Spokane to Dallesport is 269.8 miles and takes about 5h 2m via Columbia River Highway and I 90, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region in Washington to the Pacific Coast region, remaining within the same state. With a low highway percentage, expect a more scenic, surface-road-focused experience rather than a high-speed interstate trek. Plan for a single day of driving, but know that the mix of roads means you'll have plenty of chances to pull over and stretch your legs.
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
134.9 miles from Spokane, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
80.6 mi
1h 26m
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
73.7 mi
1h 19m
I 90
58.6 mi
1h 3m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
33.4 mi
37m
Old Oregon Trail Highway
11.3 mi
12m
Lewis and Clark Trail
5.7 mi
7m
Dallesport Road
2 mi
4m
North US 395
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 80.6 mi, about 1h 26m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~656 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,220
Quietest
2 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.2×
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, WA and Dallesport, WA.
1
Start on South Gorge Trail
157 ft·21 sec·South Gorge Trail
2
Turn right
26 ft·8 sec
3
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
464 ft·19 sec·West Main Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Monroe Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Monroe Street
5
Turn slight right onto West Freeway Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·West Freeway Avenue
6
Keep slight left at fork onto West Freeway Avenue
188 ft·5 sec·West Freeway Avenue
Toward I 90 West: Seattle
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 90 West: Seattle
8
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
2.0 mi·2 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; US 395
57 mi·1 hr·I 90; US 395
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
11
Take the exit onto US 395
0.6 mi·1 min·US 395
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
12
Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395
1.9 mi·2 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
13
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
14
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·North US 395
15
Continue on US 395
33 mi·37 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 84 West: Portland
17
Merge onto I 84; US 30
11 mi·12 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
18
Continue on I 84; US 30
81 mi·1 hr 26 min·Columbia River Highway
19
Take the exit onto US 30
0.2 mi·35 sec·US 30
Toward US 30, US 197: Dufur, Bend
20
Turn right onto US 197
1.0 mi·1 min·The Dalles-California Highway
21
Turn left onto Dallesport Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Dallesport Road
22
Turn left onto 6th Avenue
0.2 mi·52 sec·6th Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
6th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour estimated drive time, leaving Spokane in the morning should allow you to reach Dallesport with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on fuel, as the surface roads might mean more frequent stops are needed than on a pure interstate route, and aim to fill up before heading into longer stretches on the Columbia River Highway. This route is well-suited for a single-day adventure, so you can decide on your pace as you go.
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 134.9 miles from Spokane, WA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.6 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 59 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.9 miles or 2h 28m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallesport, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Spokane, 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, WA
This is one driving day of about 269.8 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Spokane, 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 80.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 135.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Main Avenue
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|West Freeway Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto West Freeway Avenue toward I 90 West: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West: Seattle
6
59.5 mi into trip|~1h 6m 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
135.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.78 one way
$119.56 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.91
$62.72
$125.45
premium
$6.08
$64.58
$129.16
diesel
$5.35
$56.83
$113.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.33
$12.95
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.61
$10.79
EV Truck/SUV
107.9
1
$37.77
$17.27
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Spokane, WA
Afternoon
in Spokane on Wednesday
Local time
1:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 0 to 6 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 8:44AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Dallesport, WA
Afternoon
in Dallesport on Wednesday
Local time
1:52 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
NW 3 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 8:44AM 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
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
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 22% of your time on highways, with the majority of the 269.8 miles being on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 80.6 miles on the Columbia River Highway. Be prepared for a more rural cruising experience as you transition away from the interstate, with fewer exits and more varied speed limits.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.6 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 269.8 miles you will encounter 17 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (West Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West Freeway Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,353 ft177 ft
Total Climb
1,266 ft
Total Descent
2,889 ft
Highest Point
2,353 ft
~19.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,177 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Spokane, WA and Dallesport, WA, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College and Tri Cities Airport.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 269.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.6 miles on Columbia River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Dallesport, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (West Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West Freeway Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Dallesport, WA before the return drive.
