Issaquah to Kennewick is 210 miles and takes about 3 hours 54 minutes via I-90 and I-82, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington, moving from the Pacific Coast region eastward. Expect a predominantly highway experience for the majority of the drive. It's a straightforward trip, well-suited for a single day of travel without needing an overnight stop. Consider this route for its efficiency and directness.
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
104.9 miles from Issaquah, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
92.3 mi
1h 41m
I 82
64.1 mi
1h 8m
US 97
37.8 mi
42m
WA 240
7.3 mi
9m
US 12
5.5 mi
5m
West Columbia Drive
0.7 mi
1m
North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Kennewick Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 92.3 mi, about 1h 41m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,555 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,436
Quietest
2 AM
~112 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Issaquah, WA and Kennewick, WA.
1
Start on East Sunset Way
0.5 mi·1 min·East Sunset Way
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 90 East: SpokaneUse the right lane.
3
Merge onto I 90
92 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 97
38 mi·42 min·US 97
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 82; US 12
6
Take the exit onto US 12
5.5 mi·5 min·US 12
Exit 102Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
7
Take the exit onto WA 240
7.3 mi·9 min·WA 240
Toward SR 240 east: KennewickUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Enter roundabout onto West Columbia Drive
0.1 mi·9 sec·West Columbia Drive
9
Continue on West Columbia Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·West Columbia Drive
10
Turn right onto North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Fruitland Street
11
Turn right onto West Kennewick Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Kennewick Avenue
12
Turn right onto North Newport Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·North Newport Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Newport Street
Trip Plan
For this 3 hour 54 minute drive, leaving in the morning offers the most flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 209.9 miles, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. The estimated fuel cost is around $45, so plan accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 92.3-mile stretch on I-90, as services can be spaced out. Given the relatively short duration, you have the advantage of being able to depart at your leisure.
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 104.9 miles from Issaquah, WA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.3 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 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 1h 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 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kennewick, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Issaquah, 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 Issaquah, WA
This is one driving day of about 209.9 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Issaquah, 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 92.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 200.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East: Spokane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
93.2 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
6
195.2 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
6
200.7 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|WA 240
Take the exit onto WA 240 toward SR 240 east: Kennewick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 240 east: Kennewick
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.89 one way
$81.78 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$42.84
$85.68
premium
$5.39
$44.55
$89.10
diesel
$4.80
$39.63
$79.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63
0
$22.04
$10.08
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.37
$8.40
EV Truck/SUV
84
1
$29.39
$13.43
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Issaquah, WA
Evening
in Issaquah on Monday
Local time
5:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
NW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Kennewick, WA
Evening
in Kennewick on Monday
Local time
5:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
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
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 54m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 99% of this 209.9-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 92.3 miles along I-90. The transition to surface roads is minimal, with the vast majority of your time spent on this high-speed corridor. Expect steady cruising with few interruptions until you reach your destination.
99% 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: 92.3 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 209.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 miles (US 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,434 ft108 ft
Total Climb
3,296 ft
Total Descent
2,997 ft
Highest Point
2,434 ft
~45 mi in
Elevation Range
2,326 ft
Notable High Points
2,181 ft at ~104.9 miles+653 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Issaquah, WA and Kennewick, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.
Issaquah is a city of 40,000 people (2019) in King County in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Its historic downtown is a popular base for hiking in the foothills of the Cascades.
Top landmarks
•Issaquah Depot — railway station in Issaquah, the United States of America
•Issaquah Sportsmen's Club — building in Issaquah, Washington, United States
•Pickering Farm — human settlement in Issaquah, Washington, United States of America
Kennewick is a city in Benton County along the Columbia River of Washington State, roughly between the Yakima and Snake Rivers on the south bank of the Columbia.
Kennewick is the largest of the Tri-Cities of Washington, which also includes Pasco and Richland. The Tri-Cities are the third most populous metropolitan area in the state, after Seattle-Tacoma and Spokane.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 209.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 92.3 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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, 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.2 miles (US 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Kennewick, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
