Scenic Drives in Washington

Routes

Avg Distance

374 mi

Avg Drive

7h 11m

Destinations

Washington's scenic drives offer a varied landscape, with routes averaging 374 miles and taking around 7 hours to complete. You'll encounter hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes, reaching up to 2,536 feet. The drive scores range from 7 to 8, promising a visually engaging experience across the state.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.95/gal

Diesel: $4.80/gal

Typical trip cost

$69–$87

One-way, ~374 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~131 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-07-13

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.

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	72	54	1.6	—
Oct	61	47	3.9	—
Nov	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.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 60 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Current regular gas averages $4.95/gallon in Washington (week of 2026-07-13). Diesel: $4.80/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $69 and $87. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

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.

Top Scenic Routes

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Washington Trips

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	72	54	1.6	—
Oct	61	47	3.9	—
Nov	52	41	6.3	0.2
Dec	47	37	5.7	1.7

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	72	54	1.6	—
Oct	61	47	3.9	—
Nov	52	41	6.3	0.2
Dec	47	37	5.7	1.7

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	72	54	1.6	—
Oct	61	47	3.9	—
Nov	52	41	6.3	0.2
Dec	47	37	5.7	1.7