Lakewood to Spokane Valley is 308.5 miles and takes about 5h 48m via I-90, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive mostly sticks to I-90, taking you across Washington State from the Pacific Coast region to the Inland Northwest. With a 99% highway share, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. It's a single-day excursion that requires minimal planning for most drivers.
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
154.2 miles from Lakewood, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
263.1 mi
4h 46m
State Route 18
27.3 mi
34m
I 5
13.6 mi
17m
100th Street Southwest
1.3 mi
2m
Bridgeport Way Southwest
0.5 mi
1m
WA 512
0.2 mi
<1m
South Tacoma Way
0.2 mi
<1m
Snoqualmie Parkway
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 263.1 mi, about 4h 46m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 126 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 Lakewood, WA and Spokane Valley, WA.
1
Start on Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest
31 ft·9 sec·Gravelly Lake Drive Southwest
2
Turn sharp right onto Bridgeport Way Southwest
0.5 mi·1 min·Bridgeport Way Southwest
3
Turn slight left onto 100th Street Southwest
1.3 mi·2 min·100th Street Southwest
4
Turn right onto South Tacoma Way
0.2 mi·25 sec·South Tacoma Way
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto WA 512
0.2 mi·17 sec·WA 512
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 5
5.4 mi·6 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
8.2 mi·10 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 142AToward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot ReservationUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto WA 18
27 mi·34 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
11 mi·14 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward WA 27
17
Turn left onto WA 27
148 ft·11 sec·North Pines Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
WA 27
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 48-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Spokane Valley. The route is primarily highway, so consider pacing yourself with a single stop, perhaps around the midway point, to refuel and stretch. The $65 fuel cost is an estimate, so be sure to check current prices. Given the 263.1-mile stretch on I-90, ensure your vehicle is topped off before entering that segment, as services can be more spread out.
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 154.2 miles from Lakewood, WA, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 263.1 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 68 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.2 miles or 2h 58m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spokane Valley, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, WA
This is one driving day of about 308.5 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Lakewood, 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 263.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 16.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|South Tacoma Way
Turn right onto South Tacoma Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2 mi into trip|~4m in|WA 512
Turn left onto WA 512
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
7
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
16.5 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
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 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservat...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.10 one way
$120.19 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$62.96
$125.93
premium
$5.39
$65.48
$130.95
diesel
$4.80
$58.25
$116.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.6
1
$32.39
$14.81
Efficient EV
77.1
0
$26.99
$12.34
EV Truck/SUV
123.4
1
$43.19
$19.74
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lakewood, WA
Late night
in Lakewood on Monday
Local time
2:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
WSW 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Spokane Valley, WA
Late night
in Spokane Valley on Monday
Local time
2:46 AM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Areas Of Smoke
SW 6 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM 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
13 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 48m 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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 31.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend nearly all your time on highways, with 99% of the 308.5-mile route on major roads like I-5, SR 18, and I-90. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 263.1 miles, all on I-90. Expect plenty of rural cruising once you get onto I-90, with fewer exits compared to urban interstate driving. The transition from SR 18 to I-90 is a key point where the road profile shifts to primarily high-speed travel.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 263.1 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near South Tacoma Way.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 308.5 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: at 1.8 miles (South Tacoma Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (WA 512): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,416 ft101 ft
Total Climb
3,713 ft
Total Descent
1,961 ft
Highest Point
2,416 ft
~286.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,315 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lakewood, WA to Spokane Valley, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Muckleshoot Reservation along the way.
Spokane is the second-largest city in Washington State, and the largest between Seattle and Minneapolis. It is the economic hub of the "Inland Empire", a name used for Eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle (pre-dating by nearly a century the use of the same title by a region in Southern California). It is at the north edge of the Palouse, where gently rolling hills of wheat fields end at the Spokane River valley.
This article also includes the suburbs of Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 308.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 263.1 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Spokane Valley, 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (South Tacoma Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (WA 512): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Spokane Valley, WA before the return drive.
