This 283.9-mile drive from Buckley, WA to Spokane, WA is a manageable 4-hour and 44-minute journey, making it a solid day trip option. With a fuel cost estimated at $60, it's an economical choice for exploring the Pacific Coast region of Washington. The route primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, suggesting a more engaging and less monotonous experience than a pure interstate cruise. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the drive. Given the duration and profile, this trip is best completed in a single day, allowing you to arrive in Spokane without feeling rushed.
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
142.6 miles from Buckley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
253.5 mi
4h 34m
State Route 18
11.6 mi
15m
Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
5.1 mi
9m
Enumclaw-Black Diamond Road
3.7 mi
5m
State Route 410 East
2.7 mi
5m
264th Avenue Southeast
2.5 mi
4m
3rd Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Porter Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 253.5 mi, about 4h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckley, WA and Spokane, WA.
1
Start on this road
88 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Cottage Street
432 ft·19 sec·North Cottage Street
3
Turn right onto North River Avenue
455 ft·26 sec·North River Avenue
4
Turn left onto Park Avenue
235 ft·6 sec·Park Avenue
5
Turn slight right
132 ft·7 sec
6
Turn straight onto WA 410
2.7 mi·5 min·State Route 410 East
7
Turn left onto Cole Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Cole Street
8
Turn left onto Washington Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Washington Avenue
9
Turn right onto WA 169
0.9 mi·2 min·Porter Street
10
Continue on WA 169
2.5 mi·4 min·264th Avenue Southeast
11
Continue on WA 169
3.7 mi·5 min·Enumclaw-Black Diamond Road
12
Continue on 3rd Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue
13
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
60 ft·1 sec·3rd Avenue
14
Continue on WA 169
0.2 mi·29 sec·3rd Avenue
15
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
226 ft·11 sec·3rd Avenue
16
Continue on WA 169
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue
17
Continue on WA 169
2.0 mi·3 min·Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
18
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
126 ft·3 sec·Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
19
Continue on WA 169
0.8 mi·1 min·Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
20
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
106 ft·2 sec·Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
21
Continue on WA 169
0.4 mi·41 sec·Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
22
Enter roundabout onto WA 169
112 ft·2 sec·Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
23
Continue on WA 169
1.8 mi·3 min·Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto Southeast 231st Street
130 ft·2 sec·Southeast 231st Street
25
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward WA 18 East: North Bend
26
Merge onto WA 18
12 mi·15 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
28
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
29
Merge onto I 90
252 mi·4 hr 32 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
1.8 mi·2 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Street
32
Continue on West 5th Avenue
382 ft·12 sec·West 5th Avenue
33
Turn straight onto West Freeway Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Freeway Avenue
34
Continue on West 4th Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·West 4th Avenue
35
Continue on West 4th Avenue
167 ft·4 sec·West 4th Avenue
36
Continue on South Lincoln Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
37
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Main Avenue
38
Turn right
26 ft·8 sec
39
Turn left onto South Gorge Trail
157 ft·17 sec·South Gorge Trail
40
Arrive at destination
South Gorge Trail
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 44-minute drive from Buckley to Spokane, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. Since it's a 'turn-heavy local drive' with no extended highway stretches, pacing yourself with a single stop around the halfway mark will be important for maintaining focus. The estimated fuel cost of $60 is a good budget to keep in mind, and it's wise to fill up before leaving Buckley, as services might be less frequent on these local roads. Pay close attention to navigation, as the numerous turns are a key feature of this route.
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 142.6 miles from Buckley, WA, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 253.5 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 63 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.6 miles or 2h 52m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spokane, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buckley, 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 Buckley, WA
This is one driving day of about 285.3 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Buckley, 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 253.5 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.6 — 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|North Cottage Street
Turn right onto North Cottage Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Park Avenue
Turn left onto Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
12 mi into trip|~22m in|WA 169 / 3rd Avenue
Enter roundabout onto WA 169 / 3rd Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
14.7 mi into trip|~27m in|WA 169 / Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
Enter roundabout onto WA 169 / Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
15.6 mi into trip|~29m in|WA 169 / Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
Enter roundabout onto WA 169 / Maple Valley Black Diamond Road Southeast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.71 one way
$119.42 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$62.62
$125.24
premium
$5.77
$64.79
$129.58
diesel
$5.61
$62.99
$125.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.6
1
$29.96
$13.69
Efficient EV
71.3
0
$24.96
$11.41
EV Truck/SUV
114.1
1
$39.94
$18.26
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Buckley, WA
Late night
in Buckley on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Areas Of Frost then Mostly Sunny
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:29PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:29PM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Destination
Spokane, WA
Late night
in Spokane on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°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
7 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 29m 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 19.7
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning fi...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 283.9-mile route, with 0% of it being highway. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads, including North Cottage Street, North River Avenue, and Park Avenue, rather than cruising on high-speed interstates. The lack of extended highway stretches suggests a drive with frequent turns and potentially varying speed limits, requiring your attention throughout the 4-hour and 44-minute journey. While there isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving noted, the continuous engagement with local roads is the defining characteristic of this trip.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 253.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Route 18. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Cottage Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 29m drive. You will face about 23 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Cottage Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (WA 169 / 3rd Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Spokane is the second-largest city in Washington State, and the largest between Seattle and Minneapolis. It is the economic hub of the "Inland Empire", a name used for Eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle (pre-dating by nearly a century the use of the same title by a region in Southern California). It is at the north edge of the Palouse, where gently rolling hills of wheat fields end at the Spokane River valley.
This article also includes the suburbs of Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley.
The longest stretch is about 253.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Cottage Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (WA 169 / 3rd Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park and Mount Rainier National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Spokane, WA before the return drive.
