Spanning 207.8 miles, this cross-state journey from Hoquiam to Yakima takes approximately 4 hours and 32 minutes of pure drive time. Because the route is straightforward, you can easily complete it as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget about $44 for fuel to cover the distance across Washington. While both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will see the landscape transition significantly as you move inland. This highway-focused drive is a practical choice if you are looking for a direct link between the coast and the interior of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
103.9 miles from Hoquiam, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
156.3 mi
3h 10m
US Highway 12
23.9 mi
35m
Olympic Highway
19.1 mi
25m
Simpson Avenue
2.9 mi
7m
North 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
East Wishkah Street
1.4 mi
2m
West Pine Street
0.8 mi
2m
West Market Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 156.3 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hoquiam, WA and Yakima, WA.
1
Start on WA 109
2.9 mi·7 min·Simpson Avenue
2
Turn slight right onto US 101
0.4 mi·1 min·North Park Street
3
Turn left onto West Market Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West Market Street
4
Enter roundabout onto South F Street
21 ft·0 sec·South F Street
5
Continue on South F Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·South F Street
6
Turn left onto US 12
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Heron Street
7
Continue on US 12
474 ft·13 sec·Hornsby Way
8
Turn right onto US 12
1.4 mi·2 min·East Wishkah Street
9
Continue on US 12
19 mi·25 min·Olympic Highway
10
Take the exit onto US 12
0.2 mi·32 sec·US 12
Toward US 12 East: Oakville, Centralia
11
Turn right onto US 12
13 mi·19 min·US Highway 12
12
Continue on US 12
0.8 mi·2 min·West Pine Street
13
Continue on US 12
3.3 mi·4 min·US Highway 12
14
Enter roundabout onto US 12
92 ft·1 sec·US Highway 12
15
Continue on US 12
7.2 mi·10 min·US Highway 12
16
Enter roundabout onto US 12
120 ft·2 sec·US 12
17
Continue on US 12
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 12
18
Take the ramp onto US 12
20 mi·22 min·US 12
Toward I 5 South
19
Take the exit onto US 12
0.4 mi·1 min·US 12
Toward US 12 East: Morton, Yakima
20
Continue on US 12
119 mi·2 hr 22 min·US 12
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on US 12
17 mi·22 min·US 12
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward North 1st Street
23
Turn straight onto Selah Road
298 ft·5 sec·Selah Road
24
Continue on North 1st Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North 1st Street
25
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a roughly 4.5-hour trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and reset. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to navigate the 207.8-mile distance before traffic patterns intensify. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 156.3-mile stretch on US 12, as finding service stations can be less frequent depending on your exact pace. Because the drive is manageable in one go, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preference. Prioritize checking your tire pressure and fluid levels before you leave Hoquiam to ensure your vehicle is ready for the long, sustained highway travel ahead.
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 103.9 miles from Hoquiam, WA, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.3 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 46 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.9 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
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 Hoquiam, 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 Hoquiam, WA
This is one driving day of about 207.8 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Hoquiam, 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 US 12 for about 156.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 69.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.2 mi into trip|~8m in|West Market Street
Turn left onto West Market Street
Navigation decision point
4
4 mi into trip|~10m in|South F Street
Enter roundabout onto South F Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
24.9 mi into trip|~39m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward US 12 East: Oakville, Centralia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 East: Oakville, Centralia
5
50.3 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 12
Take the ramp onto US 12 toward I 5 South
Navigation decision point
Toward I 5 South
5
69.8 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward US 12 East: Morton, Yakima
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 East: Morton, Yakima
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.49 one way
$86.98 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$45.61
$91.22
premium
$5.77
$47.19
$94.38
diesel
$5.61
$45.88
$91.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.82
$9.97
Efficient EV
52
0
$18.18
$8.31
EV Truck/SUV
83.1
1
$29.09
$13.30
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jun 22, 2022
Origin
Hoquiam, WA
Morning
in Hoquiam on Sunday
Local time
7:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Morning
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
7:23 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
10 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
4h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Mount Rainier National Park
National Park
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning fi...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$30
near mile 143.3
Park Closure: Paradise Road Status: Gate closed at Longmire, projected to be closed
Park Closure: Starting Monday, April 13, no water available at Paradise & Narada Falls.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient journey, as 87 percent of this trip is spent on highways. Your primary artery for the duration of the trip is US 12, also known as the Olympic Highway, which keeps your pace consistent. You will settle into a long haul for the majority of the trip, with the longest uninterrupted stretch measuring 156.3 miles on US 12. This creates a road personality that prioritizes steady progress over technical local maneuvers. You should prepare for a focused, highway-heavy experience that demands steady attention rather than frequent gear changes.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.3 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US Highway 12. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near West Market Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 32m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (West Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (South F Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 24.9 miles (US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Hoquiam, WA to Yakima, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Centralia along the way.
Centralia
24.9 mi in|~39m|via US 12
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 207.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 156.3 miles on US 12. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (West Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (South F Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 24.9 miles (US 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Mount Rainier National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Yakima, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
