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Trip from Cheney, WA to Renton, WA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 59m

Distance

266.2 mi

428 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 46m ★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in the U.S. state of Washington

Cheney, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Renton, WA, WA

Renton, WA

JOHN CALLERY

Trip Overview

Cheney to Renton is 266.2 miles and takes about 4 hours 59 minutes via I 90, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington state, connecting the Pacific Coast region. It's primarily a highway drive, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, with minimal deviation from the main interstates. This route is well-suited for a single day of travel.

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

133.1 miles from Cheney, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 246.8 mi 4h 28m
Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway 9.2 mi 13m
I 405 4.9 mi 6m
1st Street 1.8 mi 3m
Logan Avenue North 1.1 mi 2m
Airport Way South 0.4 mi <1m
North Southport Drive 0.3 mi <1m
Rainier Avenue South 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 246.8 mi, about 4h 28m

Traffic on I-90

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 83 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,832 veh/hr typical · worst 2,477

Quietest

2 AM

~107 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

17.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Cheney, WA and Renton, WA.

1

Start on this road

163 ft · 17 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto F Street

136 ft · 7 sec · F Street
3

Turn right onto WA 904; US 10 Hist

1.8 mi · 3 min · 1st Street
4

Continue on WA 904; US 10 Hist

9.2 mi · 13 min · Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
6

Merge onto I 90; US 395

36 mi · 38 min · I 90; US 395
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

211 mi · 3 hr 50 min · I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 10 Toward I 405: Renton, Everett Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 405 South: Renton Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 405

4.9 mi · 6 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 5 Toward WA 900 East: Park Avenue North, Sunset Boulevard Northeast Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn right onto North Southport Drive

0.3 mi · 48 sec · North Southport Drive
Use the right lane.
13

Continue on Logan Avenue North

1.1 mi · 2 min · Logan Avenue North
Use the straight lane.
14

Continue on Airport Way South

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Airport Way South
Use the left lane.
15

Turn left onto Rainier Avenue South

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Rainier Avenue South
Use the left lane.
16

Turn left

39 ft · 2 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Consider an early morning departure from Cheney to maximize daylight and potentially avoid heavier traffic closer to Renton. With a drive time under five hours, it's easily a same-day trip, but you could break it up if desired. The longest continuous stretch is over 246 miles on I 90, so plan for a fuel stop before you begin this section to ensure you have enough gas. Given the highway-focused nature, most services will be available at exits along I 90 and I 405.

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 133.1 miles from Cheney, WA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 246.8 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 133.1 miles or 2h 29m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Renton, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cheney, 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 Cheney, WA

This is one driving day of about 266.2 miles and 4h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Cheney, 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 246.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown South Cle Elum, WA, WA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

South Cle Elum, WA

133 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

Ritzville, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

South Cle Elum, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 133.1 miles from Cheney, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 246.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · around the midpoint

509 Philly Stop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kittitas, Washington

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset · 2h 51m in / 2h 9m to go 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+15098565946

Visit website

Anchovies and Salt

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Renton, Washington

1.5 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

Tina’s Kitfo, Restaurant & Coffee Shop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Seattle, Washington

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+12064204871

Visit website

Candor Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Renton, Washington

2.9 mi

509 Philly Stop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Kittitas, Washington

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+15098565946

Visit website

Anchovies and Salt

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Renton, Washington

Hours: 12–9 pm

+14259703154

Visit website

El Rodeo Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Moses Lake, Washington

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+15097650606

Visit website

Mom and Pop's Diner

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Moses Lake, Washington

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+15098557294

Visit website

Tina’s Kitfo, Restaurant & Coffee Shop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Seattle, Washington

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+12064204871

Visit website

Candor Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Renton, Washington

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+12532368630

Visit website

Sunset Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $20 to $30

Seattle, Washington

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+12067220342

Visit website

Daisy Mae's Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10

Kent, Washington

Hours: 4:30 am–5 pm

+12538725580

Red Door Cafe, LLC

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Moses Lake, Washington

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+15093505525

Visit website

EVCS Charging Station

2.7 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Cle Elum, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18663003827

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Halfway reset 4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

George, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

North Bend, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour

Cle Elum, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Schrag Westbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Sprague Lake Westbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Sprague Lake Eastbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Schrag Eastbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Winchester Eastbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Ryegrass Westbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Indian John Hill Rest Area, I-90 Westbound

0.1 mi from route

Indian John Hill Rest Area, I-90 Eastbound

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Travelers Rest Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Winchester Westbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Colville Fuels Half Sun Travel Plaza

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.3 mi from route

Ryegrass Eastbound Rest Area

0.4 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.7 mi from route

Wanapum Recreation Area

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Vantage, Washington

+15098562700

Visit website

Sure Lock Escapes- Renton

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Renton, Washington

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+12539876899

Visit website

McCosh Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Moses Lake, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15097643805

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 263.9 — 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 | F Street

Turn left onto F Street

Navigation decision point

6
47.1 mi into trip | ~56m in | I 90

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
258.1 mi into trip | ~4h 46m in

Take the exit toward I 405: Renton, Everett

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 10 Toward I 405: Renton, Everett
7
258.3 mi into trip | ~4h 46m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 South: Renton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 405 South: Renton
8
263.9 mi into trip | ~4h 54m in

Take the exit toward WA 900 East: Park Avenue North, Sunset Boulevard Northeast

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 5 Toward WA 900 East: Park Avenue North, Sunset B...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$51.86 one way

$103.71 round trip

$4.95/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.18 $54.33 $108.66
premium $5.39 $56.50 $113.00
diesel $4.80 $50.26 $100.53

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: 93.1 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 79.9 0 $27.95 $12.78
Efficient EV 66.6 0 $23.29 $10.65
EV Truck/SUV 106.5 1 $37.27 $17.04

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

Cheney, WA

Morning in Cheney on Sunday

Local time

10:38 AM

PDT

Current temp

57°F

Areas Of Smoke

S 3 to 7 mph 0% chance Live 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

Renton, WA

Morning in Renton on Sunday

Local time

10:38 AM

PDT

Current temp

57°F

Mostly Cloudy

0 mph 0% chance Live 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

4h 59m 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

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...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free near mile 257
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is 95% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of the drive. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 246.8 miles on I 90. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, occurring only in the final miles as you approach your destination. Expect a steady cruising experience with frequent but manageable exits and merges as you navigate through populated areas.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 246.8 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near F Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 266.2 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: near the start (F Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.1 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 258.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,580 ft 46 ft

Total Climb

1,809 ft

Total Descent

4,119 ft

Highest Point

2,580 ft

~209.2 mi in

Elevation Range

2,534 ft

Notable High Points

2,580 ft at ~209.2 miles +534 ft prominence

About the Cities

Starting in Cheney, WA

Full guide →

Founded 1883

Cheney is a college town in the Palouse region of Washington, home of Eastern Washington University.

Arriving in Renton, WA

Full guide →

Founded 1875

Renton is a city in King County, Washington south of Bellevue and north of Kent. It is a quiet suburb of Seattle at the base of Lake Washington. Renton is primarily known as the site of the Boeing 737 plant, where the popular commercial jetliner is built. Renton is also notable for being the resting place of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. Its relatively inexpensive property prices make it a solid choice of stay while visiting Seattle, and the downtown area has many quiet charms of its own.

Top landmarks

  • Renton History Museum — Museum in the city of Renton in the state of Washington, United States.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 266.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 246.8 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 19 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 Renton, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (F Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.1 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 258.1 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 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Renton, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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