Spanning 222.7 miles, this route from Minnehaha to Pasco takes approximately 3 hours and 36 minutes of driving time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, you should plan on this being a dedicated one-day excursion. You will navigate via Northeast 22nd Avenue, Northeast 49th Street, and Northeast Saint James Road to make your way across the region. With a fuel budget of about $47, it is a manageable trip for those who prefer backroads over interstate travel. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the journey.
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
111.3 miles from Minnehaha, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
158.1 mi
2h 55m
McNary Highway
29.9 mi
33m
Old Oregon Trail Highway
11.4 mi
12m
I 205
7.3 mi
9m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
3.3 mi
4m
WA 500
2.9 mi
4m
Lewis and Clark Trail
2.6 mi
3m
West Court Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.1 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minnehaha, WA and Pasco, WA.
1
Start on Northeast 51st Street
56 ft·7 sec·Northeast 51st Street
2
Turn left onto Northeast 22nd Avenue
0.2 mi·41 sec·Northeast 22nd Avenue
3
Turn left onto Northeast 49th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Northeast 49th Street
4
Turn right onto Northeast Saint James Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Northeast Saint James Road
5
Turn slight right onto Northeast Saint Johns Road
0.1 mi·27 sec·Northeast Saint Johns Road
6
Turn left
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward WA 500 EastUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto WA 500
2.9 mi·4 min·WA 500
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 205 South: SalemUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 205
7.3 mi·9 min·I 205
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 22Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The DallesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi·2 hr 55 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 84; US 30
11 mi·12 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 82 West: Hermiston, Umatilla
14
Continue on I 82
30 mi·33 min·McNary Highway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
3.3 mi·4 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
Toward US 395 north to I‑182: Kennewick, Pasco, Spokane
16
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·South US 395
17
Continue on US 395
2.6 mi·3 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Court Street
19
Turn right onto West Court Street
1.3 mi·2 min·West Court Street
20
Turn right onto North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·North 8th Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
North 8th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since the trip takes roughly 3 hours and 36 minutes, try to depart early in the day to avoid peak traffic on local surface streets. You are limited to just one planned stop, so identify your rest point early to maximize your efficiency over the 222.7-mile distance. Keep your $47 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before you leave Minnehaha to avoid searching for stations along the more technical sections of the route. Because this drive relies heavily on local roads like Northeast Saint James Road, keep your GPS updated to account for the frequent turns. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; since it is a shorter drive, you can easily adjust your pace to accommodate road conditions as they arise.
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 111.3 miles from Minnehaha, WA, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.1 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 49 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.3 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pasco, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Minnehaha, 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 Minnehaha, WA
This is one driving day of about 222.6 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Minnehaha, 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 158.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 214 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Northeast 22nd Avenue
Turn left onto Northeast 22nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in
Turn left toward WA 500 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward WA 500 East
6
4.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 205 South: Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 205 South: Salem
8
13 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
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 22
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
6
214 mi into trip|~4h 4m in|US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail Highway toward US 395 north to I‑182: Kennewick, Pasco, Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 395 north to I‑182: Kennewick, Pasco,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.59 one way
$93.18 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$48.86
$97.72
premium
$5.77
$50.55
$101.10
diesel
$5.61
$49.15
$98.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.37
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.48
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.16
$14.25
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Minnehaha, WA
Evening
in Minnehaha on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pasco, WA
Evening
in Pasco on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
6 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
4h 19m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical experience behind the wheel, as this journey is defined by local turns rather than high-speed highway segments. With 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface streets and local connectors for the duration of the 222.7-mile trek. The road surface and traffic patterns shift frequently, requiring your full attention as you transition between Northeast 22nd Avenue, Northeast 49th Street, and Northeast Saint James Road. Because the drive is composed entirely of local roads, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace compared to a typical interstate commute. This is a hands-on driving experience where the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches keeps you engaged with the road layout at every turn.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.1 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near Northeast 22nd Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 222.6 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: near the start (Northeast 22nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Minnehaha, WA to Pasco, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Umatilla along the way.
Umatilla
183.3 mi in|~3h 29m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 222.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.1 miles on Columbia River Highway. 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 Pasco, 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: near the start (Northeast 22nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Pasco, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
