Cle Elum to Vancouver is 227.3 miles and takes about 4h 25m via I 90 and I 5, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Washington State, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same region. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. Consider this if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the central part of the state to the southern border.
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
113.7 miles from Cle Elum, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
139.6 mi
2h 39m
I 90
57.2 mi
1h 3m
State Route 18
26.7 mi
34m
West 2nd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Snoqualmie Parkway
0.3 mi
<1m
West 1st Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
North Pine Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 139.6 mi, about 2h 39m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 360 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,072 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~403 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.1×
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 Cle Elum, WA and Vancouver, WA.
1
Start on this road
206 ft·20 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto West 2nd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto North Pine Street
488 ft·22 sec·North Pine Street
4
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·West 1st Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 90 West
6
Merge onto I 90
57 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 25Toward WA 18 West: AuburnUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft·13 sec
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, TacomaUse the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Merge onto WA 18
0.3 mi·25 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
10
Continue on WA 18
27 mi·34 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5: Seattle, TacomaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, TacomaUse the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
14
Merge onto I 5
7.2 mi·9 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
126 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
6.2 mi·7 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 1DToward 4th Plain BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
242 ft·13 sec
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard EastUse the left lane.
19
Turn left onto East Fourth Plain Boulevard
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 25m estimated drive time, leaving Cle Elum in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive in Vancouver with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, you can be flexible with your pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 139.6-mile stretch on I 5, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $48 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to have a little extra buffer. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on traffic or weather.
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 113.7 miles from Cle Elum, WA, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.6 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.7 miles or 2h 16m 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 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 Cle Elum, 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 Cle Elum, WA
This is one driving day of about 227.3 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Cle Elum, 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 5 for about 139.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 58.5 and 227.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25
Toward WA 18 West: Auburn
9
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn,...
7
85.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
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 5: Seattle, Tacoma
8
86.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway Sou...
8
227.1 mi into trip|~4h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Plain Boulevard East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.28 one way
$88.56 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$46.39
$92.78
premium
$5.39
$48.24
$96.49
diesel
$4.80
$42.92
$85.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.2
0
$23.87
$10.91
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.89
$9.09
EV Truck/SUV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.55
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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
Cle Elum, WA
Late night
in Cle Elum on Monday
Local time
3:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
W 12 mph0% chanceLive 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
Vancouver, WA
Late night
in Vancouver on Monday
Local time
3:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
NNW 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive 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
80°F
Auburn, WA
114 mi in
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
3 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 25m 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 70.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 99% highway, so expect consistent cruising for most of the trip. You'll experience a longest stretch of 139.6 miles on I 5, indicating long, uninterrupted driving segments. The transition to surface roads, if any, will be minimal and occur late in the drive. You'll likely notice the density of exits and merging traffic as you approach urban areas.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 58.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 227.3 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 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.9 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
2,854 ft7 ft
Total Climb
1,987 ft
Total Descent
3,710 ft
Highest Point
2,854 ft
~32.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,847 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cle Elum, WA and Vancouver, WA, road signs point toward Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.
Cle Elum is a city in the North Central Cascades of Washington State. This sawmill and railroad town is a popular base for outdoor recreation. This article also includes the neighboring town of Roslyn, a coal-mining company town that retained enough charm through the years to become an occasional filming location. It was most prominently used for the 90's TV sitcom Northern Exposure.
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 4h 25m. Total distance: 227.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.6 miles on I 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.9 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Vancouver, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
