This 246.3-mile drive from Mukilteo, WA to Pasco, WA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 41 minutes. The route primarily utilizes major interstates, including I-90 and I-82, with a brief section on US-97, making it a highway-focused experience. You can expect a fuel cost of around $52 for this journey across Washington state. With 96% of the drive on highways, it offers a straightforward path, perfect for reaching your destination efficiently. This trip is a practical choice for getting from the Pacific Coast region to the same region further inland.
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
123.1 miles from Mukilteo, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
100.5 mi
1h 51m
I 82
64.1 mi
1h 8m
US 97
37.8 mi
42m
I 405
18.4 mi
22m
US 12
14.5 mi
15m
Mukilteo Speedway
7.5 mi
13m
Paine Field Boulevard
0.8 mi
<1m
North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 100.5 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mukilteo, WA and Pasco, WA.
1
Start on WA 525
1.7 mi·3 min·Mukilteo Speedway
2
Turn left onto WA 526
0.4 mi·44 sec·84th Street Southwest
3
Turn right onto WA 525 Spur
0.8 mi·58 sec·Paine Field Boulevard
4
Turn slight left onto WA 525
5.8 mi·9 min·Mukilteo Speedway
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on I 405
1.4 mi·1 min·I 405
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
17 mi·21 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward I 90: Spokane, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: SpokaneUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 90
101 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 97
38 mi·42 min·US 97
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 82; US 12
12
Take the exit onto US 12
14 mi·15 min·US 12
Exit 102Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, PascoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 13Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Avenue
15
Turn right onto Court Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Court Street
16
Turn left onto North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·North 8th Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
North 8th Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 41-minute drive, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive in Pasco with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing your break point, but consider stretching your legs after the initial 100.5-mile stretch on I-90. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $52, and plan your refueling accordingly. Given the relatively short duration and highway nature of this route, you can easily complete it in one day without needing an overnight stay.
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 123.1 miles from Mukilteo, WA, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.5 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 54 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.1 miles or 2h 25m 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 52m
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 Mukilteo, 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 Mukilteo, WA
This is one driving day of about 246.3 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Mukilteo, 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 I 90 for about 100.5 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 27.1 and 245.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
27.1 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
7
27.6 mi into trip|~38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
7
128.6 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 97
Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
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.
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
8
230.6 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
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 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
7
245.1 mi into trip|~4h 38m in
Take the exit toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.55 one way
$103.10 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$54.06
$108.12
premium
$5.77
$55.93
$111.86
diesel
$5.61
$54.38
$108.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.9
0
$25.86
$11.82
Efficient EV
61.6
0
$21.55
$9.85
EV Truck/SUV
98.5
1
$34.48
$15.76
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Mukilteo, WA
Late night
in Mukilteo on Tuesday
Local time
2:20 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pasco, WA
Late night
in Pasco on Tuesday
Local time
2:20 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
20 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
4h 41m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 25.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that's largely on well-maintained interstates, with 96% of the journey taking place on highway systems like I-90 and I-82. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 100.5 miles on I-90, offering a good period of consistent travel. While primarily highway-focused, the route provides a consistent pace for most of the trip. This drive offers a straightforward, efficient way to cover ground without significant detours or complex navigation.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
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 246.3 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: at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.6 miles (US 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mukilteo, WA and Pasco, WA, road signs point toward Seattle and I‑182 East.
Mukilteo is a city on the Puget Sound of Washington State. What looks like a village surrounding the ferry harbor to Whidbey Island is surrounded by Boeing's sprawling aircraft factory complex.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 41m. Total distance: 246.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.6 miles (US 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Pasco, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
