Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
25.9 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ellensburg, WA
Wikimedia Commons
South Cle Elum, WA
Chris F
If you are looking for a quick transition between Ellensburg and South Cle Elum, this 25.9-mile drive is a straightforward journey that takes roughly 34 minutes to complete. It is perfectly suited as a simple day trip, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $5 on fuel for this short excursion. The route keeps you within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, making it an efficient way to navigate between these two points. Because the distance is so manageable, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your own needs rather than worrying about road fatigue.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 21.4 mi | 22m |
| West University Way | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| South Cle Elum Way | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South Oaks Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Railroad Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 97 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 5th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,308 veh/hr typical · worst 2,237
Quietest
2 AM
~114 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Ellensburg, WA and South Cle Elum, WA.
Start on West 5th Avenue
Turn right onto North Main Street
Turn left onto West University Way
Enter roundabout onto US 97
Continue on US 97
Take the exit
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Turn right onto South Oaks Avenue
Turn left onto West Railroad Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Cle Elum Way
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto West University Way
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto US 97
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward I 90 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward Exit 84: Cle Elum
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$5.74 one way
$11.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.91 | $6.02 | $12.04 |
| premium | $6.08 | $6.20 | $12.40 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $5.46 | $10.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Ellensburg on Wednesday
Local time
4:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 11:46AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Afternoon in South Cle Elum on Wednesday
Local time
4:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 27 at 11:46AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of your travel time spent on major roads like I-90. You will find yourself cruising along a significant 21.4-mile stretch of interstate, which makes up the bulk of the journey. The experience transitions from West University Way onto the interstate before finishing via South Cle Elum Way. Expect a consistent, fast-paced drive that prioritizes direct transit over winding backroads. Being behind the wheel here is a functional experience, perfect for those who prefer steady highway speeds over technical maneuvering.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and West University Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (West University Way): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 97): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
815 ft
Total Descent
429 ft
Highest Point
2,319 ft
~16.6 mi in
Elevation Range
783 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ellensburg, WA to South Cle Elum, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Exit 84: Cle Elum along the way.
Exit 84: Cle Elum
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg, WA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg
Cuisine: regional
Hours: Mo-Su 07:00-17:00
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop;breakfast
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: Tu-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:00; Su...
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-15:30
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg, WA
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg, WA
Cuisine: pita
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg, WA
Cuisine: italian;pizza
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg, WA
Cuisine: burger
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg, WA
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: 10:30-01:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg, WA
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: We-Mo 11:00-19:00
Camp_site
Later in the drive, short detour
Picnic_site
Later in the drive, short detour
Picnic_site
Around the midpoint, short detour
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Ellensburg, WA
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
Yes
Near the end, right off the route
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
Cle Elum, WA
Hours: Apr-Sep Fr-Su 12:00-16:00
Visit websiteMuseum
Near the end, right off the route
Motel
Near the end, right off the route
Motel
Near the end, right off the route
Motel
Near the end, right off the route
Motel
Near the end, right off the route
Motel
Near the start, right off the route
Motel
Near the end, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Founded 1883
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 25.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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