Bellevue, WA to Kennewick, WA is 220.8 miles and takes about 4 hours 9 minutes via I-90 and I-82, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Washington State, moving from the Pacific Coast region toward the interior. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward journey. With a drive time of just over 4 hours, this route is easily manageable as a same-day trip, allowing for ample flexibility in your schedule.
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
110.4 miles from Bellevue, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
100.5 mi
1h 51m
I 82
64.1 mi
1h 8m
US 97
37.8 mi
42m
WA 240
7.3 mi
9m
US 12
5.5 mi
5m
I 405
1.3 mi
1m
West Columbia Drive
0.7 mi
1m
North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 100.5 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 63 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,533 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,340
Quietest
2 AM
~135 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.8×
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 Kennewick, 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
101 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 82; US 12
14
Take the exit onto US 12
5.5 mi·5 min·US 12
Exit 102Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
15
Take the exit onto WA 240
7.3 mi·9 min·WA 240
Toward SR 240 east: KennewickUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto West Columbia Drive
0.1 mi·9 sec·West Columbia Drive
17
Continue on West Columbia Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·West Columbia Drive
18
Turn right onto North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Fruitland Street
19
Turn right onto West Kennewick Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Kennewick Avenue
20
Turn right onto North Newport Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·North Newport Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Newport Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, you can comfortably complete this drive in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to make the most of daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. There's one recommended stop, but with only 220.8 miles, you have the flexibility to add more or fewer breaks as you prefer. Be mindful of fuel levels, especially as you get further into Washington; the longest stretch on I-90 is over 100 miles, so plan your fill-ups accordingly.
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 110.4 miles from Bellevue, WA, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.5 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.4 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kennewick, 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 220.8 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 I 90 for about 100.5 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 104.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
104.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.01 one way
$86.03 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$45.06
$90.13
premium
$5.39
$46.86
$93.73
diesel
$4.80
$41.69
$83.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.18
$10.60
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.32
$8.83
EV Truck/SUV
88.3
1
$30.91
$14.13
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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
Bellevue, WA
Late night
in Bellevue on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
PDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
WNW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Kennewick, WA
Late night
in Kennewick on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
PDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
W 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM 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
16 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
4h 9m 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?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey on major interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I-90 and I-82, which are designed for efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 100.5 miles on I-90, offering a continuous period of highway driving. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of your trip, as the road primarily consists of well-maintained interstate highways.
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: 100.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Northeast 4th Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 220.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Northeast 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,850 ft82 ft
Total Climb
3,377 ft
Total Descent
3,052 ft
Highest Point
2,850 ft
~47.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,768 ft
Notable High Points
2,850 ft at ~47.3 miles+632 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bellevue, WA and Kennewick, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.
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
Kennewick is a city in Benton County along the Columbia River of Washington State, roughly between the Yakima and Snake Rivers on the south bank of the Columbia.
Kennewick is the largest of the Tri-Cities of Washington, which also includes Pasco and Richland. The Tri-Cities are the third most populous metropolitan area in the state, after Seattle-Tacoma and Spokane.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 220.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m 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 100.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 Kennewick, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Northeast 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Kennewick, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
