Embark on a 239-mile journey from Pasco, WA, to Yelm, WA, a drive that typically takes around 4 hours and 52 minutes. This route is primarily highway-focused, with 89% of the drive on major roads, making it a feasible day trip. You can expect to spend approximately $50 on fuel for this excursion. The drive covers a significant stretch across the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward path between these two Washington state locations. Consider this a practical, efficient drive for getting from point A to point B.
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
119.5 miles from Pasco, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
176.3 mi
3h 22m
Mountain Highway East
19.2 mi
29m
State Route 7
13.7 mi
18m
I 182
11.8 mi
12m
State Route 702 East
9.3 mi
13m
Morton Road
2.5 mi
3m
State Route 507
1.4 mi
2m
Lewis and Clark Trail
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 176.3 mi, about 3h 22m
Traffic on I-82
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,789 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~102 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.5×
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 Pasco, WA and Yelm, 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
Take the exit onto US 12
0.1 mi·10 sec·US 12
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street: White Pass, Chinook Pass, Naches
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
18 mi·23 min·US 12
Toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
10
Turn left onto US 12
88 mi·1 hr 42 min·US 12
11
Turn right onto WA 7
0.6 mi·51 sec·2nd Street
12
Continue on WA 7
2.5 mi·3 min·Morton Road
13
Continue on WA 7
14 mi·18 min·State Route 7
14
Turn left onto WA 7
19 mi·29 min·Mountain Highway East
15
Turn left onto WA 702
9.3 mi·13 min·State Route 702 East
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto WA 507
0.5 mi·1 min·Spanaway McKenna Highway
17
Continue on WA 507
1.4 mi·2 min·State Route 507
18
Continue on WA 507
1.0 mi·2 min·East Yelm Avenue
19
Turn right onto North 1st Street
164 ft·5 sec·North 1st Street
20
Turn right
54 ft·4 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under 5 hours, this 239-mile trip is easily manageable as a single-day adventure. Aim to depart Pasco in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. You'll have one recommended stop, and it's wise to take advantage of the services along US 12, especially since it forms the longest stretch of your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $50, and plan your refueling stops before hitting longer, less populated segments. Flexibility is key with a drive of this length.
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 119.5 miles from Pasco, WA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.3 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 53 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.5 miles or 2h 17m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yelm, 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 239 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 12 for about 176.3 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 0.1 and 85.5 — 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
5
85.4 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward US 12 west, North 1st Street: White Pass, Chinook Pass, Naches
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street: White Pass...
6
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.96 one way
$105.91 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.91
$55.56
$111.13
premium
$6.08
$57.21
$114.42
diesel
$5.35
$50.34
$100.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.7
0
$25.10
$11.47
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.91
$9.56
EV Truck/SUV
95.6
1
$33.46
$15.30
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Pasco, WA
Afternoon
in Pasco on Wednesday
Local time
2:10 PM
PDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
N 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Yelm, WA
Afternoon
in Yelm on Wednesday
Local time
2:10 PM
PDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
NNW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM 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
2 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 52m 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.
Mount Rainier National Park
National Park
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning fi...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$30
near mile 148.4
Park Closure: Paradise Road Status: Gate closed at Longmire, projected to open tomorrow
Park Closure: SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge is closed: no access to Carbon River or Mowich Lake.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is largely a highway-focused drive, with the majority of your time spent on US 12, Mountain Highway East, and State Route 7. You'll experience an 89% highway share, meaning you'll be on faster, more direct roads for most of the 239 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 176.3 miles on US 12, so plan your stops accordingly. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways, offering a consistent driving experience for the duration.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.3 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and Mountain Highway East. You will hit about 15 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 239 miles you will encounter 15 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
4,381 ft353 ft
Total Climb
4,430 ft
Total Descent
4,464 ft
Highest Point
4,381 ft
~136.6 mi in
Elevation Range
4,028 ft
Notable High Points
4,381 ft at ~136.6 miles+1,886 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 Yelm, WA, road signs point toward Yakima, 1St Street: White Pass, Chinook Pass, Naches and White Pass.
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 52m. Total distance: 239 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.3 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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): 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 — Mount Rainier National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Yelm, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
