Mercer Island, WA to Spokane, WA is 274 miles and takes about 5h 3m via I 90, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Washington State, transitioning from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. The route is primarily on one major highway, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable trip 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
137 miles from Mercer Island, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Channel Bridge
269.2 mi
4h 52m
I 90
1.8 mi
2m
South Lincoln Street
0.4 mi
1m
Southeast 36th Street
0.4 mi
1m
Gallagher Hill Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Southeast 40th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
86th Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi
<1m
West 4th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East Channel Bridge
— 269.2 mi, about 4h 52m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 165 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,832 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,477
Quietest
2 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.1×
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 Mercer Island, WA and Spokane, WA.
1
Start on Southeast 42nd Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Southeast 42nd Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto 86th Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi·49 sec·86th Avenue Southeast
3
Turn right onto Southeast 40th Street
0.3 mi·43 sec·Southeast 40th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Gallagher Hill Road
0.3 mi·40 sec·Gallagher Hill Road
5
Continue on Southeast 36th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Southeast 36th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward I 90 East
7
Merge onto I 90
269 mi·4 hr 52 min·East Channel Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
1.8 mi·2 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Street
10
Continue on West 5th Avenue
382 ft·12 sec·West 5th Avenue
11
Turn straight onto West Freeway Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Freeway Avenue
12
Continue on West 4th Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·West 4th Avenue
13
Continue on West 4th Avenue
167 ft·4 sec·West 4th Avenue
14
Continue on South Lincoln Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Main Avenue
16
Turn right
26 ft·8 sec
17
Turn left onto South Gorge Trail
157 ft·17 sec·South Gorge Trail
18
Arrive at destination
South Gorge Trail
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Spokane without feeling rushed. You'll want to plan for one stop along the way to stretch your legs and refuel. The fuel cost is estimated at $58, so ensure you have that budget in mind. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time, but starting earlier is generally best for a smoother arrival.
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 137 miles from Mercer Island, WA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 269.2 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 60 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137 miles or 2h 31m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spokane, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mercer Island, 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 Mercer Island, WA
This is one driving day of about 274 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Mercer Island, 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 East Channel Bridge for about 269.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 274 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|86th Avenue Southeast
At end of road, turn right onto 86th Avenue Southeast
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Southeast 40th Street
Turn right onto Southeast 40th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|I 90 / East Channel Bridge
Merge onto I 90 / East Channel Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
272.7 mi into trip|~4h 59m in
Take the exit toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Str...
5
274 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.38 one way
$106.75 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$55.92
$111.84
premium
$5.39
$58.15
$116.31
diesel
$4.80
$51.74
$103.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.2
1
$28.77
$13.15
Efficient EV
68.5
0
$23.98
$10.96
EV Truck/SUV
109.6
1
$38.36
$17.54
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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
Mercer Island, WA
Late night
in Mercer Island on Monday
Local time
3:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:31AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:26AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Spokane, WA
Late night
in Spokane on Monday
Local time
3:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:31AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:26AM 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
5 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 3m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on I 90, covering 90% of the total distance. You'll experience a long stretch of 269.2 miles on this highway, which means ample opportunity for steady cruising. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads, specifically South Lincoln Street, towards the end of your trip. Expect a consistent driving experience with fewer interruptions once you're on the main corridor.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 269.2 mi on East Channel Bridge.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 86th 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 3m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (86th Avenue Southeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (Southeast 40th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I 90 / East Channel Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,541 ft327 ft
Total Climb
4,032 ft
Total Descent
2,524 ft
Highest Point
2,541 ft
~58.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,213 ft
Notable High Points
2,541 ft at ~58.7 miles+641 ft prominence
2,214 ft at ~117.4 miles+646 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Mercer Island is a city in King County, Washington, consisting entirely of an island in Lake Washington. Once known as "East Seattle", it has become one of the region's most upscale residential communities.
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.
Top landmarks
•Monroe Street Bridge — bridge in Spokane, Washington
•Montvale Hotel — hotel in Spokane, Washington
•Manito Park and Botanical Gardens — park in Spokane, Washington state, USA
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 269.2 miles on East Channel Bridge. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (86th Avenue Southeast): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (Southeast 40th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I 90 / East Channel Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Spokane, WA before the return drive.
