Traveling from Auburn to Sunnyside covers 177 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused route, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You will primarily navigate via I-90, US-97, and I-82, making for a consistent transit across the state. Budgeting approximately $37 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since both cities are located within Washington, the journey offers a smooth transition between regions without requiring an overnight stay. It is a practical, efficient path if you are looking to reach your destination without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.5 miles from Auburn, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
84.5 mi
1h 33m
US 97
37.8 mi
42m
I 82
25.8 mi
27m
State Route 18
23.2 mi
29m
Yakima Valley Highway
2.5 mi
4m
East Edison Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
West Sunnyside Road
0.3 mi
<1m
North 1st Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 84.5 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, WA and Sunnyside, 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
26 mi·27 min·I 82; US 12
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Sunnyside, Yakima Valley Highway
13
Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road
0.3 mi·30 sec·West Sunnyside Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto Yakima Valley Highway
2.5 mi·4 min·Yakima Valley Highway
15
Turn right onto Homer Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Homer Street
16
Turn right onto North 1st Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·North 1st Street
17
Continue on Zillah Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·Zillah Avenue
18
Continue on East Edison Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·East Edison Avenue
19
Turn sharp right onto South 9th Street
17 ft·0 sec·South 9th Street
20
Arrive at destination
South 9th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 24 minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. Since the route relies heavily on major interstates, check traffic reports for I-90 before departing to avoid potential congestion. Aim to fill your tank before hitting the highway to keep your $37 fuel budget on track. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits your schedule, though mid-morning departures often help you avoid peak commuter windows. Keep a steady pace during your longest stretch to ensure you arrive in Sunnyside feeling refreshed.
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 88.5 miles from Auburn, WA, or about 1h 43m 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 39 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.5 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunnyside, 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 177 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 172.8 — 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
5
172.8 mi into trip|~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward Sunnyside, Yakima Valley Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Sunnyside, Yakima Valley Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.04 one way
$74.09 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$38.85
$77.70
premium
$5.77
$40.19
$80.39
diesel
$5.61
$39.08
$78.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.1
0
$18.59
$8.50
Efficient EV
44.3
0
$15.49
$7.08
EV Truck/SUV
70.8
0
$24.78
$11.33
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Auburn, WA
Late night
in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
1:06 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain
NW 3 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sunnyside, WA
Late night
in Sunnyside on Sunday
Local time
1:06 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Light Rain
SW 2 to 7 mph36% chanceLive forecast
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
3h 24m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 12.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is dominated by major thoroughfares, with 97 percent of your time spent on highways. You can expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than technical, slow-moving local roads. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-90, where you will cover 84.5 miles of consistent interstate driving. As you move from the initial stretch onto US-97 and eventually I-82, the road environment remains highly predictable. Being prepared for steady highway speeds is key, as the route is designed for efficiency rather than winding, low-speed sightseeing.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 US 97. You will hit about 15 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 177 miles you will encounter 15 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
2,864 ft88 ft
Total Climb
3,488 ft
Total Descent
2,829 ft
Highest Point
2,864 ft
~50.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,776 ft
Notable High Points
2,244 ft at ~126.4 miles+539 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 177 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Sunnyside, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Sunnyside, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
