic going south as Gold St which becomes National Ave into Chehalis while northbound traffic remains on Kresky. 1 Centralia Union Depot, 210 Railroad Ave (downtown). (updated Sep 2022) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates train service around the United States of America.
Lewis County Transit (formerly Twin Transit), ☏ +1 360 330-2072. They also offer local bus services between Centralia and Chehalis with the following: (updated Sep 2019) Blue Line, Outlets Malls,Amtrak, Downtown Centralia, B St & 6th Red Line, Wal Mart North side, Lewis County Courthouse in Chehalis, Port of Chehalis, Chehalis Recreation Center, Corner of Bishop & Studervant Yellow Line, Lewis County Senior Center, Lewis County Mall, Providence Medical Pavillion, S Market & 1st, Chehalis Library, Amtrak, Centralia College Orange Line, Outlet Malls, Centralia Middle School, Centralia High School
Travel tips adapted from Centralia (Washington) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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