This 294.4-mile journey from Cascade Valley, WA, to Vancouver, WA, is designed as a single-day adventure, estimated to take around 5 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. You'll navigate primarily on the Columbia River Highway, WA 171, and Evergreen Highway, offering a mixed driving experience. With a projected fuel cost of $62, this route is budget-friendly for a full day's travel within the Pacific Coast region. It's a manageable distance for most drivers looking for a straightforward trip between these two Washington locations.
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
147.2 miles from Cascade Valley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
95 mi
1h 48m
WA 171
65.3 mi
1h 10m
Evergreen Highway
60.1 mi
1h 10m
I 82
49.1 mi
54m
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
5.4 mi
6m
I 205
4.2 mi
5m
East Broadway Avenue
2.8 mi
4m
United States Route 97
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 95 mi, about 1h 48m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,741 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,308
Quietest
1 AM
~160 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
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 Cascade Valley, WA and Vancouver, WA.
1
Start on Arrow Street Northeast
0.1 mi·28 sec·Arrow Street Northeast
2
Turn right onto Clink Road Northeast
360 ft·19 sec·Clink Road Northeast
3
Turn left onto Valley Road Northeast
0.9 mi·2 min·Valley Road Northeast
4
Continue on West Valley Road
1.8 mi·3 min·West Valley Road
5
Turn right onto North Stratford Road
0.5 mi·1 min·North Stratford Road
6
Turn right onto WA 171; I 90 Bus; US 10 Hist
2.8 mi·4 min·East Broadway Avenue
7
Take the ramp onto WA 171; I 90 Bus
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·WA 171; I 90 Bus
8
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
9
Merge onto I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
10
Continue on I 82; US 12; US 97
5.9 mi·7 min·I 82; US 12; US 97
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
12 mi·13 min·I 82; US 12
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward SR 22 East: Toppenish, Buena
13
Turn right onto WA 22
1.8 mi·2 min·Evergreen Highway
14
Continue on WA 22
0.8 mi·1 min·Buena Way
15
Turn right onto WA 22
0.7 mi·1 min·South Elm Street
16
Continue on US 97
58 mi·1 hr 7 min·Evergreen Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
0.2 mi·33 sec·US 97
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 97; WA 14
0.5 mi·33 sec·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
19
Turn right onto US 97
2.4 mi·2 min·United States Route 97
20
Take the exit
385 ft·9 sec
21
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·17 sec·this road
22
Merge onto I 84; US 30
95 mi·1 hr 48 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·29 sec
Exit 9Toward I 205: Salem, Seattle, Portland Airport
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland AirportUse the slight right lane.
25
Merge onto I 205
4.2 mi·5 min·I 205
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Exit 27Toward WA 14: Vancouver, CamasUse the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City CenterUse the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward WA 14 WestUse the straight lane.
29
Merge onto WA 14
5.4 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·55 sec
Toward I 5 North: SeattleUse the slight right lane.
31
Merge onto I 5
451 ft·7 sec·I 5
32
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 1D; 1CToward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 1DToward 4th Plain BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork
220 ft·12 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
35
Turn left onto East Fourth Plain Boulevard
100 ft·2 sec·East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
36
Arrive at destination
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 43-minute driving duration, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to avoid late-day fatigue. While there's only one recommended stop indicated, you'll have flexibility to pull over as needed given the manageable day-trip length. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before embarking on the 95-mile stretch on the Columbia River Highway, to ensure a smooth journey. This route stays within Washington state, so no border crossing concerns are necessary.
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 147.2 miles from Cascade Valley, WA, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95 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 65 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.2 miles or 2h 49m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vancouver, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cascade Valley, 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 Cascade Valley, WA
This is one driving day of about 294.4 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Cascade Valley, 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 Columbia River Highway for about 95 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 282.3 and 293.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
282.3 mi into trip|~5h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
8
286.8 mi into trip|~5h 31m in
Take the exit toward WA 14: Vancouver, Camas
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 27
Toward WA 14: Vancouver, Camas
8
287 mi into trip|~5h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City Center
9
293.6 mi into trip|~5h 41m in
Take the exit toward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain Boulevard
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.
Exit 1D; 1C
Toward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain...
8
293.7 mi into trip|~5h 41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1D
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.35 one way
$114.70 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$60.09
$120.17
premium
$5.39
$62.48
$124.97
diesel
$4.80
$55.59
$111.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.3
1
$30.91
$14.13
Efficient EV
73.6
0
$25.76
$11.78
EV Truck/SUV
117.8
1
$41.22
$18.84
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Cascade Valley, WA
Late night
in Cascade Valley on Sunday
Local time
12:06 AM
PDT
Current temp
91°F
Patchy Smoke
S 12 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Vancouver, WA
Late night
in Vancouver on Sunday
Local time
12:06 AM
PDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 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
11 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 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience on this route, with 41% of the drive utilizing highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 95 miles along the Columbia River Highway, suggesting periods of flowing traffic. The "Mixed drive" profile indicates you'll transition between faster highway sections and potentially more winding or local roads, keeping your attention engaged. The road conditions will likely change as you progress through different segments of the trip.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 282.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 294.4 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 282.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 287 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,120 ft48 ft
Total Climb
2,649 ft
Total Descent
3,524 ft
Highest Point
2,120 ft
~84.1 mi in
Elevation Range
2,072 ft
Notable High Points
2,095 ft at ~168.2 miles+624 ft prominence
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 Cascade Valley, WA to Vancouver, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Buena along the way.
Vancouver is a city in southwest Washington State, immediately north of the border with Oregon. The city was established around Fort Vancouver, a fur trading outpost dating back to 1824, making this one of the oldest continuously-inhabited European communities in the Pacific Northwest. Two bridges across the Columbia River connect Vancouver to the rest of the Portland Metropolitan Area.
Top landmarks
•Fort Vancouver National Historic Site — National Historic Site of the United States in Washington (state)
•Interstate Bridge — highway bridge in Oregon and Washington, USA
•Kiggins Theatre — single-screen theatre located in downtown Vancouver, WA
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 43m. Total distance: 294.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95 miles on Columbia River Highway. 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.
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 Vancouver, 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 282.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 287 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Vancouver, WA before the return drive.
