Kent, WA to Millwood, WA is 285 miles and takes about 5h 21m via I 90 and State Route 18, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington State, traversing the Pacific Coast region before heading eastward. Given its predominantly highway profile and single-day recommendation, it's a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a practical option for a quick cross-state excursion.
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
142.5 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
261 mi
4h 44m
State Route 18
15.7 mi
20m
Southeast 272nd Street
2.1 mi
4m
Southeast Kent Kangley Road
1.9 mi
3m
Canyon Drive
0.9 mi
1m
North Argonne Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Southeast 256th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West Gowe Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 261 mi, about 4h 44m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 63 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,426 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,032
Quietest
2 AM
~104 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.7×
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 Kent, WA and Millwood, 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
252 mi·4 hr 32 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
9.3 mi·11 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Millwood
17
Turn left onto North Mullan Road
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Mullan Road
18
Continue on North Argonne Road
0.4 mi·58 sec·North Argonne Road
19
Arrive at destination
North Argonne Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 285-mile drive, aim for an early morning departure to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially around the Seattle metropolitan area. With a recommended one-day duration and over five hours of estimated driving time, you'll want to plan for at least one stop for fuel and a break. The longest continuous stretch on I 90 is 261 miles, so ensure you have enough gas before embarking on that segment. Consider stopping around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel; this aligns well with the $63 fuel cost estimate.
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 142.5 miles from Kent, WA, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261 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 63 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.5 miles or 2h 44m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Millwood, 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 285 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 261 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 and 22.9 — 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.
4
2 mi into trip|~4m in|WA 516 / Southeast Kent Kangley Road
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 516 / Southeast Kent Kangley Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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.
5
22.9 mi into trip|~35m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.52 one way
$111.04 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$58.17
$116.33
premium
$5.39
$60.49
$120.98
diesel
$4.80
$53.81
$107.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.5
1
$29.93
$13.68
Efficient EV
71.3
0
$24.94
$11.40
EV Truck/SUV
114
1
$39.90
$18.24
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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 16, 2026
Origin
Kent, WA
Morning
in Kent on Sunday
Local time
9:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 2 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 6:13AM PDT until July 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued July 16 at 5:31AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Millwood, WA
Morning
in Millwood on Sunday
Local time
9:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
102°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 3 to 12 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 6:13AM PDT until July 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued July 16 at 5:31AM 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
42 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 21m 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?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 97% of the drive on major roads like I 90. You'll experience a long stretch of 261 miles on I 90, meaning you'll be in cruising mode for the vast majority of your trip. State Route 18 and Southeast 272nd Street will be your entry and exit points, offering a brief change of pace as you transition to and from the interstate system. Expect many exits and relatively consistent speeds for most of the 5h 21m travel time.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Route 18. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Gowe Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 285 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: near the start (West Gowe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (WA 516 / Southeast Kent Kangley Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 285 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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.
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 21 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 2 miles (WA 516 / Southeast Kent Kangley Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.1 miles: 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Millwood, WA before the return drive.
