Origin
Clear Lake, WA
Late night in Clear Lake on Tuesday
Local time
5:06 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clear Lake, WA to Vancouver, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 40m
Distance
233.3 mi
375 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 27m
★
6 AM
4h 40m
8 AM
5h 7m
10 AM
4h 50m
12 PM
4h 47m
3 PM
4h 51m
5 PM
5h 6m
8 PM
4h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clear Lake, WA
JOHN CALLERY
Trip Overview
Clear Lake, WA to Vancouver, WA is 233.3 miles and takes about 4h 40m via I 5, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington state, traversing the Pacific Coast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's ideal for a single day. Expect a consistent pace, with plenty of services along the way for any needs that arise. This route is a practical choice for connecting these two points efficiently.
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
116.6 miles from Clear Lake, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 | 225.6 mi | 4h 23m |
| East College Way | 3.5 mi | 7m |
| State Route 9 | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| East Fourth Plain Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| College Way | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West College Way | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Lake Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clear Lake, WA and Vancouver, WA.
1
Start on this road
25 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Lake Street
181 ft
·
16 sec
·
Lake Street
3
Turn left onto WA 9
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 9
4
Enter roundabout onto WA 538
59 ft
·
1 sec
·
College Way
5
Continue on WA 538
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
College Way
6
Continue on WA 538
3.5 mi
·
7 min
·
East College Way
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 538
408 ft
·
14 sec
·
West College Way
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
93 mi
·
1 hr 53 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
126 mi
·
2 hr 22 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 1D
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
242 ft
·
13 sec
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto East Fourth Plain Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 40m duration, leaving Clear Lake in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive in Vancouver with ample daylight. With only one suggested stop and a 233.3-mile total distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 225.6-mile stretch on I 5, as services can be more spread out between major exits. The estimated fuel cost is $49, so budget accordingly. This is a manageable drive for a single day, allowing for spontaneous breaks if desired.
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 116.6 miles from Clear Lake, WA, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 51 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.6 miles or 2h 27m 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 51m
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 Clear Lake, 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 Clear Lake, WA
This is one driving day of about 233.3 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Clear Lake, 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 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116.6 miles from Clear Lake, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 6.9 and 233.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Seattle
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
6
100.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
226.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
|
I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
232.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 39m in
Take the exit toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1D
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard
8
233.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 39m 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
$48.83 one way
$97.66 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $51.21 | $102.41 |
| premium | $5.77 | $52.98 | $105.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.51 | $103.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70 | 0 | $24.50 | $11.20 |
| Efficient EV | 58.3 | 0 | $20.41 | $9.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.3 | 1 | $32.66 | $14.93 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Destination
Vancouver, WA
Late night in Vancouver on Tuesday
Local time
5:06 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°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
5 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 40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on I 5, accounting for 98% of the total mileage. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on I 5 for 225.6 miles. Surface roads, specifically East College Way and State Route 9, come into play near the beginning and end of the route. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic typical of major interstate travel for most of the trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.6 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and East College Way. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.9 miles in.
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 11 significant decision points across 233.3 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 6.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 100.5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 226.7 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
547 ft
26 ft
Total Climb
1,573 ft
Total Descent
1,431 ft
Highest Point
547 ft
~50 mi in
Elevation Range
521 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Vancouver, WA
Full guide →Founded 1825
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
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 40m. Total distance: 233.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 225.6 miles on I 5. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 100.5 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 226.7 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Vancouver, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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