Traveling from Moses Lake to Pasco covers a 71.2-mile stretch across Washington state, typically taking about 1 hour and 38 minutes of drive time. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the journey between these two Pacific Coast region points. Since the route is straightforward and efficient, it serves as an excellent connector if you are navigating the central part of the state. Expect a functional, mixed-drive experience that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.6 miles from Moses Lake, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 17
28 mi
41m
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
22.4 mi
24m
Coulee Corridor
16.2 mi
23m
South Pioneer Way
1.7 mi
2m
North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
US 395
0.6 mi
1m
Lewis and Clark Trail
0.3 mi
<1m
Court Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 17
— 28 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moses Lake, WA and Pasco, WA.
1
Start on South Division Street
10 ft·2 sec·South Division Street
2
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
0.3 mi·32 sec·East 3rd Avenue
3
Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 10 Hist
1.7 mi·2 min·South Pioneer Way
4
Continue on WA 17; I 90 Bus; US 10 Hist
16 mi·23 min·Coulee Corridor
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on WA 17
28 mi·41 min·State Highway 17
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
7
Merge onto US 395
22 mi·24 min·Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
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
0.3 mi·23 sec·Lewis and Clark Trail
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
11
Turn right onto North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Court Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Court Street
13
Turn left onto North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·North 8th Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
North 8th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 1 hour and 38 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time. You can easily complete this drive in one go without the need for forced stops, as there are zero mandatory pauses required along the way. Keep in mind that the total fuel cost is quite manageable at $15, so fueling up in Moses Lake before you head out should be sufficient for the entire 71.2-mile trip. Since you will be navigating a mix of roads, including the Coulee Corridor, try to plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure the smoothest transit possible. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to spend more time at your destination rather than behind the wheel.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.6 miles from Moses Lake, WA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.6 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
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 Moses Lake, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Moses Lake, WA
This is one driving day of about 71.2 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Moses Lake, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 17 for about 28 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 and 71.1 — 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|East 3rd Avenue
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
69 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|US 395
Take the exit onto US 395 toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pend...
4
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
6
70.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|North 4th Avenue
Turn right onto North 4th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|North 8th Avenue
Turn left onto North 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.90 one way
$29.80 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$15.63
$31.26
premium
$5.77
$16.17
$32.34
diesel
$5.61
$15.72
$31.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
Efficient EV
17.8
0
$6.23
$2.85
EV Truck/SUV
28.5
0
$9.97
$4.56
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Moses Lake, WA
Late night
in Moses Lake on Tuesday
Local time
2:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pasco, WA
Late night
in Pasco on Tuesday
Local time
2:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°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
3 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
1h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 driving experience that balances faster highway segments with more localized travel. With a 40% highway share, you will transition between higher-speed zones and slower, more deliberate stretches along State Highway 17, the Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, and the Coulee Corridor. The longest uninterrupted portion of the journey spans 28 miles on State Highway 17, offering a steady rhythm before the road character shifts. Because this is a mixed-profile drive, you will encounter changing road conditions that require you to stay alert behind the wheel. The journey maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to focus on the road as you navigate toward Pasco.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28 mi on State Highway 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 3rd Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 38m 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: near the start (East 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (US 395): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The longest stretch is about 28 miles on State Highway 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (US 395): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pasco, WA before heading back.
