Lea Hill, WA to Spokane Valley, WA is 284.6 miles and takes about 5h 18m via I 90, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily follows Interstate 90, making it a straightforward journey across Washington State. You'll be traveling from the Pacific Coast region to the same region, with the majority of your travel on a well-maintained highway. With a recommended single day of travel, this route is ideal for those looking for an efficient way to cover ground without extensive planning. It's a practical option for connecting these two points directly.
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
142.3 miles from Lea Hill, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
263.1 mi
4h 46m
State Route 18
18.3 mi
23m
Southeast 304th Street
1.2 mi
2m
124th Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Southeast 307th Place
0.2 mi
<1m
Snoqualmie Parkway
0.1 mi
<1m
132nd Avenue Southeast
0.1 mi
<1m
North Pines Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 263.1 mi, about 4h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lea Hill, WA and Spokane Valley, WA.
1
Start on this road
153 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Continue on Southeast 307th Place
0.2 mi·42 sec·Southeast 307th Place
3
At end of road, turn left onto 124th Avenue Southeast
0.2 mi·31 sec·124th Avenue Southeast
4
Enter roundabout onto Southeast 304th Street
17 ft·0 sec·Southeast 304th Street
5
Continue on Southeast 304th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Southeast 304th Street
6
Turn right onto 132nd Avenue Southeast
0.1 mi·20 sec·132nd Avenue Southeast
7
Turn left onto Southeast 304th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Southeast 304th Street
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward WA 18 EastUse the left lane.
9
Merge onto WA 18
18 mi·23 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
12
Merge onto I 90
252 mi·4 hr 32 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
11 mi·14 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward WA 27
15
Turn left onto WA 27
148 ft·11 sec·North Pines Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
WA 27
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 18m duration, starting your drive from Lea Hill in the morning is recommended to allow ample time for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, plan for a longer break midway to refuel and stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $60, so ensure your tank is full before departing. Watch for the transition from local roads onto I 90 early in your journey, as this is where the driving profile shifts significantly. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, sticking to the main highway will ensure the most efficient travel time.
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 142.3 miles from Lea Hill, WA, or about 2h 41m 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 63 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.3 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 20m
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 Lea Hill, 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 Lea Hill, WA
This is one driving day of about 284.6 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Lea Hill, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 2.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|124th Avenue Southeast
At end of road, turn left onto 124th Avenue Southeast
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Southeast 304th Street
Enter roundabout onto Southeast 304th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|Southeast 304th Street
Turn left onto Southeast 304th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward WA 18 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 18 East
5
2.1 mi into trip|~5m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.56 one way
$119.13 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$62.47
$124.93
premium
$5.77
$64.63
$129.26
diesel
$5.61
$62.84
$125.67
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: 99.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.4
1
$29.88
$13.66
Efficient EV
71.2
0
$24.90
$11.38
EV Truck/SUV
113.8
1
$39.84
$18.21
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lea Hill, WA
Late night
in Lea Hill on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Spokane Valley, WA
Late night
in Spokane Valley on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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 18m 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
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 9.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the route on major roadways. The vast majority of your time will be spent on I 90, offering a consistent and high-speed travel experience. You'll encounter one uninterrupted stretch of 263.1 miles on I 90, meaning extended periods of highway cruising. While mainly an interstate experience, your journey begins on local roads like Southeast 304th Street and State Route 18 before merging onto the interstate. Expect a predictable driving rhythm for most of this 284.6-mile trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Route 18. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 124th Avenue Southeast.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 18m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (124th Avenue Southeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.5 miles (Southeast 304th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (Southeast 304th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 284.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 263.1 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.
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: at 0.2 miles (124th Avenue Southeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.5 miles (Southeast 304th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (Southeast 304th Street): 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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 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.
