Origin
Kelso, WA
Night in Kelso on Saturday
Local time
9:14 PM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kelso, WA to Pasco, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 53m
Distance
250.6 mi
403 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 40m
★
6 AM
4h 54m
8 AM
5h 21m
10 AM
5h 3m
12 PM
5h 0m
3 PM
5h 4m
5 PM
5h 19m
8 PM
4h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kelso, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Pasco, WA
nicholas hatherly
Trip Overview
This 250.6-mile journey from Kelso, WA to Pasco, WA will take approximately 4 hours and 53 minutes of driving time. It's a manageable one-day trip, allowing you to complete the drive without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on US 12 and I-82, with a brief stint on I-5. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $52. This highway-focused drive is a practical way to traverse the state of Washington, moving from one side to the other efficiently. Given its direct nature, it's a straightforward transit rather than a leisurely exploration.
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
125.3 miles from Kelso, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 12 | 156.6 mi | 3h 8m |
| I 82 | 64.1 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 5 | 27.1 mi | 29m |
| North Kelso Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 4th Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Court Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Pacific Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North 8th Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 156.6 mi, about 3h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kelso, WA and Pasco, WA.
1
Start on North 4th Avenue
32 ft
·
5 sec
·
North 4th Avenue
2
Turn right onto WA 4
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Cowlitz Way
3
Turn right onto North Pacific Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Pacific Avenue
4
Continue on North Kelso Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kelso Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
6
Merge onto I 5
27 mi
·
29 min
·
I 5
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 12 East: Morton, Yakima
8
Turn right onto US 12
119 mi
·
2 hr 22 min
·
US 12
9
Continue on US 12
23 mi
·
30 min
·
US 12
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 82; US 12
11
Take the exit onto US 12
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 12
Exit 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 13
Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Avenue
14
Turn right onto Court Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Court Street
15
Turn left onto North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
North 8th Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
North 8th Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 53-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Kelso to make the most of your day. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 156.6-mile stretch on US 12, as services can be less frequent on certain highway segments. The estimated fuel cost of $52 is a good budget point to keep in mind. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your schedule on the fly.
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 125.3 miles from Kelso, WA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.6 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 55 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.3 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pasco, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kelso, 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 Kelso, WA
This is one driving day of about 250.6 miles and 4h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Kelso, 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 156.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.3 miles from Kelso, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 12 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 156.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 249.4 — 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
|
WA 4 / Cowlitz Way
Turn right onto WA 4 / Cowlitz Way
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Pacific Avenue
Turn right onto North Pacific Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
28.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit 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
8
235 mi into trip
|
~4h 34m 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
7
249.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 50m in
Take the exit toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.45 one way
$104.90 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $55.00 | $110.01 |
| premium | $5.77 | $56.91 | $113.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.33 | $110.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.31 | $12.03 |
| Efficient EV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.93 | $10.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.2 | 1 | $35.08 | $16.04 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Pasco, WA
Night in Pasco on Saturday
Local time
9:14 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
7 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
4h 53m 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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
$30
near mile 103.7
Park Closure: Paradise Road Status: Gate closed at Longmire, projected to open tomorrow
Park Closure: SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge is closed: no access to Carbon River or Mowich Lake.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 99% of the drive being on major roads like US 12 and I-82. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 156.6 miles, primarily on US 12, meaning you can settle in for a solid period of driving. While it's a highway drive, US 12 offers a different feel than a pure interstate, potentially providing more varied scenery as you transition across Washington. The route is designed for efficient travel, so don't anticipate many winding backroads.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.6 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and I 82. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WA 4 / Cowlitz Way.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 53m 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: near the start (WA 4 / Cowlitz Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Pacific Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28.4 miles: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kelso, WA and Pasco, WA, road signs point toward Yakima and I‑182 East.
Yakima
28.4 mi in
|
~32m
I‑182 East
235 mi in
|
~4h 34m
|
via US 12
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 250.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.6 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: near the start (WA 4 / Cowlitz Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Pacific Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28.4 miles: 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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Pasco, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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