Spokane Valley, WA to Mill Plain, WA is 356.5 miles and takes about 6h 53m via Columbia River Highway, Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, and I 90, with a fuel budget near $80 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington State, connecting the Pacific Coast region to itself. With most of the drive on surface roads, expect a more scenic and potentially slower pace than a pure interstate cruise. This route is a solid choice if you're looking for a single-day adventure without excessive highway time.
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
178.2 miles from Spokane Valley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
122.6 mi
2h 14m
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
73.7 mi
1h 19m
I 90
56.6 mi
1h
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
33.4 mi
37m
Evergreen Highway
19.9 mi
27m
Spokane Valley Freeway
11.3 mi
14m
Old Oregon Trail Highway
11.3 mi
12m
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
7.6 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 122.6 mi, about 2h 14m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,143 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,569
Quietest
2 AM
~132 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.2×
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 Spokane Valley, WA and Mill Plain, WA.
1
Start on WA 27
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Pines Road
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto East Montgomery Avenue
155 ft·6 sec·East Montgomery Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
4
Merge onto I 90
11 mi·14 min·Spokane Valley Freeway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; US 395
57 mi·1 hr·I 90; US 395
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
7
Take the exit onto US 395
0.6 mi·1 min·US 395
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
8
Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395
1.9 mi·2 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
3.8 mi·5 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
Toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport
10
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·North US 395
11
Continue on US 395
33 mi·37 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 84 West: Portland
13
Merge onto I 84; US 30
11 mi·12 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
14
Continue on I 84; US 30
123 mi·2 hr 14 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto US 30
1.6 mi·3 min·US 30
Toward Cascade LocksUse the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto Bridge of the Gods
0.7 mi·3 min·Bridge of the Gods
Toward WA 14: Stevenson, Camas
17
At end of road, turn left onto WA 14
20 mi·27 min·Evergreen Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on WA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
19
Enter roundabout onto WA 14
146 ft·2 sec·Lewis and Clark Highway
20
Continue on WA 14
0.9 mi·1 min·Lewis and Clark Highway
21
Enter roundabout onto WA 14
87 ft·1 sec·Lewis and Clark Highway
22
Continue on WA 14
4.0 mi·5 min·Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on WA 14
3.1 mi·3 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 8Toward Southeast 164th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
262 ft·6 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Turn straight onto Southeast 164th Avenue
1.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 164th Avenue
27
Turn right onto Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard
0.4 mi·57 sec·Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard
28
Turn left onto Southeast 172nd Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Southeast 172nd Avenue
Use the left lane.
29
Turn right onto Northeast 29th Street
201 ft·10 sec·Northeast 29th Street
30
Turn right onto Northeast 173rd Court
340 ft·15 sec·Northeast 173rd Court
31
Turn slight left
219 ft·16 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 53m estimated drive time, leaving Spokane Valley in the morning should allow you to reach Mill Plain with plenty of daylight. The route includes only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, especially considering the 122.6-mile segment on the Columbia River Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $80, but it's always wise to top off before embarking on longer stretches of surface roads. This trip is comfortably achievable in a single day, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 178.2 miles from Spokane Valley, WA, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.6 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 78 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.2 miles or 3h 19m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mill Plain, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Spokane Valley, 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 Spokane Valley, WA
This is one driving day of about 356.5 miles and 6h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Spokane Valley, 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 Columbia River Highway for about 122.6 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 352 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Montgomery Avenue
Turn left onto East Montgomery Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
68.4 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway toward Ritzville, Pasco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
6
144.5 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia B...
6
317.3 mi into trip|~5h 52m in|US 30
Take the exit onto US 30 toward Cascade Locks
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Cascade Locks
7
352 mi into trip|~6h 43m in
Take the exit toward Southeast 164th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward Southeast 164th Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.99 one way
$157.98 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.91
$82.88
$165.76
premium
$6.08
$85.34
$170.67
diesel
$5.35
$75.09
$150.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107
1
$37.43
$17.11
Efficient EV
89.1
1
$31.19
$14.26
EV Truck/SUV
142.6
1
$49.91
$22.82
Gas CO2
125 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Spokane Valley, WA
Afternoon
in Spokane Valley on Wednesday
Local time
12:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 1 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Mill Plain, WA
Afternoon
in Mill Plain on Wednesday
Local time
12:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Clear
N 5 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
10 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
6h 53m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, making up 80% of the total distance. You'll experience a significant stretch of 122.6 miles on the Columbia River Highway, offering a more engaging driving experience than typical interstate travel. While I 90 is part of the route, its share is limited to 20%. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you transition from highway to local roads.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.6 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Montgomery Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 356.5 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 0.2 miles (East Montgomery Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.4 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.5 miles (US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,357 ft91 ft
Total Climb
1,135 ft
Total Descent
2,872 ft
Highest Point
2,357 ft
~25.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,266 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Spokane Valley, WA and Mill Plain, WA, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport and Cascade Locks - among others.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 53m. Total distance: 356.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.6 miles on Columbia River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Mill Plain, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Montgomery Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.4 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.5 miles (US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mill Plain, WA before the return drive.
