Traveling from Kent to Sunnyside covers 175.3 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 26 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, it is perfectly manageable as a one-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $37 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to cross the state. Since the route relies on a combination of I-90, US-97, and I-82, you will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares. It serves as an efficient connection, allowing you to transition from the Pacific Coast region to your destination with ease. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, this route provides a predictable and reliable path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.6 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
84.5 mi
1h 33m
US 97
37.8 mi
42m
I 82
25.8 mi
27m
State Route 18
15.7 mi
20m
Yakima Valley Highway
2.5 mi
4m
Southeast 272nd Street
2.1 mi
4m
Southeast Kent Kangley Road
1.9 mi
3m
Canyon Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 84.5 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Sunnyside, 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
26 mi·27 min·I 82; US 12
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Sunnyside, Yakima Valley Highway
18
Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road
0.3 mi·30 sec·West Sunnyside Road
19
At end of road, turn right onto Yakima Valley Highway
2.5 mi·4 min·Yakima Valley Highway
20
Turn right onto Homer Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Homer Street
21
Turn right onto North 1st Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·North 1st Street
22
Continue on Zillah Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·Zillah Avenue
23
Continue on East Edison Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·East Edison Avenue
24
Turn sharp right onto South 9th Street
17 ft·0 sec·South 9th Street
25
Arrive at destination
South 9th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 175.3-mile journey, try to plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive and stretch your legs. Since you are spending nearly the entire trip on high-speed roads, monitor your fuel levels before merging onto I-90 to avoid unnecessary detours. Leaving early in the day can help you avoid potential traffic bottlenecks during your 3-hour and 26-minute transit. Given that the route is short enough for a single day of travel, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prioritize your fuel stops along the highway stretches, as these provide the most convenient access points for a quick refuel.
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 87.6 miles from Kent, WA, or about 1h 46m 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 39 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.6 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunnyside, 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 175.3 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 107.5 — 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.
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.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.69 one way
$73.38 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$38.48
$76.95
premium
$5.77
$39.81
$79.62
diesel
$5.61
$38.70
$77.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.6
0
$18.41
$8.41
Efficient EV
43.8
0
$15.34
$7.01
EV Truck/SUV
70.1
0
$24.54
$11.22
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 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 12, 2026
Origin
Kent, WA
Night
in Kent on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 3 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 12:32PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 8:35PM PDT until April 13 at 5:39AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Sunnyside, WA
Night
in Sunnyside on Saturday
Local time
9:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Light Rain
SW 2 to 7 mph36% chanceLive forecast
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 12:32PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 8:35PM PDT until April 13 at 5:39AM 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
7 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
3h 26m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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?
With 94% of the trip spent on highways, this drive is designed for steady, efficient progress rather than meandering local roads. You will encounter a mix of interstate travel and highway transitions, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 84.5 miles on I-90. Expect a fast-paced environment where you can maintain consistent speeds for most of the 3-hour and 26-minute duration. The road’s personality is defined by these large arteries, which keep the navigation simple and the pace brisk. While it lacks the technical challenges of backroads, the transition between the major highway systems keeps the drive engaging enough to stay focused while you navigate toward Sunnyside.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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 US 97. 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 15 significant decision points across 175.3 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 175.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Sunnyside, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Sunnyside, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
