Spanning 158.9 miles, the drive from Fircrest to Yakima is a straightforward journey typically taking about 3 hours and 7 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you don't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $33 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Navigating through the Pacific Coast region, you will utilize a combination of I-90, US-97, and State Route 18 to reach your destination. This highway-focused path provides a direct link between the two cities, ensuring you spend your time on the road efficiently.
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
79.5 miles from Fircrest, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
84.5 mi
1h 33m
US 97
31.3 mi
34m
State Route 18
27.3 mi
34m
I 5
8.5 mi
10m
WA 16
1.9 mi
2m
North 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
Columbia Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Alameda Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 84.5 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fircrest, WA and Yakima, WA.
1
Start on Alameda Avenue
0.2 mi·45 sec·Alameda Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn right onto Columbia Avenue
0.3 mi·50 sec·Columbia Avenue
3
Continue on South 19th Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·South 19th Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto South Orchard Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Orchard Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward WA 16 East: Seattle, PortlandUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto WA 16
1.9 mi·2 min·WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 5 North: SeattleUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 5
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
8.2 mi·10 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 142AToward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot ReservationUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto WA 18
27 mi·34 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
15
Merge onto I 90
85 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 97
31 mi·34 min·US 97
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
314 ft·4 sec
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
19
Continue on WA 823
0.1 mi·13 sec·Selah Road
20
Continue on North 1st Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North 1st Street
21
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip requires only about 3 hours of driving, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 158.9-mile transit and keep your energy levels steady. Given the high percentage of highway driving, stay alert to changing traffic patterns on I-90, especially during peak travel times. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer highway segments to ensure you maintain your $33 budget without needing to hunt for stations in remote spots. Utilizing the single recommended stop effectively will help you arrive in Yakima feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 79.5 miles from Fircrest, WA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.5 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 35 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.5 miles or 1h 38m 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 34m
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 Fircrest, 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 Fircrest, WA
This is one driving day of about 158.9 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Fircrest, 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 84.5 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 0.7 and 125.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|South Orchard Street
Turn right onto South Orchard Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 16 East: Seattle, Portland
7
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
8
12.6 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
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 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservat...
7
125.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 97
Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
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 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.26 one way
$66.51 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$34.88
$69.75
premium
$5.77
$36.08
$72.17
diesel
$5.61
$35.08
$70.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.7
0
$16.68
$7.63
Efficient EV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.36
EV Truck/SUV
63.6
0
$22.25
$10.17
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Fircrest, WA
Night
in Fircrest on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Night
in Yakima on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
North Bend, WA
79 mi in
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
1 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
3h 7m 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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 27.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 97% of this trip is spent on major roads. The journey features a significant 84.5-mile stretch on I-90, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. You will navigate a transition between high-speed interstate travel and the specific flow of US-97 and State Route 18. This combination creates a consistent, fast-paced rhythm behind the wheel, allowing you to cover ground quickly. While the route is largely defined by its highway structure, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive feeling purposeful from start to finish.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 97. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near South Orchard Street.
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 158.9 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 0.7 miles (South Orchard Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Fircrest, WA to Yakima, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Muckleshoot Reservation along the way.
Muckleshoot Reservation
12.6 mi in|~18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 158.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.5 miles on I 90. 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 Yakima, 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 0.7 miles (South Orchard Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Yakima, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
