Kennewick, WA to Shoreline, WA is 236.9 miles and takes about 4h 30m via US 97, US 12, and I 82, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route covers a good portion of Washington State, starting in the Pacific Northwest's interior and heading toward the Puget Sound region. It's a predominantly highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. You'll experience a mix of landscapes as you travel, so plan for a practical and efficient transit between these two points.
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
118.5 miles from Kennewick, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
107.5 mi
2h 1m
US 12
70.9 mi
1h 17m
I 82
31 mi
33m
WA 240
11.6 mi
13m
I 5
10.4 mi
12m
Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
1.3 mi
1m
North 175th Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 107.5 mi, about 2h 1m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 75 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,875 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,580
Quietest
2 AM
~143 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
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 Shoreline, 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
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
107 mi·2 hr 1 min·US 97
Toward I 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 90
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 2CToward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, Madison Street, Convention Center
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 5 North: Everett, Vancouver
16
Merge onto I 5
10 mi·12 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 176Toward Northeast 175th Street, ShorelineUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto Northeast 175th Street
151 ft·4 sec·Northeast 175th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on North 175th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North 175th Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left
448 ft·38 sec
21
Turn left
111 ft·8 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4.5-hour estimated drive time, leaving Kennewick in the morning will allow you to reach Shoreline with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is designed for efficiency, so you can decide on your stops as you go, though planning for one fuel or rest break is sensible. Since it's a relatively short, mostly highway drive, flexibility is key; you can adjust your pace based on traffic or your own energy levels. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 107.5-mile stretch on US 97, as services might be more spread out in that section.
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 118.5 miles from Kennewick, WA, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.5 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 52 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.5 miles or 2h 12m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shoreline, 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 236.9 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 97 for about 107.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 236.2 — 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.
7
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 West
8
224.3 mi into trip|~4h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison Street
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 2C
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, J...
8
236 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward Northeast 175th Street, Shoreline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 176
Toward Northeast 175th Street, Shoreline
7
236.2 mi into trip|~4h 28m in|Northeast 175th Street
Turn left onto Northeast 175th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.49 one way
$104.98 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.91
$55.07
$110.15
premium
$6.08
$56.71
$113.41
diesel
$5.35
$49.90
$99.80
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: 82.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
Efficient EV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
EV Truck/SUV
94.8
1
$33.17
$15.16
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of May 31, 2026
Origin
Kennewick, WA
Afternoon
in Kennewick on Wednesday
Local time
1:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
W 3 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shoreline, WA
Afternoon
in Shoreline on Wednesday
Local time
1:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
N 1 to 9 mph0% chanceLive 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
14 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 30m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 228.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely highway driving, with 98% of the 236.9 miles on major roads. You'll have a continuous stretch of 107.5 miles on US 97, which is the longest segment without a significant change in road type. Expect minimal time on surface streets, as the route prioritizes efficient travel. The extensive highway usage means you'll likely encounter consistent cruising speeds and a predictable driving experience for most of the 4.5-hour duration.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.5 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 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 16 significant decision points across 236.9 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 115.5 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 224.3 miles: 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
2,539 ft69 ft
Total Climb
3,152 ft
Total Descent
3,084 ft
Highest Point
2,539 ft
~169.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,470 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 Shoreline, WA, road signs point toward Yakima and Convention Center.
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 4h 30m. Total distance: 236.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.5 miles on US 97. 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.
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 Shoreline, 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 12 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 115.5 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 224.3 miles: 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Shoreline, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
