Pasco, WA to North Bend, WA is 198.2 miles and takes about 3h 41m via US 97, US 12, and I 82, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington, traversing the Pacific Coast region on both ends. With 98% of the route on highways, expect a fairly direct and efficient drive. This is a straightforward, single-day trip that makes for a convenient connection between Eastern and Western Washington.
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
99.1 miles from Pasco, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
80.8 mi
1h 30m
US 12
70.9 mi
1h 17m
I 82
31 mi
33m
I 182
11.8 mi
12m
Lewis and Clark Trail
1.3 mi
1m
Bendigo Boulevard South
0.6 mi
1m
North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West Court Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 27 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,339 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,355
Quietest
2 AM
~108 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.4×
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 Pasco, WA and North Bend, WA.
1
Start on North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·North 8th Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto West Court Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·West Court Street
3
Turn left onto North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
5
Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395
1.3 mi·1 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12
12 mi·12 min·I 182; US 12
Toward I 182, US 12Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
71 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
8
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
81 mi·1 hr 30 min·US 97
Toward I 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 31Toward WA 202 West: North Bend, SnoqualmieUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto WA 202
0.6 mi·1 min·Bendigo Boulevard South
12
Arrive at destination
WA 202
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 41m estimated drive time, this route is comfortably a single-day trip. Aim to depart Pasco in the morning to allow ample time for any unexpected delays or to simply enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. With only one stop recommended, you'll have flexibility in planning your breaks, but be mindful of the 80.8-mile stretch on US 97, which is the longest uninterrupted driving segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer highway stretches, as services can be spaced out.
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 99.1 miles from Pasco, WA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.8 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 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.1 miles or 1h 49m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Bend, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pasco, 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 Pasco, WA
This is one driving day of about 198.2 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Pasco, 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 US 97 for about 80.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 197.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Court Street
At end of road, turn right onto West Court Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|I 182; US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12 toward I 182, US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 182, US 12
6
14.5 mi into trip|~17m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
7
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 West
8
197.3 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward WA 202 West: North Bend, Snoqualmie
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 31
Toward WA 202 West: North Bend, Snoqualmie
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.92 one way
$87.83 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.91
$46.08
$92.16
premium
$6.08
$47.44
$94.89
diesel
$5.35
$41.75
$83.49
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: 69.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.5
0
$20.81
$9.51
Efficient EV
49.6
0
$17.34
$7.93
EV Truck/SUV
79.3
0
$27.75
$12.68
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Pasco, WA
Afternoon
in Pasco on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 8:44AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
North Bend, WA
Afternoon
in North Bend on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
NW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 8:44AM 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
6 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 41m 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.
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 198.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 98% of the 198.2 miles on major roads like US 97, US 12, and I 82. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway driving for 80.8 miles on US 97. Expect fairly consistent cruising speeds for most of the trip, with the occasional need to navigate denser traffic as you approach your destination. The transition from highway to surface roads will be minimal.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.8 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and US 12. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Court Street.
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 198.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (West Court Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.7 miles (I 182; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,528 ft387 ft
Total Climb
3,113 ft
Total Descent
3,057 ft
Highest Point
2,528 ft
~169.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,141 ft
Notable High Points
2,218 ft at ~99.1 miles+687 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 Pasco, WA to North Bend, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Yakima 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.
North Bend is a city in the Puget Sound region of Washington. The city's mountain scenery was made famous as a filming location for the television series Twin Peaks.
Top landmarks
•Camp North Bend — camp and historic district in North Bend, Washington, U.S.
•North Bend Ranger Station — collection of buildings operated by the USDA Forest Service in the Mount Baker-S...
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 198.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.8 miles on US 97. 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 North Bend, 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 0.1 miles (West Court Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.7 miles (I 182; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at North Bend, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
