Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 6m
Distance
263.5 mi
424 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kennewick, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Lacey, WA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Kennewick, WA to Lacey, WA covers 263.5 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 97, US 12, I 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 85.7 miles on US 97. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
131.8 miles from Kennewick, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 97 | 85.7 mi | 1h 35m |
| US 12 | 70.9 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 5 | 32.1 mi | 40m |
| I 82 | 31 mi | 33m |
| State Route 18 | 26.7 mi | 34m |
| WA 240 | 11.6 mi | 13m |
| College Street Southeast | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Fruitland Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 174 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,281 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~556 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Kennewick, WA and Lacey, WA.
Start on North Newport Street
Turn left onto West Kennewick Avenue
Turn left onto North Fruitland Street
Turn left onto West Columbia Drive
Enter roundabout onto WA 240
Continue on WA 240
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 240
Continue on I 182; US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
Continue on I 82; US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto WA 18
Continue on WA 18
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn right onto Martin Way East
Turn left onto College Street Southeast
Continue on College Street Southeast
Arrive at destination
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.
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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.8 miles or 2h 27m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lacey, WA than in the middle of the route.
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 263.5 miles and 5h 6m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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.
A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 131.8 miles from Kennewick, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 97 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 115.5 and 229.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$55.48 one way
$110.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.56 | $57.64 | $115.28 |
| premium | $5.76 | $59.71 | $119.43 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $58.08 | $116.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.1 | 0 | $27.67 | $12.65 |
| Efficient EV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.06 | $10.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.4 | 1 | $36.89 | $16.86 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Kennewick on Friday
Local time
12:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Lacey on Friday
Local time
12:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
263.5 mi in 5h 6m, mostly highway — 85.7 mi of that is on US 97.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and US 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115.5 miles in near US 97.
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 19 significant decision points across 263.5 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 115.5 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 201.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 201.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,183 ft
Total Descent
3,386 ft
Highest Point
2,538 ft
~169.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,422 ft
Notable High Points
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kennewick, WA and Lacey, WA, road signs point toward Yakima, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.
Yakima
Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn
Tacoma
Founded 1904
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.
Lacey is a city in the southern Puget Sound region in the state of Washington. It is just east of Olympia, Washington state's capital.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 263.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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