Traveling from Kent to College Place covers 268.3 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Because this is a highway-focused route utilizing I-90, I-82, and US-12, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $56 for fuel to complete the journey. While both your origin and destination sit within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, the drive transitions you across the state’s diverse geography. It is a straightforward haul that gets you from the Puget Sound area to the Walla Walla Valley efficiently, making it a solid choice for those who value speed and direct navigation over secondary roads.
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
134.2 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
84.5 mi
1h 33m
I 82
64.1 mi
1h 8m
US 12
54.8 mi
1h 2m
US 97
37.8 mi
42m
State Route 18
15.7 mi
20m
Wallula Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
Southeast 272nd Street
2.1 mi
4m
Southeast Kent Kangley Road
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 84.5 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 27 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,339 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,355
Quietest
2 AM
~108 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
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 Kent, WA and College Place, WA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue South
10 ft·7 sec·2nd Avenue South
2
Turn left onto West Gowe Street
0.3 mi·52 sec·West Gowe Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Continue on East Titus Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·East Titus Street
4
Turn right onto WA 516
0.1 mi·19 sec·East Smith Street
5
Continue on WA 516
0.9 mi·1 min·Canyon Drive
6
Continue on WA 516
0.4 mi·50 sec·Southeast 256th Street
7
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 516
1.9 mi·3 min·Southeast Kent Kangley Road
8
Continue on WA 516
0.1 mi·13 sec·Southeast Kent-Kangley Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on WA 516
2.1 mi·4 min·Southeast 272nd Street
10
Turn left
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward WA 18 East: North BendUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto WA 18
16 mi·20 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
14
Merge onto I 90
85 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 97
38 mi·42 min·US 97
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 82; US 12
17
Take the exit onto US 12
55 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 12
Exit 102Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, PascoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Spalding Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Spalding Road
19
Turn left onto Old Highway 12
1.2 mi·2 min·Old Highway 12
20
Turn right onto Wallula Avenue
2.1 mi·3 min·Wallula Avenue
21
Enter roundabout
17 ft·0 sec
22
Continue
103 ft·4 sec
23
Continue on North College Avenue
0.2 mi·23 sec·North College Avenue
24
At end of road, turn right onto North College Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·North College Avenue
25
Turn left onto East Whitman Drive
61 ft·1 sec·East Whitman Drive
26
Arrive at destination
East Whitman Drive
Trip Plan
Plan for a one-stop itinerary to keep your energy levels consistent throughout the 5-hour journey. Since this is a highway-intensive drive, leaving early helps you avoid potential congestion on the main corridors. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer interstate stretches to ensure you aren't caught off guard between service points. Because the route is compact enough for a single day, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure to fit your schedule perfectly. A good rule of thumb is to utilize that planned stop around the halfway mark to stretch your legs, ensuring you arrive in College Place feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 134.2 miles from Kent, WA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.5 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 59 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.2 miles or 2h 38m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near College Place, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kent, 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 Kent, WA
This is one driving day of about 268.3 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Kent, 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 I 90 for about 84.5 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 0 and 209.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Gowe Street
Turn left onto West Gowe Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
6.1 mi into trip|~12m in
Turn left toward WA 18 East: North Bend
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 18 East: North Bend
5
6.5 mi into trip|~13m in|WA 18 / State Route 18
Merge onto WA 18 / State Route 18
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
107.5 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 97
Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
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.
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
8
209.5 mi into trip|~3h 59m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.27 one way
$104.53 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$54.76
$109.52
premium
$5.39
$56.95
$113.89
diesel
$4.80
$50.66
$101.32
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: 93.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.5
0
$28.17
$12.88
Efficient EV
67.1
0
$23.48
$10.73
EV Truck/SUV
107.3
1
$37.56
$17.17
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Kent, WA
Morning
in Kent on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
College Place, WA
Morning
in College Place on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Smoke
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 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
5 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
5h 9m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 96% of this trip consists of highway driving. You will spend your time navigating major arteries, with the longest uninterrupted segment reaching 84.5 miles along I-90. The road's personality is defined by its functional, interstate-heavy nature, prioritizing efficiency and consistent travel speeds. Because the path relies so heavily on I-90, I-82, and US-12, you can anticipate a predictable, well-maintained driving environment. This is an ideal route for drivers who prefer to set the cruise control and cover significant ground without the technical demands of winding local roads.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Gowe Street.
Driving Effort8/10
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 268.3 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: near the start (West Gowe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (WA 18 / State Route 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,531 ft44 ft
Total Climb
3,744 ft
Total Descent
2,994 ft
Highest Point
2,531 ft
~57.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,487 ft
Notable High Points
2,531 ft at ~57.5 miles+536 ft prominence
2,479 ft at ~115 miles+677 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kent, WA and College Place, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.
Known for its funny name and its famous Sweet Onions, Walla Walla in the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State is a pleasant stop with a charming downtown and booming wine industry.
This guide includes the neighboring city of College Place.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 268.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m 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 84.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 College Place, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Gowe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (WA 18 / State Route 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at College Place, WA before the return drive.
