Kent, WA to Tonasket, WA is 258.9 miles and takes about 5h 29m via Sunset Highway and I-90, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington State, beginning in the Pacific Coast region and concluding in the same general area. It's a predominantly highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. You'll likely encounter a mix of urban and more rural highway cruising as you make your way east. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without extensive planning.
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
129.5 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sunset Highway
90.1 mi
1h 56m
I 90
59.8 mi
1h 6m
US 97
59.4 mi
1h 15m
US 2
16.6 mi
22m
State Route 18
15.7 mi
20m
WA 970
9.9 mi
12m
Southeast 272nd Street
2.1 mi
4m
Southeast Kent Kangley Road
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Sunset Highway
— 90.1 mi, about 1h 56m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 54 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,339 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,424
Quietest
2 AM
~114 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Tonasket, 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
60 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward Cle Elum, Leavenworth
16
Turn left onto WA 970
0.4 mi·33 sec·Sunset Highway
17
At end of road, turn right onto WA 970
0.1 mi·10 sec·WA 970
18
Take the exit onto WA 970
9.8 mi·12 min·WA 970
19
Continue on US 97
35 mi·44 min·US 97
20
Take the exit onto US 97
15 mi·19 min·US 2
21
Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 97
132 ft·5 sec·US 2; US 97
22
Continue on US 2; US 97
1.8 mi·3 min·US 2; US 97
23
Turn left onto US 2; US 97
3.0 mi·4 min·Sunset Highway
24
Enter roundabout onto US 2; US 97
85 ft·2 sec·Sunset Highway
25
Continue on US 2; US 97
87 mi·1 hr 50 min·Sunset Highway
26
Continue on US 97; WA 20
24 mi·31 min·US 97; WA 20
27
Arrive at destination
US 97
Trip Plan
For this 5.5-hour drive, leaving Kent, WA in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is 90.1 miles. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, this trip can easily be completed in one day. Plan your fuel stops accordingly, especially before embarking on longer highway segments.
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 129.5 miles from Kent, WA, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.1 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 57 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.5 miles or 2h 41m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tonasket, 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 258.9 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 Sunset Highway for about 90.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 82.8 — 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.
5
82.8 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward Cle Elum, Leavenworth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Cle Elum, Leavenworth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.39 one way
$110.78 round trip
$5.43/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.68
$57.90
$115.79
premium
$5.89
$60.05
$120.09
diesel
$6.28
$63.97
$127.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.7
0
$27.18
$12.43
Efficient EV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.36
EV Truck/SUV
103.6
1
$36.25
$16.57
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Kent, WA
Evening
in Kent on Thursday
Local time
7:20 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Cloudy
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tonasket, WA
Evening
in Tonasket on Thursday
Local time
7:20 PM
PDT
Current temp
39°F
Cloudy
N 2 mph3% chanceLive forecast
31°F
Leavenworth, WA
129 mi in
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
5h 29m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 62% of the 258.9 miles on major roads like Sunset Highway and I-90. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 90.1 miles on Sunset Highway. You'll experience a significant amount of highway driving before transitioning to other roads. Expect to see a good number of exits and merges as you navigate the route.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.1 mi on Sunset Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Sunset Highway and I 90. You will hit about 15 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 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 258.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 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
3,280 ft44 ft
Total Climb
4,264 ft
Total Descent
3,397 ft
Highest Point
3,280 ft
~111 mi in
Elevation Range
3,237 ft
Notable High Points
3,280 ft at ~111 miles+967 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 Tonasket, WA, road signs point toward Cle Elum and Leavenworth.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 29m. Total distance: 258.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.1 miles on Sunset Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Tonasket, 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 4 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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tonasket, WA before the return drive.
