Origin
Port Ludlow, WA
Evening in Port Ludlow on Saturday
Local time
6:12 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 54m
Distance
355.4 mi
572 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Port Ludlow, WA
William Jacobs
This 355.4-mile drive from Port Ludlow, WA to Spokane, WA is a substantial undertaking, best suited for a single, long day of travel. Expect to spend approximately 6 hours and 54 minutes on the road, covering a significant portion of Washington state. Primarily utilizing I-90, State Route 18, and State Highway 16, this journey is overwhelmingly highway-focused. With an estimated fuel cost of $74, it's a budget-friendly option for a cross-state excursion. This route offers a straightforward path across the Pacific Coast region, making it a practical choice for those looking to cover distance efficiently.
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
177.7 miles from Port Ludlow, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 38m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 253.5 mi | 4h 34m |
| State Route 18 | 27.3 mi | 34m |
| State Highway 16 | 26.5 mi | 33m |
| State Highway 3 Northeast | 23.2 mi | 31m |
| I 5 | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| State Route 104 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Oak Bay Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 3 West | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Port Ludlow, WA and Spokane, WA.
Start on Marina View Drive
Turn left onto Oak Bay Road
At end of road, turn left onto WA 19
Enter roundabout onto WA 104
Continue on WA 104
Enter roundabout onto WA 104
Continue on WA 104
Continue on WA 104
Take the exit
Merge onto WA 3
Continue on WA 3
Continue on WA 16
Continue on WA 16
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Merge onto WA 18
Continue on WA 18
Take the exit
Merge onto I 90
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
Take the exit
Continue on West 5th Avenue
Turn straight onto West Freeway Avenue
Continue on West 4th Avenue
Continue on West 4th Avenue
Continue on South Lincoln Street
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
Turn right
Turn left onto South Gorge Trail
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 6-hour, 54-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Port Ludlow to maximize daylight hours. While this route can be completed in one day, plan for at least one fuel and rest stop, especially given the longest stretch on I-90 is over 250 miles. The estimated fuel cost is around $74, so ensure your tank is full before heading out. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing, but staying alert on the extended highway sections is key.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 78 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.7 miles or 3h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spokane, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Port Ludlow, 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 Port Ludlow, WA
This is one driving day of about 355.4 miles and 6h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
178 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 177.7 miles from Port Ludlow, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 253.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 72.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto WA 19 / Beaver Valley Road
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservation
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$74.38 one way
$148.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $78.01 | $156.01 |
| premium | $5.77 | $80.71 | $161.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.47 | $156.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.6 | 1 | $37.32 | $17.06 |
| Efficient EV | 88.9 | 1 | $31.10 | $14.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142.2 | 1 | $49.76 | $22.75 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Port Ludlow on Saturday
Local time
6:12 PM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Spokane on Saturday
Local time
6:12 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the route utilizing major roadways. The bulk of your time will be spent on I-90, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 253.5 miles. While the majority of the journey is on high-speed interstates, the initial segments on State Route 18 and State Highway 16 offer a slightly different, though still highway-oriented, experience. The character of the road remains consistent, prioritizing efficient travel over winding scenic byways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near WA 19 / Beaver Valley Road.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 355.4 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 2.2 miles (WA 19 / Beaver Valley Road): Navigation decision point; at 62.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Port Ludlow, WA to Spokane, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Muckleshoot Reservation along the way.
Muckleshoot Reservation
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 54m. Total distance: 355.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 54m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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