South Hill, WA to Pasco, WA is 241.7 miles and takes about 4h 39m via I 90 and I 82, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip covers ground within Washington State, moving from the Pacific Coast region inland. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day drive. The route is efficient, designed for covering distance rather than extensive sightseeing.
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
120.9 miles from South Hill, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
84.5 mi
1h 33m
I 82
64.1 mi
1h 8m
US 97
37.8 mi
42m
State Route 18
24.1 mi
30m
US 12
14.5 mi
15m
Valley Freeway
7.5 mi
9m
Meridian East
1 mi
2m
128th Street East
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 84.5 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Hill, WA and Pasco, WA.
1
Start on 126th Street Court East
0.1 mi·25 sec·126th Street Court East
2
Continue on 117th Avenue East
508 ft·19 sec·117th Avenue East
3
At end of road, turn right onto 128th Street East
0.9 mi·2 min·128th Street East
4
Turn right onto WA 161
0.5 mi·1 min·Meridian Avenue East
5
Continue on WA 161
1.0 mi·2 min·Meridian East
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
3.0 mi·4 min
Toward WA 512 East, WA 161 North: SeattleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, YakimaUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto WA 167
7.5 mi·9 min·Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward WA 18 East: AuburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto WA 18
24 mi·30 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on WA 18
0.1 mi·8 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
13
Merge onto I 90
85 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 97
38 mi·42 min·US 97
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 82; US 12
16
Take the exit onto US 12
14 mi·15 min·US 12
Exit 102Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, PascoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 13Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Avenue
19
Turn right onto Court Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Court Street
20
Turn left onto North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·North 8th Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
North 8th Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 5 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. The longest stretch without a major break is 84.5 miles on I 90, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, especially since the estimated fuel cost is $51. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll want to be mindful of rest areas and services along I 82 and US 97. Given the highway-centric nature, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic.
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 120.9 miles from South Hill, WA, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.5 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 53 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.9 miles or 2h 25m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pasco, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Hill, 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 South Hill, WA
This is one driving day of about 241.7 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from South Hill, 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 84.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 240.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward WA 512 East, WA 161 North: Seattle
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 512 East, WA 161 North: Seattle
8
5.6 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, Yakima
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward WA 167 North, WA 410 East: Seattle, Yaki...
7
124.1 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|US 97
Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
8
226.1 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
7
240.5 mi into trip|~4h 36m in
Take the exit toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.59 one way
$101.17 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$53.05
$106.10
premium
$5.77
$54.89
$109.77
diesel
$5.61
$53.36
$106.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.5
0
$25.38
$11.60
Efficient EV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
EV Truck/SUV
96.7
1
$33.84
$15.47
Gas CO2
85 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
South Hill, WA
Night
in South Hill on Saturday
Local time
11:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pasco, WA
Night
in Pasco on Saturday
Local time
11:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Monroe, WA
121 mi in
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
21 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 39m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 90 and I 82. You'll encounter long stretches of consistent speed, including an uninterrupted segment of 84.5 miles on I 90. The character is largely that of an efficient transit corridor, designed for steady progress across the landscape. While the majority is interstate, US 97 also plays a role, offering a consistent driving experience throughout.
96% 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: 84.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 241.7 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 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.1 miles (US 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from South Hill, WA to Pasco, WA, road signs begin pointing toward I‑182 East along the way.
I‑182 East
226.1 mi in|~4h 20m|via US 12
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 241.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Pasco, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.1 miles (US 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Pasco, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
