Spokane to Mill Plain is 347.6 miles and takes about 6h 43m via Columbia River Highway and I 90, with a fuel budget near $73 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Washington state, moving from the Pacific Coast region to the same region. Expect a trip that predominantly uses surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective on the landscape. It's a straightforward, single-day option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without extensive 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
173.8 miles from Spokane, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m 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
58.6 mi
1h 3m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
33.4 mi
37m
Evergreen Highway
19.9 mi
27m
Old Oregon Trail Highway
11.3 mi
12m
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
7.6 mi
10m
Lewis and Clark Trail
5.7 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 122.6 mi, about 2h 14m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~766 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,362
Quietest
2 AM
~77 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Mill Plain, 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
123 mi·2 hr 14 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit onto US 30
1.6 mi·3 min·US 30
Toward Cascade LocksUse the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Bridge of the Gods
0.7 mi·3 min·Bridge of the Gods
Toward WA 14: Stevenson, Camas
21
At end of road, turn left onto WA 14
20 mi·27 min·Evergreen Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on WA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto WA 14
146 ft·2 sec·Lewis and Clark Highway
24
Continue on WA 14
0.9 mi·1 min·Lewis and Clark Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto WA 14
87 ft·1 sec·Lewis and Clark Highway
26
Continue on WA 14
4.0 mi·5 min·Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on WA 14
3.1 mi·3 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 8Toward Southeast 164th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork
262 ft·6 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
30
Turn straight onto Southeast 164th Avenue
1.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 164th Avenue
31
Turn right onto Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard
0.4 mi·57 sec·Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard
32
Turn left onto Southeast 172nd Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Southeast 172nd Avenue
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right onto Northeast 29th Street
201 ft·10 sec·Northeast 29th Street
34
Turn right onto Northeast 173rd Court
340 ft·15 sec·Northeast 173rd Court
35
Turn slight left
219 ft·16 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 43m estimated duration, leaving Spokane in the morning will allow you to reach Mill Plain with daylight to spare. Plan for at least one stop to break up the 347.6 miles; the longest stretch on the Columbia River Highway is over 120 miles, so consider timing your break before or after that segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $73, so ensure your tank is full before departing Spokane to manage your budget effectively. Since this is a one-day drive, you have flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic or personal preference.
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 173.8 miles from Spokane, WA, or about 3h 14m 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 76 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.8 miles or 3h 14m 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 19m
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, 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 347.6 miles and 6h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 343.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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...
6
308.4 mi into trip|~5h 42m 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
343.1 mi into trip|~6h 33m 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
$73.19 one way
$146.38 round trip
$5.35/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.56
$76.03
$152.07
premium
$5.76
$78.77
$157.54
diesel
$5.60
$76.62
$153.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$73
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.3
1
$36.50
$16.68
Efficient EV
86.9
0
$30.42
$13.90
EV Truck/SUV
139
1
$48.66
$22.25
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Aug 27, 2026
Origin
Spokane, WA
Late night
in Spokane on Wednesday
Local time
12:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Haze
S 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 27 at 2:56AM PDT until August 27 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Mill Plain, WA
Late night
in Mill Plain on Wednesday
Local time
12:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 27 at 2:56AM PDT until August 27 at 8:00PM 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
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
6h 43m 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, with only 18% on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of surface road at 122.6 miles on the Columbia River Highway. The route begins with highway driving, including Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, before transitioning to surface roads for the majority of the trip. Expect to navigate through various towns and landscapes as you move away from the interstate.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
36 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 0.6 miles in near West Freeway 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 25 significant decision points across 347.6 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 0.6 miles (West Freeway Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 59.5 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.6 miles (US 395 / Lewis and Clark Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,294 ft124 ft
Total Climb
1,763 ft
Total Descent
3,323 ft
Highest Point
2,294 ft
~24.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,170 ft
Notable High Points
1,619 ft at ~149 miles+999 ft prominence
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 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.
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 6h 43m. Total distance: 347.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 43m 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.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (West Freeway Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 59.5 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.6 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 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.4 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.
