This 269.4-mile drive from Ravensdale, WA, to Spokane, WA, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 2 minutes. With 97% of the route on highways, it's an efficient way to travel across Washington state. This trip is very feasible as a single-day adventure, so you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $56, making it a budget-friendly option. You'll experience a consistent driving environment for most of the journey.
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
134.7 miles from Ravensdale, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
253.5 mi
4h 34m
State Route 18
7 mi
9m
276th Avenue Southeast
3.4 mi
6m
Landsburg Road Southeast
2.3 mi
4m
Southeast Ravensdale Way
0.6 mi
1m
South Lincoln Street
0.4 mi
1m
West 4th Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
West Freeway Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 253.5 mi, about 4h 34m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 47 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~978 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,681
Quietest
2 AM
~83 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
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 Ravensdale, WA and Spokane, WA.
1
Start on Southeast Ravensdale Way
0.6 mi·1 min·Southeast Ravensdale Way
2
Turn slight left onto Landsburg Road Southeast
2.3 mi·4 min·Landsburg Road Southeast
3
Continue on 276th Avenue Southeast
3.4 mi·6 min·276th Avenue Southeast
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward WA 18 East: North Bend
5
Merge onto WA 18
7.0 mi·9 min·State Route 18
6
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
8
Merge onto I 90
252 mi·4 hr 32 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
1.8 mi·2 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Street
11
Continue on West 5th Avenue
382 ft·12 sec·West 5th Avenue
12
Turn straight onto West Freeway Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Freeway Avenue
13
Continue on West 4th Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·West 4th Avenue
14
Continue on West 4th Avenue
167 ft·4 sec·West 4th Avenue
15
Continue on South Lincoln Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Main Avenue
17
Turn right
26 ft·8 sec
18
Turn left onto South Gorge Trail
157 ft·17 sec·South Gorge Trail
19
Arrive at destination
South Gorge Trail
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Ravensdale to maximize your daylight and avoid potential traffic as you get closer to Spokane. With the longest stretch being over 250 miles on I-90, plan for at least one fuel and rest stop midway. Given the efficiency of the route, you have flexibility; however, aiming for a single stop around the halfway point of your journey is a practical approach. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the longer highway segment, to ensure you have enough to reach Spokane comfortably.
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 134.7 miles from Ravensdale, WA, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 253.5 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 59 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.7 miles or 2h 33m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spokane, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ravensdale, 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 Ravensdale, WA
This is one driving day of about 269.4 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Ravensdale, 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 I 90 for about 253.5 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 6.2 and 269.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.2 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward WA 18 East: North Bend
Navigation decision point
Toward WA 18 East: North Bend
5
14.5 mi into trip|~23m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
268.1 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Str...
5
269.4 mi into trip|~5h 2m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
269.4 mi into trip|~5h 2m in|South Gorge Trail
Turn left onto South Gorge Trail
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.48 one way
$104.96 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$54.98
$109.97
premium
$5.39
$57.18
$114.36
diesel
$4.80
$50.87
$101.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.8
0
$28.29
$12.93
Efficient EV
67.4
0
$23.57
$10.78
EV Truck/SUV
107.8
1
$37.72
$17.24
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ravensdale, WA
Afternoon
in Ravensdale on Sunday
Local time
12:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
S 1 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Spokane, WA
Afternoon
in Spokane on Sunday
Local time
12:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Areas Of Smoke
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM 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
8 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 2m 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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 9.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominately highway experience on this route, as 97% of it utilizes major roadways like I-90. The drive offers a long, uninterrupted stretch of 253.5 miles primarily on I-90, minimizing the need for frequent turns or navigating complex local roads. This highway-focused profile means you'll generally maintain higher speeds and a consistent pace. While the exact scenery isn't specified, the character of the drive is one of efficient travel across the state, rather than a winding, scenic tour.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 253.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Route 18. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 2m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.5 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 268.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Spokane is the second-largest city in Washington State, and the largest between Seattle and Minneapolis. It is the economic hub of the "Inland Empire", a name used for Eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle (pre-dating by nearly a century the use of the same title by a region in Southern California). It is at the north edge of the Palouse, where gently rolling hills of wheat fields end at the Spokane River valley.
This article also includes the suburbs of Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley.
Top landmarks
•Monroe Street Bridge — bridge in Spokane, Washington
•Montvale Hotel — hotel in Spokane, Washington
•Manito Park and Botanical Gardens — park in Spokane, Washington state, USA
The longest stretch is about 253.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.5 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 268.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Spokane, WA before the return drive.
