The drive from Ellensburg, WA to Everett, WA covers 129.2 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, I 405, I 5 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 95.7 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.6 miles from Ellensburg, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
95.7 mi
1h 46m
I 405
18.4 mi
23m
I 5
9.1 mi
11m
West University Way
2.1 mi
4m
Broadway
0.9 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
US 97
0.1 mi
<1m
West 5th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 95.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 125 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,530 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,416
Quietest
2 AM
~139 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Ellensburg, WA and Everett, WA.
1
Start on West 5th Avenue
216 ft·11 sec·West 5th Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto West University Way
2.1 mi·4 min·West University Way
4
Enter roundabout onto US 97
110 ft·6 sec·US 97
5
Continue on US 97
528 ft·14 sec·US 97
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 90 West
7
Merge onto I 90
96 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 10Toward I 405: Renton, EverettUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 405 North: Everett, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 405
8.1 mi·10 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
8.4 mi·10 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
1.9 mi·2 min·I 405
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 5
9.1 mi·11 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 192Toward Everett City Center, Naval Station, Port of EverettUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward BroadwayUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto Broadway
0.9 mi·1 min·Broadway
18
Turn left onto Hewitt Avenue
128 ft·2 sec·Hewitt Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Hewitt Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.6 miles from Ellensburg, WA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.7 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.6 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Everett, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg, WA
This is one driving day of about 129.2 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Ellensburg, 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 95.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 98.6 and 127.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
98.6 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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
8
98.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
7
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver British Columbia
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 North: Everett, Vancouver British Co...
8
127.3 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward Everett City Center, Naval Station, Port of 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 192
Toward Everett City Center, Naval Station, Port...
7
127.6 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Broadway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Broadway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.20 one way
$54.41 round trip
$5.35/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.56
$28.26
$56.52
premium
$5.76
$29.28
$58.56
diesel
$5.60
$28.48
$56.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.8
0
$13.57
$6.20
Efficient EV
32.3
0
$11.31
$5.17
EV Truck/SUV
51.7
0
$18.09
$8.27
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Ellensburg, WA
Night
in Ellensburg on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Everett, WA
Night
in Everett on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
57°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
4 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
2h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 102.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
129.2 mi in 2h 33m, mostly highway — 95.7 mi of that is on I 90.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.7 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 98.6 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 15 significant decision points across 129.2 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: at 98.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.7 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
2,903 ft76 ft
Total Climb
2,225 ft
Total Descent
3,678 ft
Highest Point
2,903 ft
~55.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,828 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ellensburg, WA and Everett, WA, road signs point toward Bellevue and Vancouver British Columbia.
Ellensburg is a city of 21,000 people (2019) in the North Central Cascades of Washington State. It is home to Central Washington University, and also to the Ellensburg Rodeo.
Top landmarks
•Ellensburg — former train station in Ellensburg, Washington, United States
Everett is a city in the Puget Sound region of Washington State, 28 mi (45 km) north of Seattle at the edge of its metropolitan area. The city supports one of Boeing's oldest and largest airplane manufacturing centers, which includes the world's largest building by volume.
Top landmarks
•Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour — Boeing
•Equator — 1888 two-masted pygmy trading schooner
•Everett High School — high school in Everett, Washington
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 129.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m 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 95.7 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Everett, 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 98.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.7 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Everett, WA before heading back.
