Pullman to Auburn is 286 miles and takes about 5 hours 49 minutes via WA 26 and I-90, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington State, taking you from the Palouse region to the western side of the Cascades. It's a straightforward, almost entirely highway route that makes for a simple one-day drive. Given the relatively short duration, you'll likely find yourself with plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
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
143 miles from Pullman, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WA 26
129.3 mi
2h 44m
I 90
112.3 mi
2h 2m
State Route 18
23.2 mi
29m
US 195
12.6 mi
17m
Colfax Airport Road
3 mi
4m
Northwest Davis Way
1.6 mi
2m
Davis Way
0.9 mi
1m
West Fairview Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
WA 26
— 129.3 mi, about 2h 44m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 35 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,207 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,108
Quietest
2 AM
~99 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
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 Pullman, WA and Auburn, WA.
1
Start on this road
89 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Northeast Kamiaken Street
368 ft·14 sec·Northeast Kamiaken Street
3
Turn right onto Northeast Olsen Street
358 ft·11 sec·Northeast Olsen Street
4
Continue on WA 270
1.6 mi·2 min·Northwest Davis Way
5
Continue on WA 270
0.9 mi·1 min·Davis Way
6
Merge onto US 195
13 mi·17 min·US 195
7
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Main Street
8
Turn right onto West Fairview Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Fairview Street
9
Continue on West Almota Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Almota Road
10
Turn right onto Colfax Airport Road
3.0 mi·4 min·Colfax Airport Road
11
Turn left onto WA 26
129 mi·2 hr 44 min·WA 26
12
Continue on this road
0.7 mi·1 min·this road
Toward I 90 West: Seattle
13
Merge onto I 90
112 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 25Toward WA 18 West: AuburnUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft·13 sec
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, TacomaUse the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Merge onto WA 18
0.3 mi·25 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
17
Continue on WA 18
23 mi·29 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward WA 164 East: AuburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Auburn Way South
321 ft·12 sec·Auburn Way South
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto Cross Street Southeast
0.1 mi·20 sec·Cross Street Southeast
21
Turn right onto A Street Southeast
0.2 mi·28 sec·A Street Southeast
22
Turn right onto East Main Street
27 ft·0 sec·East Main Street
23
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour 49-minute drive, starting in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With a single recommended stop and a fuel cost around $60, you can plan your gas purchases accordingly, perhaps filling up before you leave Pullman or after the longest stretch on WA 26. Since it’s a one-day trip, you have flexibility with your timing. Be aware that the latter part of the drive will involve more traffic as you approach Auburn, so factor that into your arrival time.
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 143 miles from Pullman, WA, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.3 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 63 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pullman, 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 Pullman, WA
This is one driving day of about 286 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Pullman, 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 WA 26 for about 129.3 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 285.6 — 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|Northeast Olsen Street
Turn right onto Northeast Olsen Street
Navigation decision point
7
261.5 mi into trip|~5h 16m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25
Toward WA 18 West: Auburn
9
261.8 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn,...
6
285.4 mi into trip|~5h 47m in
Take the exit toward WA 164 East: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 164 East: Auburn
7
285.6 mi into trip|~5h 48m in|Auburn Way South
Turn right onto Auburn Way South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.71 one way
$111.43 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$58.37
$116.74
premium
$5.39
$60.70
$121.40
diesel
$4.80
$54.00
$108.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.8
1
$30.03
$13.73
Efficient EV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
EV Truck/SUV
114.4
1
$40.04
$18.30
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Pullman, WA
Morning
in Pullman on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Smoke
W 0 to 5 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Auburn, WA
Morning
in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 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
26 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
5h 49m 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.
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 276.1
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 on highways, with 97% of the route utilizing them. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 129.3 miles on WA 26 before transitioning to I-90. Keep an eye out for the increasing density of exits as you approach the Seattle metropolitan area. The final portion of the drive involves State Route 18, which may offer a change in scenery and traffic patterns compared to the interstate.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.3 mi on WA 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WA 26 and I 90. 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 Northeast Olsen 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 286 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 (Northeast Olsen Street): Navigation decision point; at 261.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 261.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,410 ft88 ft
Total Climb
2,548 ft
Total Descent
4,813 ft
Highest Point
2,410 ft
~224.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,322 ft
Notable High Points
2,168 ft at ~163.4 miles+575 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pullman, WA and Auburn, WA, road signs point toward Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 286 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 129.3 miles on WA 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Auburn, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northeast Olsen Street): Navigation decision point; at 261.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 261.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Auburn, WA before the return drive.
