Fall Road Trips in Washington

Routes

Avg Distance

487 mi

Avg Drive

9h 17m

Destinations

Methodology

Routes filtered by drive score and typical seasonal conditions. Historical hazard counts pulled from FEMA disaster declarations and USGS seismic feeds; monthly weather context from NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Data sources: OSRM • NOAA NCEI climate normals • FEMA OpenFEMA • USGS Earthquake Hazards • EIA weekly fuel survey

Last reviewed

Oct 17, 2026

0 seconds ago

Curated by the US Trip Planner editorial team.
Not sponsored; no affiliate links on this page.

Washington in the fall offers a diverse range of drives, with 30 routes averaging 457 miles and taking about 8.7 hours. Expect varied terrain, from gently rolling hills to more pronounced inclines, with maximum elevations reaching over 4,000 feet. This season is ideal for experiencing the state's landscapes as the colors change, with many routes featuring access to parks.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$5.48/gal

Diesel: $6.18/gal

Typical trip cost

$80–$513

One-way, ~487 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~170 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-10-12

Climate through the year: Washington

Washington peaks at around 78°F in Aug and cools to 47°F / 37°F in Dec. Wettest month is Nov at ~6.3 in of rain. Table highlights Fall months.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	48	38	5.8	1.8
Feb	50	38	3.8	2.2
Mar	54	40	4.2	0.4
Apr	59	43	3.2	—
May	66	49	1.9	—
Jun	71	53	1.5	—
Jul	77	57	0.6	—
Aug	78	57	1	—
Sep peak	72	54	1.6	—
Oct peak	61	47	3.9	—
Nov peak	52	41	6.3	0.2
Dec	47	37	5.7	1.7

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for WA — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Fall hazards: what the data says

Recent seismic activity (last 7 days)

1 earthquakes M3.0+ — strongest M3.1 in Washington.

Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

Historical context — not a real-time advisory. Always check local road conditions before departing.

Planning Tips

Check the weather forecast for your route, not just your origin and destination.
Bring layers for shoulder-season travel — mornings and evenings can be much cooler than midday.
Washington routes can vary in condition depending on the time of year. Check for construction zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in Washington that work well for fall travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 487 miles).

Current regular gas averages $5.48/gallon in Washington (week of 2026-10-12). Diesel: $6.18/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $80 and $513. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Across Sep, Oct, Nov, Washington typically sees daytime highs in the 52–72°F range with about 3.9 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.

USGS logged 1 earthquakes above M3.0 (strongest M3.1) in the last 7 days. Always check current road and weather conditions before departing.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Fall Routes

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