Marietta to Spokane Valley is 377.3 miles and takes about 7h 7m via I-5, I-405, and I-90, with a fuel budget near $76 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Washington state, moving from the Pacific Coast region eastward. Expect a predominantly highway experience, making it a straightforward trip for those prioritizing distance covered over extensive sightseeing. With only 2 recommended stops, you can plan for a relatively uninterrupted drive. It's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to get across the state.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
188.6 miles from Marietta, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
279 mi
5h 5m
I 5
74.3 mi
1h 27m
I 405
18 mi
22m
Marine Drive
2.1 mi
4m
Airport Drive
0.8 mi
1m
I-5 South Onramp
0.3 mi
<1m
Alderwood Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
West Bakerview Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 279 mi, about 5h 5m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 197 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,110 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,810
Quietest
2 AM
~124 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Marietta, WA and Spokane Valley, WA.
1
Start on Bayon Road
37 ft·8 sec·Bayon Road
2
Turn left onto Marine Drive
2.1 mi·4 min·Marine Drive
3
Turn left onto Alderwood Avenue
0.3 mi·28 sec·Alderwood Avenue
4
Continue on Airport Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Airport Drive
5
Continue on West Bakerview Road
0.2 mi·19 sec·West Bakerview Road
6
Take the ramp onto I-5 South Onramp
0.3 mi·39 sec·I-5 South Onramp
7
Merge onto I 5
74 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 5
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 182Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, RentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 405
0.9 mi·1 min·I 405
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
17 mi·21 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward I 90: Spokane, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: SpokaneUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 90
268 mi·4 hr 51 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
11 mi·14 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward WA 27
16
Turn left onto WA 27
148 ft·11 sec·North Pines Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
WA 27
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Marietta to beat any potential traffic heading into the Seattle area. You'll want to plan for your 2 stops strategically, perhaps for a quick lunch and a fuel top-off, especially before embarking on the longest stretch on I-90. Given the 377.3-mile distance, it's comfortably a one-day trip, but don't hesitate to take a slightly longer break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly as you move further east on I-90 where services might be spaced out.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.6 miles from Marietta, WA, or about 3h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 279 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 83 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.6 miles or 3h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 59m
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 Marietta, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marietta, WA
This is one driving day of about 377.3 miles and 7h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Marietta, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 279 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 97.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in|I 5
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
77.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
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 182
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
6
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
96.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
7
97.3 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$79.44 one way
$158.88 round trip
$5.35/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.56
$82.53
$165.06
premium
$5.76
$85.50
$171.00
diesel
$5.60
$83.17
$166.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.2
1
$39.62
$18.11
Efficient EV
94.3
1
$33.01
$15.09
EV Truck/SUV
150.9
1
$52.82
$24.15
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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 Aug 22, 2026
Origin
Marietta, WA
Night
in Marietta on Tuesday
Local time
11:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 9 to 14 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 6:49AM PDT until August 22 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 6:49AM PDT until August 22 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
Destination
Spokane Valley, WA
Night
in Spokane Valley on Tuesday
Local time
11:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
96°F
Haze then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 2 to 10 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 6:49AM PDT until August 22 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 6:49AM PDT until August 22 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
52°F
North Bend, WA
189 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
28 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
7h 7m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 91.1
San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it w...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with 98% of the 377.3 miles on interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 279 miles on I-90, which is a long, continuous highway segment. Expect dense exits and urban merging as you navigate through the Seattle metropolitan area before transitioning to more open highway cruising.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 279 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in near I 5.
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 13 significant decision points across 377.3 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: at 3.6 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.8 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,357 ft10 ft
Total Climb
3,860 ft
Total Descent
1,857 ft
Highest Point
2,357 ft
~350 mi in
Elevation Range
2,347 ft
Notable High Points
2,283 ft at ~215.4 miles+603 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Marietta, WA and Spokane Valley, WA, road signs point toward Renton and Seattle.
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 7h 7m. Total distance: 377.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 279 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.8 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park and San Juan Island National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 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.
