Driving from Orchards to Kennewick covers 215.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 29 minutes of travel time. Because this journey is a turn-heavy local drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Expect to budget roughly $45 for fuel to complete the transit. You will navigate via Northeast 109th Avenue, Northeast Rosewood Avenue, and Northeast Covington Road to reach your destination. Since both the starting point and the destination are located within the Pacific Coast region, you can anticipate a consistent travel experience throughout the duration of your trip.
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
107.8 miles from Orchards, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m 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
West 10th Avenue
1 mi
2m
South Olympia Street
0.7 mi
1m
WA 500
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.1 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orchards, WA and Kennewick, WA.
1
Start on this road
125 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Northeast 109th Avenue
44 ft·8 sec·Northeast 109th Avenue
3
Turn left onto Northeast Rosewood Avenue
236 ft·14 sec·Northeast Rosewood Avenue
4
Turn left onto Northeast Covington Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·Northeast Covington Road
5
Continue on Northeast Gher Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Northeast Gher Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward WA 500 West
7
Merge onto WA 500
0.5 mi·43 sec·WA 500
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 205 South: SalemUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Use the straight lane.
10
Merge onto I 205
7.3 mi·9 min·I 205
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 22Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The DallesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi·2 hr 55 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 84; US 30
11 mi·12 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 82 West: Hermiston, Umatilla
15
Continue on I 82
30 mi·33 min·McNary Highway
16
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
17
Turn right onto West 10th Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·West 10th Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto South Olympia Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Olympia Street
19
Turn right onto West Kennewick Avenue
152 ft·9 sec·West Kennewick Avenue
20
Turn left onto North Newport Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·North Newport Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Newport Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 215.5-mile drive, plan to leave early in the day to ensure you have plenty of daylight for navigating the local roads. You should factor in at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the technical nature of the drive can be more mentally taxing than a straight highway shot. Keep your $45 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops along the way. Since this is a localized route, enjoy the flexibility of a shorter trip duration that allows you to easily adjust your schedule if you encounter unexpected delays. Above all, stay alert at every turn since you will be relying on local roads like Northeast Covington Road rather than main highway arteries.
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 107.8 miles from Orchards, WA, or about 2h 3m 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 47 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.8 miles or 2h 3m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kennewick, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Orchards, 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 Orchards, WA
This is one driving day of about 215.7 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Orchards, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 210.5 — 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 109th Avenue
Turn right onto Northeast 109th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward I 205 South: Salem
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 205 South: Salem
6
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
9.4 mi into trip|~13m 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
210.5 mi into trip|~3h 58m 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
$45.14 one way
$90.29 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$47.34
$94.69
premium
$5.77
$48.98
$97.97
diesel
$5.61
$47.62
$95.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.5 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
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.35
Efficient EV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
EV Truck/SUV
86.3
1
$30.20
$13.80
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 20, 2026
Origin
Orchards, WA
Late night
in Orchards on Tuesday
Local time
2:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kennewick, WA
Late night
in Kennewick on Tuesday
Local time
2:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
2 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 7m 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 hands-on driving experience, as this route is characterized by technical local roads rather than high-speed interstate cruising. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for constant maneuvering and frequent turns rather than long, monotonous stretches of open road. The path requires your full attention as you transition between local avenues and roads. While it isn't an interstate grind, the lack of highway miles means your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and the winding nature of the route. You will find that the road demands a more engaged driving style compared to a standard cross-country highway trip.
Only 4% 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?
8/10
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 109th Avenue.
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 15 significant decision points across 215.7 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 109th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Orchards, WA to Kennewick, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Umatilla along the way.
Kennewick is a city in Benton County along the Columbia River of Washington State, roughly between the Yakima and Snake Rivers on the south bank of the Columbia.
Kennewick is the largest of the Tri-Cities of Washington, which also includes Pasco 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 7m. Total distance: 215.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m 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 Kennewick, 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 109th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Kennewick, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
