Pasco to Washougal is 201.5 miles and takes about 3h 59m via Columbia River Highway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Washington state, beginning in the Pacific Coast region and concluding in the same region. You'll be on surface roads for most of this drive, offering a more relaxed pace than a freeway-heavy route. It's a straightforward path if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without extensive highway time.
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
100.7 miles from Pasco, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
122.6 mi
2h 14m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
33.4 mi
37m
Evergreen Highway
19.9 mi
27m
Old Oregon Trail Highway
11.3 mi
12m
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
4.5 mi
6m
Lewis and Clark Trail
2.8 mi
4m
US 30
1.6 mi
3m
West Court Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 122.6 mi, about 2h 14m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~772 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,324
Quietest
2 AM
~75 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.3×
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 Washougal, WA.
1
Start on North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·35 sec·North 8th Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto West Court Street
1.4 mi·3 min·West Court Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
4
Merge onto US 395
2.8 mi·4 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
5
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·North US 395
6
Continue on US 395
33 mi·37 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 84 West: Portland
8
Merge onto I 84; US 30
11 mi·12 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
9
Continue on I 84; US 30
123 mi·2 hr 14 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 30
1.6 mi·3 min·US 30
Toward Cascade LocksUse the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto Bridge of the Gods
0.7 mi·3 min·Bridge of the Gods
Toward WA 14: Stevenson, Camas
12
At end of road, turn left onto WA 14
20 mi·27 min·Evergreen Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on WA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
14
Enter roundabout onto WA 14
146 ft·2 sec·Lewis and Clark Highway
15
Continue on WA 14
0.9 mi·1 min·Lewis and Clark Highway
16
Enter roundabout onto Washougal River Road
14 ft·0 sec·Washougal River Road
17
Continue on Washougal River Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Washougal River Road
18
Turn right onto G Street
156 ft·12 sec·G Street
19
Turn left
108 ft·7 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 4 hours, this route is best tackled in a single day, allowing for flexibility. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is $45. The longest stretch is over 120 miles, so plan for a brief pause before you reach that point, perhaps around the halfway mark to stretch your legs and get a drink.
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 100.7 miles from Pasco, WA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.6 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.7 miles or 1h 56m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washougal, 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 201.5 miles and 3h 59m.
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 Columbia River Highway for about 122.6 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 0.1 and 175.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Court Street
At end of road, turn left onto West Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
38.9 mi into trip|~48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 84 West: Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 84 West: Portland
6
173.4 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|US 30
Take the exit onto US 30 toward Cascade Locks
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Cascade Locks
5
175 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|Bridge of the Gods
Turn left onto Bridge of the Gods toward WA 14: Stevenson, Camas
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WA 14: Stevenson, Camas
6
175.7 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|WA 14 / Evergreen Highway
At end of road, turn left onto WA 14 / Evergreen Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.25 one way
$78.51 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$41.13
$82.25
premium
$5.39
$42.77
$85.53
diesel
$4.80
$38.05
$76.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.5
0
$21.16
$9.67
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.63
$8.06
EV Truck/SUV
80.6
1
$28.21
$12.90
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Pasco, WA
Late night
in Pasco on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Smoke then Clear
W 1 to 9 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
Washougal, WA
Late night
in Washougal on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog
SW 1 to 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
7 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 59m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route has a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 201.5 miles. The longest continuous stretch is 122.6 miles on Columbia River Highway. Expect frequent changes in speed limits and potential for local traffic as you navigate through towns and rural areas. You'll notice the transition from more open cruising to areas with more intersections and slower speeds as you progress.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.6 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 0.1 miles in near West Court Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 201.5 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 0.1 miles (West Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 173.4 miles (US 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,642 ft75 ft
Total Climb
2,064 ft
Total Descent
2,376 ft
Highest Point
1,642 ft
~14.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,567 ft
Notable High Points
1,642 ft at ~14.4 miles+1,256 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pasco, WA and Washougal, WA, road signs point toward Cascade Locks and Camas.
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.
Washougal is a charming river community of 17000 people at the junction of the Washougal and Columbia Rivers in southwest Washington State. Visitors will find the cozy downtown a convenient launch for ample outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, kayaking, inner-tubing, mountain biking, motorsports, shooting-sports and more.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 201.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (1%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.6 miles on Columbia River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 173.4 miles (US 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Washougal, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
