Kennewick, WA to Hoquiam, WA is 291.3 miles and takes about 6h 4m via US 12, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington, moving between the Pacific Coast region. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a manageable one-day excursion. It’s a practical option if you need to get between these two points efficiently, with most of your travel time spent on the open road.
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
145.7 miles from Kennewick, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
255.8 mi
5h 7m
US Highway 12
16.8 mi
25m
WA 240
11.6 mi
13m
Sumner Avenue
2.1 mi
5m
East Market Street
0.7 mi
1m
East Pine Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Kennewick Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 255.8 mi, about 5h 7m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,432 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,044
Quietest
1 AM
~251 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.7×
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 Kennewick, WA and Hoquiam, WA.
1
Start on North Newport Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·North Newport Street
2
Turn left onto West Kennewick Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Kennewick Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Fruitland Street
4
Turn left onto West Columbia Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·West Columbia Drive
5
Enter roundabout onto WA 240
0.1 mi·8 sec·WA 240
6
Continue on WA 240
6.4 mi·8 min·WA 240
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 240
5.1 mi·5 min·WA 240
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 182; US 12
0.1 mi·7 sec·I 182; US 12
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
71 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
10
Take the exit onto US 12
0.1 mi·10 sec·US 12
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street: White Pass, Chinook Pass, Naches
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
18 mi·23 min·US 12
Toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
12
Turn left onto US 12
119 mi·2 hr 22 min·US 12
13
Take the exit onto US 12
20 mi·22 min·US 12
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 12 West: Aberdeen, Tenino
15
Turn left onto US 12
0.6 mi·1 min·US 12
Use the straight lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto US 12
143 ft·2 sec·US 12
17
Continue on US 12
7.2 mi·10 min·US 12
18
Enter roundabout onto US 12
90 ft·1 sec·US Highway 12
19
Continue on US 12
3.3 mi·4 min·US Highway 12
20
Continue on US 12
0.6 mi·1 min·East Pine Street
21
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·40 sec·West Pine Street
22
Continue on US 12
13 mi·20 min·US Highway 12
23
Take the ramp onto US 12
21 mi·29 min·US 12
Toward Montesano, Aberdeen
24
Turn slight right onto Fuller Way
397 ft·11 sec·Fuller Way
25
Enter roundabout onto East Market Street
174 ft·4 sec·East Market Street
26
Continue on East Market Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Market Street
27
Turn right onto US 101
0.4 mi·59 sec·North Alder Street
28
Turn slight left onto US 101
2.1 mi·5 min·Sumner Avenue
29
Continue on US 101
0.5 mi·1 min·Riverside Avenue
30
Turn right onto US 101
0.1 mi·24 sec·Levee Street
31
Turn left onto WA 109
0.2 mi·28 sec·Emerson Avenue
Toward Ocean Shores, Taholah
32
Turn sharp left onto WA 109
37 ft·0 sec·Simpson Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
WA 109
Trip Plan
Since this route is designed for a single day, leaving Kennewick in the morning is your best bet. You'll be on US 12 for the bulk of the drive, covering 255.8 miles on this highway alone. Plan for one stop to break up the 6-hour drive and refuel; consider doing this before you get too far into the longest stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Hoquiam, and be aware that the final miles will be on surface roads as you exit the highway system.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.7 miles from Kennewick, WA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 255.8 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 64 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.7 miles or 2h 51m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hoquiam, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kennewick, 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 Kennewick, WA
This is one driving day of about 291.3 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Kennewick, 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 255.8 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 291.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.3 mi into trip|~12m in|WA 240
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 240
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
13.5 mi into trip|~18m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
6
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
6
240.9 mi into trip|~4h 45m in|US 12
Turn left onto US 12
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
291.1 mi into trip|~6h 3m in|WA 109 / Emerson Avenue
Turn left onto WA 109 / Emerson Avenue toward Ocean Shores, Taholah
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Ocean Shores, Taholah
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.75 one way
$113.49 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$59.45
$118.91
premium
$5.39
$61.83
$123.65
diesel
$4.80
$55.00
$110.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.4
1
$30.59
$13.98
Efficient EV
72.8
0
$25.49
$11.65
EV Truck/SUV
116.5
1
$40.78
$18.64
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Kennewick, WA
Morning
in Kennewick on Sunday
Local time
9:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SW 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Hoquiam, WA
Morning
in Hoquiam on Sunday
Local time
9:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Sunny
W 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 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
31 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
6h 4m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
$30
near mile 150.7
Park Closure: Regular nightly closures of the Longmire gate have ended for the season.
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 98% of this trip, covering 291.3 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 255.8 miles, primarily on US 12. After this, you'll transition to surface roads for the final portion of the drive. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate a consistent cruising experience with fewer interruptions.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 255.8 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US Highway 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in near WA 240.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 291.3 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 8.3 miles (WA 240): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.6 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,956 ft12 ft
Total Climb
2,676 ft
Total Descent
3,072 ft
Highest Point
2,956 ft
~124.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,945 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kennewick, WA and Hoquiam, WA, road signs point toward 1St Street: White Pass, Chinook Pass, Naches, White Pass, Tenino and Montesano - among others.
1St Street: White Pass
84.5 mi in|~1h 35m|via US 12
Chinook Pass
84.5 mi in|~1h 35m|via US 12
Naches
84.5 mi in|~1h 35m|via US 12
White Pass
84.6 mi in|~1h 35m|via US 12
Tenino
240.6 mi in|~4h 44m
Montesano
266.3 mi in|~5h 24m|via US 12
Aberdeen
266.3 mi in|~5h 24m|via US 12
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 6h 4m. Total distance: 291.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 255.8 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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 Hoquiam, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (WA 240): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.6 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Mount Rainier National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hoquiam, WA before the return drive.
