Origin
Bellevue, WA
Night in Bellevue on Saturday
Local time
11:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellevue, WA to Waterville, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
163.4 mi
263 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 26m
8 AM
3h 50m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 32m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 49m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterville, WA
Frank Cone
Trip Overview
This 163.4-mile journey from Bellevue, WA, to Waterville, WA, is a straightforward, one-day road trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 26 minutes. The drive is primarily highway-focused, with 91% of it on major roads like I-90, US-97, and US-2. You can expect a fuel cost of around $34 for this trip. Given its manageable distance and duration, it’s well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This route offers a practical way to travel across Washington state.
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
81.7 miles from Bellevue, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 75.8 mi | 1h 25m |
| US 97 | 35.2 mi | 44m |
| US 2 | 25.9 mi | 37m |
| Sunset Highway | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| WA 970 | 9.9 mi | 12m |
| I 405 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Northeast 4th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Chelan Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 75.8 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellevue, WA and Waterville, 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: Renton
Use 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 11
Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
76 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Cle Elum, Leavenworth
13
Turn left onto WA 970
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Sunset Highway
14
At end of road, turn right onto WA 970
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
WA 970
15
Take the exit onto WA 970
9.8 mi
·
12 min
·
WA 970
16
Continue on US 97
35 mi
·
44 min
·
US 97
17
Take the exit onto US 97
15 mi
·
19 min
·
US 2
18
Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 97
132 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 2; US 97
19
Continue on US 2; US 97
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 2; US 97
20
Turn left onto US 2; US 97
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sunset Highway
21
Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 97
85 ft
·
2 sec
·
Sunset Highway
22
Continue on US 2; US 97
8.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Sunset Highway
23
Turn slight right onto US 2
9.3 mi
·
14 min
·
US 2
24
Turn straight onto US 2
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South Central Avenue
25
Turn right onto West Beech Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Beech Street
26
At end of road, turn left onto South Chelan Avenue
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Chelan Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
South Chelan Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour and 26-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Bellevue to maximize your daylight hours in Waterville. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 75.8 miles on I-90, you have plenty of flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto US-97 and US-2, as services may be less frequent than on the interstate. A good tip is to fill up your tank before leaving the I-90 corridor to ensure uninterrupted travel.
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 81.7 miles from Bellevue, WA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.8 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 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.7 miles or 1h 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 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterville, 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 163.4 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 75.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 81.7 miles from Bellevue, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 163.2 — 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
6
163.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
|
South Chelan Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto South Chelan Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.20 one way
$68.40 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $35.86 | $71.73 |
| premium | $5.77 | $37.11 | $74.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.08 | $72.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49 | 0 | $17.16 | $7.84 |
| Efficient EV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.30 | $6.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.88 | $10.46 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Waterville, WA
Night in Waterville on Saturday
Local time
11:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live 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
20 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 26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with a substantial 91% of the miles covered on major thoroughfares. You'll experience a significant stretch of 75.8 miles on I-90, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to US-97 and then US-2, the character of the drive will evolve, moving away from the interstate experience. Expect a generally efficient travel experience with minimal complex road navigation.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.8 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 97. 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 Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 163.4 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Waterville, WA, road signs point toward Cle Elum and Leavenworth.
Cle Elum
79.4 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Leavenworth
79.4 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 163.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.8 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 Waterville, 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 (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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Waterville, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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