This 225.7-mile drive from Mount Vista, WA, to Pasco, WA, will take approximately 4 hours and 23 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it covers ground primarily on the Columbia River Highway, McNary Highway, and Old Oregon Trail Highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $47, this route offers a practical journey through the Pacific Coast region. You'll experience a more involved, turn-heavy local drive rather than a simple interstate cruise, making it an engaging option for a day excursion.
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
112.9 miles from Mount Vista, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m 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
9.9 mi
12m
Northeast 72nd Avenue
3.3 mi
5m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
3.3 mi
4m
Lewis and Clark Trail
2.6 mi
3m
Northeast 159th Street
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.1 mi, about 2h 55m
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 Mount Vista, WA and Pasco, WA.
1
Start on Northeast Sam Smith Drive
208 ft·9 sec·Northeast Sam Smith Drive
2
Turn right onto Northeast 159th Street
1.7 mi·3 min·Northeast 159th Street
3
Turn right onto Northeast 72nd Avenue
3.3 mi·5 min·Northeast 72nd Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Northeast Andresen Road
0.5 mi·52 sec·Northeast Andresen Road
5
Turn left onto Northeast Padden Parkway
0.2 mi·23 sec·Northeast Padden Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 205 South: SalemUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 205
9.9 mi·12 min·I 205
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 22Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The DallesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi·2 hr 55 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 84; US 30
11 mi·12 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 82 West: Hermiston, Umatilla
12
Continue on I 82
30 mi·33 min·McNary Highway
13
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
14
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·South US 395
15
Continue on US 395
2.6 mi·3 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Court Street
17
Turn right onto West Court Street
1.3 mi·2 min·West Court Street
18
Turn right onto North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·North 8th Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
North 8th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 23-minute duration, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility with your departure time. Consider an early start to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic, especially on the local road segments. With only one planned stop and a longest stretch of 158.1 miles, be sure to fuel up before you leave Mount Vista, WA, as opportunities might be less frequent than on a major interstate. Budgeting around $47 for fuel should cover the 225.7 miles.
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 112.9 miles from Mount Vista, WA, or about 2h 12m 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 50 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.9 miles or 2h 12m 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 32m
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 Mount Vista, 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 Mount Vista, WA
This is one driving day of about 225.7 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Mount Vista, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 217.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|Northeast 72nd Avenue
Turn right onto Northeast 72nd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
5.7 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 205 South: Salem
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 205 South: Salem
5
6.2 mi into trip|~11m in|I 205
Merge onto I 205
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16 mi into trip|~24m 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
217.1 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
$43.97 one way
$87.93 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$46.06
$92.13
premium
$5.39
$47.90
$95.81
diesel
$4.80
$42.62
$85.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.7
0
$23.70
$10.83
Efficient EV
56.4
0
$19.75
$9.03
EV Truck/SUV
90.3
1
$31.60
$14.44
Gas CO2
79 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Mount Vista, WA
Night
in Mount Vista on Saturday
Local time
10:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
NW 7 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Pasco, WA
Night
in Pasco on Saturday
Local time
10:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SW 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM 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
15 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 23m 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 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 225.7-mile journey, with only a 5% highway share. The majority of your time will be spent on local roads, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 158.1 miles on the Columbia River Highway. This suggests a drive with frequent changes in direction and potentially varied speed limits, rather than a high-speed, straight-line transit. The road character will likely shift as you navigate between these named local routes, requiring your consistent attention.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Northeast 72nd Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 225.7 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Northeast 72nd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (I 205): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,328 ft50 ft
Total Climb
1,329 ft
Total Descent
1,177 ft
Highest Point
1,328 ft
~209.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,278 ft
Notable High Points
1,328 ft at ~209.6 miles+816 ft prominence
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 Mount Vista, WA to Pasco, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Umatilla along the way.
Pasco is a city in the Columbia River Plateau in Washington State, roughly between the Yakima and Snake Rivers on the north bank of the Columbia.
Pasco is one of the Tri-Cities of Washington, which also includes Kennewick and Richland. The Tri-Cities are the third most populous metropolitan area in the state, after Seattle-Tacoma and Spokane.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 225.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m 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.
Yes — we found about 18 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 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. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Northeast 72nd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (I 205): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Pasco, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
