Traveling from Auburn to College Place covers 270 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 7 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is almost entirely highway-focused, you can comfortably complete it in a single day, though staying alert is key for the duration. You should budget approximately $57 for fuel to cover the distance. The route transitions you across the state using a combination of I-90, I-82, and US-12. Whether you are heading out for a weekend visit or a longer relocation, the drive is straightforward and efficient. Given the time commitment, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and keep your energy levels up.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
135 miles from Auburn, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
84.5 mi
1h 33m
I 82
64.1 mi
1h 8m
US 12
54.8 mi
1h 2m
US 97
37.8 mi
42m
State Route 18
23.2 mi
29m
Wallula Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
Old Highway 12
1.2 mi
2m
North College Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 84.5 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 27 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,339 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,355
Quietest
2 AM
~108 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and College Place, WA.
1
Start on East Main Street
27 ft·5 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto A Street Southeast
0.2 mi·27 sec·A Street Southeast
3
Turn left onto Cross Street Southeast
0.1 mi·27 sec·Cross Street Southeast
4
Turn right onto Auburn Way South
0.2 mi·27 sec·Auburn Way South
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward WA 18 EastUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto WA 18
23 mi·29 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
9
Merge onto I 90
85 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 97
38 mi·42 min·US 97
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 82; US 12
12
Take the exit onto US 12
55 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 12
Exit 102Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, PascoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Spalding Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Spalding Road
14
Turn left onto Old Highway 12
1.2 mi·2 min·Old Highway 12
15
Turn right onto Wallula Avenue
2.1 mi·3 min·Wallula Avenue
16
Enter roundabout
17 ft·0 sec
17
Continue
103 ft·4 sec
18
Continue on North College Avenue
0.2 mi·23 sec·North College Avenue
19
At end of road, turn right onto North College Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·North College Avenue
20
Turn left onto East Whitman Drive
61 ft·1 sec·East Whitman Drive
21
Arrive at destination
East Whitman Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to beat potential traffic congestion near Auburn. Since this is a highway-heavy route, your primary focus should be on managing fatigue; plan for at least one substantial break to refresh. Because the trip is a manageable single-day effort, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preference for morning or afternoon travel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between the major interstates, and ensure you have that $57 budget set aside. A helpful tip for this specific corridor is to check real-time traffic reports before you leave, as the high volume of highway miles means even minor incidents can influence your total travel time.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 135 miles from Auburn, WA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near College Place, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Auburn, WA
This is one driving day of about 270 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Auburn, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 84.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 211.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward WA 18 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 18 East
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|WA 18 / State Route 18
Merge onto WA 18 / State Route 18
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
24.6 mi into trip|~33m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
109.2 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 97
Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
8
211.2 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.60 one way
$105.19 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$55.11
$110.21
premium
$5.39
$57.31
$114.61
diesel
$4.80
$50.98
$101.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81
0
$28.35
$12.96
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.63
$10.80
EV Truck/SUV
108
1
$37.80
$17.28
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Auburn, WA
Afternoon
in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
12:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
College Place, WA
Afternoon
in College Place on Sunday
Local time
12:58 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Smoke
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 9.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as 98% of your journey stays on major highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-90, which features the route's longest uninterrupted stretch of 84.5 miles. The character of the drive is consistent and functional, designed for making steady progress across the state rather than winding through technical local roads. As you shift from I-90 to I-82 and eventually US-12, the experience remains focused on maintained interstate and highway driving. You will find that the rhythm of the road is predictable, allowing you to settle into a comfortable cruising speed for the majority of the trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 270 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (WA 18 / State Route 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,539 ft88 ft
Total Climb
3,344 ft
Total Descent
2,637 ft
Highest Point
2,539 ft
~57.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,452 ft
Notable High Points
2,539 ft at ~57.9 miles+500 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburn, WA and College Place, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.
Known for its funny name and its famous Sweet Onions, Walla Walla in the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State is a pleasant stop with a charming downtown and booming wine industry.
This guide includes the neighboring city of College Place.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 270 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at College Place, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (WA 18 / State Route 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at College Place, WA before the return drive.
