Connecting Ephrata to Yakima is a straightforward 94.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 51 minutes behind the wheel. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. Budgeting roughly $20 for fuel should cover the trip comfortably in most vehicles. You will navigate primarily via Basin Street Southwest, I-90, and I-82. Both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, making this a localized transit between two central Washington hubs. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without requiring a major travel commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.4 miles from Ephrata, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
40.6 mi
43m
I 82
30.2 mi
32m
Basin Street Southwest
20.1 mi
27m
North 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
Selah Road
0.1 mi
<1m
3rd Avenue Southwest
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 1st Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 40.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ephrata, WA and Yakima, WA.
1
Start on 3rd Avenue Southwest
43 ft·6 sec·3rd Avenue Southwest
2
Turn left onto WA 28
20 mi·27 min·Basin Street Southwest
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 90 West: Seattle
4
Merge onto I 90
41 mi·43 min·I 90
5
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
6
Merge onto I 82; US 97
30 mi·32 min·I 82; US 97
7
Take the exit
314 ft·4 sec
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
9
Continue on WA 823
0.1 mi·13 sec·Selah Road
10
Continue on North 1st Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North 1st Street
11
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the sub-two-hour duration, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid local congestion. Since there are no designated stops on this 94.7-mile trek, make sure your fuel tank is ready to go before you pull out of Ephrata so you can complete the drive in one steady push. Keep an eye on your speed when moving between the interstate systems, as traffic patterns can shift quickly at the junctions. Because the drive is short, you have the advantage of arriving in Yakima with plenty of time to spare for your afternoon plans. Prioritize a quick vehicle check before you leave to ensure a smooth transition through the 1 hour and 51 minutes of travel time.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.4 miles from Ephrata, WA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.6 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.4 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yakima, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ephrata, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ephrata, WA
This is one driving day of about 94.7 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ephrata, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 40.6 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 92.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest
Turn left onto WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
3
20.1 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 West: Seattle
Navigation decision point
Toward I 90 West: Seattle
5
61.1 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
5
92.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
5
92.8 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.82 one way
$39.64 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$20.79
$41.57
premium
$5.77
$21.51
$43.01
diesel
$5.61
$20.91
$41.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.55
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.29
$3.79
EV Truck/SUV
37.9
0
$13.26
$6.06
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ephrata, WA
Late night
in Ephrata on Sunday
Local time
1:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
1:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
3 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
1h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive, as 75% of your travel time will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly transition from local roads onto the interstate, where you can settle in for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 40.6 miles on I-90. The road character shifts from the initial local exit to the more consistent rhythm of high-speed highway driving. While there are no scheduled stops included in this route, the transition between I-90 and I-82 requires you to stay alert for highway signage. It is a functional commute that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, secondary roads.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 7 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 (WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 94.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 40.6 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yakima, WA before heading back.
