Connecting Kennewick to Yakima is a straightforward 84-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple day excursion, requiring no overnight stays to manage the distance comfortably. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to cover the transit between these two Pacific Coast region cities. Because the route is compact, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery. Expect a direct, efficient drive that keeps you moving toward your destination without the need for complex planning or multiple rest stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from Kennewick, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
69.1 mi
1h 14m
WA 240
11.6 mi
13m
East Yakima Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Kennewick Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Columbia Drive
0.5 mi
1m
North Newport Street
0.1 mi
<1m
I 182
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kennewick, WA and Yakima, 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
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Yakima Avenue
12
Turn straight onto East Yakima Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·East Yakima Avenue
13
Turn left onto South 1st Street
75 ft·2 sec·South 1st Street
14
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart at almost any time of day without worrying about fatigue. Given the lack of mandatory stops, you can easily complete the 84-mile trek in one go, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Kennewick is always a smart move. Because the vast majority of your time is spent on major highways, remain alert to changing traffic patterns as you transition off US 12 and into the local roads of Yakima. Use the flexibility of this short drive to your benefit by planning your departure around peak traffic hours to ensure the smoothest possible transition into the city center.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42 miles from Kennewick, WA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yakima, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kennewick, WA
This is one driving day of about 84 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Kennewick, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 69.1 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 0.7 and 82.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|North Fruitland Street
Turn left onto North Fruitland Street
Navigation decision point
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
5
82.6 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
5
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Yakima Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Yakima Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.58 one way
$35.16 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$18.44
$36.87
premium
$5.77
$19.08
$38.15
diesel
$5.61
$18.55
$37.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.82
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.35
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kennewick, WA
Late night
in Kennewick on Sunday
Local time
4:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
4:31 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
5 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
1h 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 96% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will navigate primarily via US 12, WA 240, and eventually East Yakima Avenue as you approach the city. The most significant portion of your travel occurs on a 69.1-mile uninterrupted stretch along US 12, which defines the steady pace of the drive. While the road remains consistent and fast-moving, the transition from open highway to the local streets of Yakima provides a clear shift in the driving environment. It is a no-nonsense commute that favors speed and reliability over winding, technical backroads.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.1 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and WA 240. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near North Fruitland Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 84 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 0.7 miles (North Fruitland Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 84 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.1 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Yakima, WA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (North Fruitland Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yakima, WA before heading back.
