Vernita Safety Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Spokane Valley, WA to Union Gap, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
200.9 mi
323 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spokane Valley, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Union Gap, WA
Jack Davis
Trip Overview
Spokane Valley, WA to Union Gap, WA is 201 miles and takes about 4 hours via I 90 and State Route 24, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects two points within the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward transit across Washington state. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a practical choice for efficient travel. With a single recommended day, this route is well-suited for a quick trip or a segment of a larger Pacific Northwest adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.4 miles from Spokane Valley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 24 | 65.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 90 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway | 30.3 mi | 32m |
| WA 26 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| Spokane Valley Freeway | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| WA 24 | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| South Radar Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| WA-24 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 24
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 19m
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Union Gap, 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
30 mi
·
32 min
·
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
8
Turn right onto WA 26
19 mi
·
22 min
·
WA 26
9
Turn left onto South Reynolds Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Reynolds Road
10
Turn right onto West Bench Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bench Road
11
Enter roundabout onto WA 24
180 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Broadway Avenue
12
Continue on WA 24
279 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Broadway Avenue
13
Continue on WA 24
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South Radar Road
14
Continue on WA 24
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
WA-24
15
Continue on WA 24
27 mi
·
32 min
·
State Route 24
16
At end of road, turn left onto WA 24
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
WA 24
17
Turn right onto WA 24
38 mi
·
46 min
·
State Route 24
18
Continue on WA 24
406 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Nob Hill Boulevard
19
Turn left onto WA 24
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
WA 24
Toward SR 24 east: Moxee
20
Merge onto I 82; US 12; US 97
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 82; US 12; US 97
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward Valley Mall Boulevard, Union Gap
22
Keep slight left at fork
252 ft
·
6 sec
Toward Valley Mall Boulevard, Union Gap
23
Enter roundabout onto East Valley Mall Boulevard
130 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Valley Mall Boulevard
24
Continue on East Valley Mall Boulevard
439 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Valley Mall Boulevard
25
Enter roundabout onto Rudkin Road
222 ft
·
4 sec
·
Rudkin Road
26
Continue on Rudkin Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Rudkin Road
27
Turn right
147 ft
·
10 sec
28
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
464 ft
·
14 sec
·
Main Street
29
Turn left
422 ft
·
31 sec
30
Turn right
78 ft
·
5 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, departing Spokane Valley in the morning allows ample time to reach Union Gap before evening. With only one recommended day and a fuel cost estimated at $45, this trip is easily manageable in a single push. Consider planning your single stop around the halfway point or where you might need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto State Route 24, where services might be less frequent than on the interstate. This route's efficiency means you have flexibility in your departure 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 100.4 miles from Spokane Valley, WA, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 44 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.4 miles or 1h 51m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union Gap, 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 200.9 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 State Route 24 for about 65.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 100.4 miles from Spokane Valley, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before State Route 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Broadway Flying J Travel Plaza
0 mi from route
Sprague Lake Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Sprague Lake Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 200.4 — 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
7
200.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Valley Mall Boulevard, Union Gap
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Valley Mall Boulevard, Union Gap
6
200.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
|
East Valley Mall Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto East Valley Mall Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
200.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
|
Rudkin Road
Enter roundabout onto Rudkin Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.51 one way
$89.03 round trip
$5.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.91 | $46.71 | $93.41 |
| premium | $6.08 | $48.09 | $96.18 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $42.32 | $84.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.09 | $9.64 |
| Efficient EV | 50.2 | 0 | $17.58 | $8.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.4 | 1 | $28.13 | $12.86 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Origin
Spokane Valley, WA
Afternoon in Spokane Valley on Wednesday
Local time
2:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 24 at 9:06PM PDT until May 25 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 24 at 11:37AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Union Gap, WA
Afternoon in Union Gap on Wednesday
Local time
2:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 2 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued May 24 at 9:06PM PDT until May 25 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 24 at 11:37AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
48°F
Hatton, WA
100 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
1 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
3h 56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on highways for approximately 81% of this 201-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 65.7 miles along State Route 24. As you transition from I 90 to State Route 24, you'll notice a shift from interstate cruising to more rural highway driving. The initial section on I 90 features typical interstate conditions with multiple exits and merging traffic.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.7 mi on State Route 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 24 and I 90. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Montgomery Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 200.9 miles you will encounter 22 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 0.2 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 200.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,369 ft
634 ft
Total Climb
1,195 ft
Total Descent
2,227 ft
Highest Point
2,369 ft
~14.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,735 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Union Gap, WA, road signs point toward Ritzville and Pasco.
Ritzville
68.4 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via US 395
Pasco
68.4 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via US 395
About the Cities
Starting in Spokane Valley, WA
Full guide →Founded 2003
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.
Arriving in Union Gap, WA
Full guide →Yakima is the principal city of the Yakima Valley, an agricultural region noted for apple, wine, and hop production on the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State. It is the county seat of Yakima County. This article also covers the nearby communities of Union Gap and Selah.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 200.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.7 miles on State Route 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Union Gap, 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 7 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 200.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Union Gap, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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