Traveling from Bellevue to Colfax spans 265.7 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 21 minutes of driving time. Because this route is almost entirely highway-focused, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $56 for fuel to cover the distance. The journey primarily utilizes I-405, I-90, and WA 26 to cross the state. Whether you are heading east for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward path keeps you moving efficiently toward your destination.
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
132.9 miles from Bellevue, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WA 26
133.3 mi
2h 50m
I 90
127.8 mi
2h 20m
I 405
1.3 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Northeast 4th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Northeast 2nd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Bellevue Way Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
108th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
WA 26
— 133.3 mi, about 2h 50m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 71 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,300 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,050
Quietest
2 AM
~127 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.1×
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 Bellevue, WA and Colfax, WA.
1
Start on this road
45 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Main Street
150 ft·7 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto Bellevue Way Northeast
0.1 mi·22 sec·Bellevue Way Northeast
4
Turn right onto Northeast 2nd Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Northeast 2nd Street
5
Turn left onto 108th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi·17 sec·108th Avenue Northeast
6
Turn right onto Northeast 4th Street
0.3 mi·58 sec·Northeast 4th Street
Use the right lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 405 South: RentonUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 405
1.3 mi·1 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward I 90: Spokane, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: SpokaneUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
128 mi·2 hr 20 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward WA 26 East: Othello, Pullman
13
Turn straight onto WA 26
133 mi·2 hr 50 min·WA 26
14
Continue on WA 26
415 ft·7 sec·West Walla Walla Highway
15
Merge onto US 195
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
16
Turn left onto East Spring Street
139 ft·8 sec·East Spring Street
17
Turn right
257 ft·18 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 5-hour and 21-minute drive. Since the longest stretch is over 133 miles on WA 26, verify your fuel levels before leaving the interstate system to avoid any range anxiety. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to navigate the initial highway traffic around Bellevue before settling into the longer, quieter stretches. Keep in mind that flexibility is a major advantage on this route, as the straightforward road design allows you to adjust your pace easily based on traffic or your personal energy levels.
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 132.9 miles from Bellevue, WA, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.3 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 58 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.9 miles or 2h 30m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colfax, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, WA
This is one driving day of about 265.7 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Bellevue, 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 WA 26 for about 133.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 3.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Northeast 4th Street
Turn right onto Northeast 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 South: Renton
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 405 South: Renton
8
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
7
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.76 one way
$103.52 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$54.23
$108.46
premium
$5.39
$56.39
$112.79
diesel
$4.80
$50.17
$100.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.7
0
$27.90
$12.75
Efficient EV
66.4
0
$23.25
$10.63
EV Truck/SUV
106.3
1
$37.20
$17.00
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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
Bellevue, WA
Morning
in Bellevue on Sunday
Local time
9:43 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 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
Colfax, WA
Morning
in Colfax on Sunday
Local time
9:43 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Smoke
SW 2 mph1% 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 21m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 99% of the route consisting of highway driving, expect a consistent pace throughout your trip. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-90 before transitioning to the more rural WA 26. This segment features the longest stretch of the drive, covering 133.3 uninterrupted miles. The road maintains a steady, highway-focused personality that favors efficiency over technical turns. Prepare for a predictable, high-speed experience that allows you to cover the total distance without frequent deviations from major thoroughfares.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133.3 mi on WA 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 26 and I 90. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
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 265.7 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Northeast 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,405 ft82 ft
Total Climb
4,418 ft
Total Descent
2,524 ft
Highest Point
2,405 ft
~56.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,323 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bellevue, WA to Colfax, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Pullman along the way.
Bellevue is a city in the Puget Sound region of Washington state, just across Lake Washington from Seattle. Bellevue had a population of 150,000 in 2021, making it the largest city on the Eastside of King County.
Bellevue is perhaps the most ritzy part of the Seattle metro area, mainly due to the presence of Microsoft at nearby Redmond and other tech companies occupying the downtown office towers. The dense downtown has much of the region's upscale and luxury retail. It also has many neighborhoods comprised of large houses, and excellent vistas of the water for the lucky few. It is generally considered more pleasant and safe than Seattle, if blander, though the influx of international tech workers has led to a vibrant Chinese community.
=== Local information ===
Bellevue City Council website
Top landmarks
•Bellevue Arts Museum — museum in Bellevue, Washington, US
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 265.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133.3 miles on WA 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Colfax, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Northeast 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colfax, WA before the return drive.
