This 161-mile drive from Manchester to Vancouver, Washington, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes. You'll spend about 94% of your journey on major highways, including I-5 and WA 16, with a brief section on Phillips Road Southeast. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, this route is budget-friendly for a day trip. The drive offers a consistent experience as you travel within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, making it a practical choice for a quick journey.
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
80.5 miles from Manchester, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
130.4 mi
2h 27m
WA 16
20.2 mi
25m
Phillips Road Southeast
2.6 mi
4m
Locker Road Southeast
1.7 mi
3m
Southeast Sedgwick Road
1.7 mi
2m
Southeast Mullenix Road
1.2 mi
2m
Colchester Drive East
1 mi
1m
Colchester Drive Southeast
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 130.4 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, WA and Vancouver, WA.
1
Start on East Main Street
7 ft·5 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto Colchester Drive East
1.0 mi·1 min·Colchester Drive East
3
Continue on Colchester Drive Southeast
0.7 mi·1 min·Colchester Drive Southeast
4
At end of road, turn left onto Southeast Southworth Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Southeast Southworth Drive
5
Turn right onto Locker Road Southeast
1.7 mi·3 min·Locker Road Southeast
6
At end of road, turn right onto WA 160
1.7 mi·2 min·Southeast Sedgwick Road
7
Turn left onto Phillips Road Southeast
2.6 mi·4 min·Phillips Road Southeast
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Southeast Mullenix Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Southeast Mullenix Road
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward WA 16 East: TacomaUse the left lane.
10
Merge onto WA 16
20 mi·24 min·WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 16
0.1 mi·11 sec·WA 16
Toward I 5 South: PortlandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16
0.2 mi·22 sec·WA 16
Toward I 5 South: Portland South 38th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 5
124 mi·2 hr 20 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
6.2 mi·7 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 1DToward 4th Plain BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
242 ft·13 sec
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard EastUse the left lane.
17
Turn left onto East Fourth Plain Boulevard
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 12-minute duration, this 161-mile trip is ideal for a single-day excursion. Consider departing earlier in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach more populated areas closer to Vancouver. With only one stop recommended, you can be flexible with your timing. The longest stretch on I-5 is over 130 miles, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before or during this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $34, and ensure you're prepared for highway speeds for the majority of the drive.
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 80.5 miles from Manchester, WA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.4 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 35 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 40m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vancouver, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manchester, 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 Manchester, WA
This is one driving day of about 161 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Manchester, 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 5 for about 130.4 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 9.6 and 160.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.6 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the ramp toward WA 16 East: Tacoma
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 16 East: Tacoma
7
29.8 mi into trip|~43m in|WA 16
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 16 toward I 5 South: Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland
8
29.9 mi into trip|~43m in|WA 16
Keep slight left at fork onto WA 16 toward I 5 South: Portland South 38th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Portland South 38th Street
7
160.6 mi into trip|~3h 11m in
Take the exit toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1D
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard
8
160.8 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Plain Boulevard East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.70 one way
$67.39 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$35.34
$70.68
premium
$5.77
$36.56
$73.12
diesel
$5.61
$35.55
$71.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.73
Efficient EV
40.3
0
$14.09
$6.44
EV Truck/SUV
64.4
0
$22.54
$10.30
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 18, 2026
Origin
Manchester, WA
Late night
in Manchester on Sunday
Local time
12:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Vancouver, WA
Late night
in Vancouver on Sunday
Local time
12:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
4 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 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 161-mile route, with 94% of your travel occurring on major roads like I-5 and WA 16. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 130.4 miles on I-5, indicating long periods of consistent driving. While primarily a highway-focused drive, the inclusion of Phillips Road Southeast suggests a brief departure from the interstate before returning to faster speeds. This profile means you'll largely be in a driving-intensive mode for much of the 3-hour and 12-minute duration.
94% 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: 130.4 mi on I 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and WA 16. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.6 miles in.
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 161 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 9.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.8 miles (WA 16): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (WA 16): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Vancouver is a city in southwest Washington State, immediately north of the border with Oregon. The city was established around Fort Vancouver, a fur trading outpost dating back to 1824, making this one of the oldest continuously-inhabited European communities in the Pacific Northwest. Two bridges across the Columbia River connect Vancouver to the rest of the Portland Metropolitan Area.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 161 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m 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 130.4 miles on I 5. 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 Vancouver, 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: at 9.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 29.8 miles (WA 16): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.9 miles (WA 16): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Vancouver, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
