This 191-mile drive from Minnehaha to Yakima, Washington, is planned for a comfortable 3-hour and 18-minute journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $40, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. The route primarily utilizes local roads, making it feel more like a series of connected drives rather than a straight shot. Given its manageable length and the number of turns involved, it's well-suited for a day excursion without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling entirely within Washington State, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards the interior.
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
95.9 miles from Minnehaha, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
94.9 mi
1h 48m
US 97
49.8 mi
58m
I 82
16.4 mi
18m
I 205
7.3 mi
9m
WA 500
2.9 mi
4m
Sam Hill Memorial Bridge
2.4 mi
2m
Evergreen Highway
1.8 mi
2m
East Yakima Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 94.9 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Minnehaha, WA and Yakima, 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
95 mi·1 hr 48 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 97: Yakima, Bend
13
Turn left onto US 97
506 ft·8 sec·Sherman Highway
14
Continue on US 97
2.4 mi·2 min·Sam Hill Memorial Bridge
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 97; WA 14
0.4 mi·26 sec·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
16
Take the exit
8.7 mi·10 min
17
Continue on US 97
50 mi·58 min·US 97
18
Continue on WA 22
0.7 mi·1 min·South Elm Street
19
Continue on WA 22
0.8 mi·1 min·Buena Way
20
Continue on WA 22
1.8 mi·2 min·Evergreen Highway
21
Continue on WA 22
0.1 mi·11 sec·Buena Road
22
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
23
Merge onto I 82; US 12
16 mi·18 min·I 82; US 12
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Yakima Avenue
26
Turn straight onto East Yakima Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·East Yakima Avenue
27
Turn left onto South 1st Street
75 ft·2 sec·South 1st Street
28
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 191-mile drive, consider departing in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic on local roads. With a total duration of just over three hours and one planned stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $40 estimate is based on efficient driving, and local roads can sometimes consume more fuel due to frequent stops and starts. A good tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the main road names mentioned – Northeast 22nd Avenue, Northeast 49th Street, and Northeast Saint James Road – as they will be your primary navigation points.
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 95.9 miles from Minnehaha, WA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.9 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 42 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.9 miles or 1h 55m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yakima, 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 191.7 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 94.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13 — 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
5
1.9 mi into trip|~5m in|WA 500
Merge onto WA 500
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.12 one way
$80.24 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$42.08
$84.15
premium
$5.77
$43.53
$87.07
diesel
$5.61
$42.32
$84.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.5
0
$20.13
$9.20
Efficient EV
47.9
0
$16.77
$7.67
EV Truck/SUV
76.7
0
$26.84
$12.27
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Minnehaha, WA
Night
in Minnehaha on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Night
in Yakima on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
SW 14 to 18 mph24% chanceLive 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
3 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
3h 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 decidedly turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no share of highway time. You'll navigate using roads like Northeast 22nd Avenue, Northeast 49th Street, and Northeast Saint James Road, which means frequent adjustments to your steering and speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the profile suggests a continuous engagement with local traffic patterns and intersections. This isn't a route for setting cruise control; it requires active participation and awareness of your surroundings as you transition between different local roadways.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.9 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 16 significant decision points across 191.7 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 1.9 miles (WA 500): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Yakima, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Bend along the way.
Bend
108.6 mi in|~2h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 191.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.9 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 Yakima, 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 1.9 miles (WA 500): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Yakima, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
