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.
Main Roads
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
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 21.4 mi, about 22m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
noon
~1,306 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,348
Quietest
2 AM
~126 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 South Cle Elum, 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
21 mi·22 min·I 90
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Exit 84: Cle Elum
9
Turn right onto South Oaks Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·South Oaks Avenue
10
Turn left onto West Railroad Street
0.2 mi·53 sec·West Railroad Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto South Cle Elum Way
0.8 mi·2 min·South Cle Elum Way
12
Turn right
188 ft·13 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
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.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|West University Way
Turn left onto West University Way
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|US 97
Enter roundabout onto US 97
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 West
4
24.3 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward Exit 84: Cle Elum
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Exit 84: Cle Elum
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.54 one way
$11.08 round trip
$5.43/gal25.4 MPG avg9 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.68
$5.79
$11.58
premium
$5.89
$6.01
$12.01
diesel
$6.28
$6.40
$12.80
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, 2026-10-19.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Ellensburg, WA
Evening
in Ellensburg on Thursday
Local time
5:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Patchy Frost then Mostly Sunny
NW 0 to 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 3:45AM PDT until October 23 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 1:10AM PDT until October 23 at 3:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
South Cle Elum, WA
Evening
in South Cle Elum on Thursday
Local time
5:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 0 to 9 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 3:45AM PDT until October 23 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 22 at 1:10AM PDT until October 23 at 3:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
34m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
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.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.4 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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.
Driving Effort4/10
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
2,319 ft1,536 ft
Total Climb
815 ft
Total Descent
429 ft
Highest Point
2,319 ft
~16.6 mi in
Elevation Range
783 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
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
24.3 mi in|~30m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
The longest stretch is about 21.4 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Cle Elum, WA before heading back.
