Traveling from Medical Lake to Vancouver covers 345.8 miles across Washington state. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 6 hours and 34 minutes, making this a manageable but long day trip for most drivers. With a fuel budget of about $73, you can expect a fairly straightforward journey that connects the Inland Northwest toward the Pacific Coast region. While you can complete this in a single day, the duration suggests you might prefer an early start to avoid arriving late. Since the route utilizes major corridors like I-90 and the Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, you will experience a blend of regional transit styles. This trip is best suited for those who don't mind spending a significant portion of their day behind the wheel.
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
172.9 miles from Medical Lake, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
158.3 mi
2h 56m
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
73.7 mi
1h 19m
I 90
42.4 mi
45m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
33.4 mi
37m
Old Oregon Trail Highway
11.3 mi
12m
Lewis and Clark Trail
5.7 mi
7m
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
5.4 mi
6m
I 205
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.3 mi, about 2h 56m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,276 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,842
Quietest
2 AM
~122 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.5×
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 Medical Lake, WA and Vancouver, WA.
1
Start on East Lake Street
125 ft·11 sec·East Lake Street
2
Turn left onto WA 902
1.1 mi·2 min·South Lefevre Street
3
Continue on WA 902
0.8 mi·1 min·State Route 902
4
Continue on WA 902
4.1 mi·7 min·South Salnave Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Seattle
6
Merge onto I 90; US 395
42 mi·45 min·I 90; US 395
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
8
Take the exit onto US 395
0.6 mi·1 min·US 395
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
9
Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395
1.9 mi·2 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
3.8 mi·5 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
Toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport
11
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·North US 395
12
Continue on US 395
33 mi·37 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 84 West: Portland
14
Merge onto I 84; US 30
11 mi·12 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
15
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi·2 hr 56 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·29 sec
Exit 9Toward I 205: Salem, Seattle, Portland Airport
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland AirportUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 205
4.2 mi·5 min·I 205
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Exit 27Toward WA 14: Vancouver, CamasUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City CenterUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward WA 14 WestUse the straight lane.
22
Merge onto WA 14
5.4 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·55 sec
Toward I 5 North: SeattleUse the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto I 5
451 ft·7 sec·I 5
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 1D; 1CToward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 1DToward 4th Plain BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
220 ft·12 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
28
Turn left onto East Fourth Plain Boulevard
100 ft·2 sec·East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Arrive at destination
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 345.8-mile trek, aim to depart early in the morning to navigate the turn-heavy sections during daylight hours. Since the itinerary includes just one recommended stop, pace yourself carefully to ensure you stay alert throughout the 6-hour and 34-minute drive. Keep your $73 fuel budget in mind, but always allow for a small buffer for price fluctuations along the way. Given the long 158.3-mile stretch on the Columbia River Highway, prioritize your rest break during this segment to avoid fatigue. Flexibility is your best asset on this route, so monitor your progress and don't hesitate to take your scheduled stop whenever you feel your focus beginning to wane.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.9 miles from Medical Lake, WA, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.3 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 76 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.9 miles or 3h 17m 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 23m
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 Medical Lake, 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 Medical Lake, WA
This is one driving day of about 345.8 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Medical Lake, 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 Columbia River Highway for about 158.3 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 333.6 and 345.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
333.6 mi into trip|~6h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
8
338.1 mi into trip|~6h 22m in
Take the exit toward WA 14: Vancouver, Camas
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 27
Toward WA 14: Vancouver, Camas
8
338.4 mi into trip|~6h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City Center
9
344.9 mi into trip|~6h 32m in
Take the exit toward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain Boulevard
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 1D; 1C
Toward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain...
8
345.1 mi into trip|~6h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1D
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.36 one way
$134.73 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$70.58
$141.15
premium
$5.39
$73.39
$146.79
diesel
$4.80
$65.29
$130.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.7
1
$36.31
$16.60
Efficient EV
86.5
0
$30.26
$13.83
EV Truck/SUV
138.3
1
$48.41
$22.13
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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
Medical Lake, WA
Late night
in Medical Lake on Sunday
Local time
12:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 4:41AM PDT until July 17 at 5:15AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 8:50PM PDT until July 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Vancouver, WA
Late night
in Vancouver on Sunday
Local time
12:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 17 at 4:41AM PDT until July 17 at 5:15AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 8:50PM PDT until July 17 at 5:00AM 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
6 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
6h 34m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a simple interstate cruise. Only 14% of your journey is spent on high-speed highways, meaning you will need to pay close attention to changing road conditions. You will encounter your longest stretch of driving on the Columbia River Highway, which spans 158.3 miles of the total distance. The transition between these different road types creates a dynamic environment that keeps the drive engaging. Be prepared for a shift in pace as you move from the initial highway segments into the more technical local sections that define the latter part of the trip.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.3 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 333.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 345.8 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 333.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 338.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 338.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,421 ft49 ft
Total Climb
475 ft
Total Descent
2,709 ft
Highest Point
2,421 ft
Elevation Range
2,373 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Medical Lake, WA and Vancouver, WA, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College and Tri Cities Airport.
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.
Top landmarks
•Fort Vancouver National Historic Site — National Historic Site of the United States in Washington (state)
•Interstate Bridge — highway bridge in Oregon and Washington, USA
•Kiggins Theatre — single-screen theatre located in downtown Vancouver, WA
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 34m. Total distance: 345.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.3 miles on Columbia River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 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. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 333.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 338.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 338.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Vancouver, WA before the return drive.
