Connecting Spokane Valley to Yakima, this 212.3-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Washington that typically takes about 3 hours and 54 minutes to complete. Because the route is almost entirely highway-focused, you can comfortably manage the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stop. You should budget approximately $45 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via the Spokane Valley Freeway, I-90, and I-82, you will remain within the Pacific Coast region for the duration of the drive. It is a highly practical transit route for those looking to move efficiently between these two cities. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the trip is manageable and predictable for most drivers.
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
106.2 miles from Spokane Valley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
166.9 mi
2h 59m
I 82
30.2 mi
32m
Spokane Valley Freeway
11.3 mi
14m
North 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
North Pines Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Selah Road
0.1 mi
<1m
East Montgomery Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 1st Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 166.9 mi, about 2h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spokane Valley, WA and Yakima, 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 left at fork onto I 90
110 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 90
7
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
8
Merge onto I 82; US 97
30 mi·32 min·I 82; US 97
9
Take the exit
314 ft·4 sec
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
11
Continue on WA 823
0.1 mi·13 sec·Selah Road
12
Continue on North 1st Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North 1st Street
13
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 212.3-mile journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the nearly four-hour drive. Leaving early in the morning can help you avoid potential traffic fluctuations on the busy I-90 corridor. Since the route is highway-focused, verify your fuel levels before merging onto the interstate to avoid unnecessary detours for gas. Because the trip is short enough to be completed in a single day, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. Keep a close eye on your mileage during that 166.9-mile stretch on I-90, as it is the primary segment where you will spend the majority of your time behind the wheel.
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 106.2 miles from Spokane Valley, WA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.9 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 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.2 miles or 1h 56m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yakima, 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 212.3 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 I 90 for about 166.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 210.4 — 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.
4
11.8 mi into trip|~15m in|I 90; US 395
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; US 395
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
178.7 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
5
210.3 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
5
210.4 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.43 one way
$88.87 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$46.60
$93.19
premium
$5.77
$48.21
$96.42
diesel
$5.61
$46.87
$93.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.7
0
$22.29
$10.19
Efficient EV
53.1
0
$18.58
$8.49
EV Truck/SUV
84.9
1
$29.72
$13.59
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Spokane Valley, WA
Late night
in Spokane Valley on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Chance Light Snow
W 8 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Rock Island, WA
106 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 98% of this route consists of highway travel. The driving environment is dominated by the long, open stretches of I-90, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted leg of 166.9 miles. You will find that the road maintains a consistent pace, allowing for steady progress across the state. While the drive is efficient, the lack of frequent turns means you will spend most of your time focused on highway cruising. Transitioning between the major interstates keeps the flow moving smoothly, making this a reliable choice if you prefer a predictable road surface over technical local roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. You will hit about 8 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 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 212.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 11.8 miles (I 90; US 395): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 178.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 212.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 166.9 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 Yakima, 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 0.2 miles (East Montgomery Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles (I 90; US 395): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 178.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Yakima, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
