This 135.4-mile drive from Spokane, WA to Pasco, WA is a manageable 2.5-hour journey, making it an excellent day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway and I-90, with a small portion on North 4th Avenue. The estimated fuel cost is around $28, and with only one recommended stop, it's a straightforward transit. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, indicating a consistent regional feel throughout your travel. This route offers a practical way to connect two Washington cities without requiring an overnight stay.
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
67.7 miles from Spokane, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
73.7 mi
1h 19m
I 90
58.6 mi
1h 3m
North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
US 395
0.6 mi
1m
North Monroe Street
0.4 mi
1m
Lewis and Clark Trail
0.3 mi
<1m
Court Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Freeway Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
— 73.7 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spokane, WA and Pasco, 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
0.3 mi·23 sec·Lewis and Clark Trail
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
14
Turn right onto North 4th Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Court Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Court Street
16
Turn left onto North 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·North 8th Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
North 8th Avenue
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 2.5-hour trip, you have flexibility in your departure time. Leaving Spokane in the morning will have you in Pasco by midday, allowing ample time for activities. The longest stretch without a break is over 73 miles, so plan for a stop if needed, though it's not strictly necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, with an estimated cost of $28 for the trip. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the transition onto North 4th Avenue as you near Pasco, as this marks the final segment of your journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.7 miles from Spokane, WA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.7 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 30 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.7 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pasco, 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 135.4 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway for about 73.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 134.4 — 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
134.4 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|North 4th Avenue
Turn right onto North 4th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.34 one way
$56.68 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$29.72
$59.44
premium
$5.77
$30.75
$61.50
diesel
$5.61
$29.89
$59.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.6
0
$14.22
$6.50
Efficient EV
33.9
0
$11.85
$5.42
EV Truck/SUV
54.2
0
$18.96
$8.67
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Spokane, WA
Night
in Spokane on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pasco, WA
Night
in Pasco on Saturday
Local time
10:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
2h 30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive presents a mixed profile, with 44% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a substantial 73.7-mile stretch on the Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, which likely offers a more continuous travel experience before transitioning to other road types. Expect a blend of faster highway driving and potentially more local road sections as you approach Pasco. This variation means the feel of the road will change throughout your trip, so be prepared for shifts in speed and surroundings.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.7 mi on Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 135.4 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: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Spokane, WA to Pasco, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Ritzville along the way.
Ritzville
59.5 mi in|~1h 6m|via US 395
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 135.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.7 miles on Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Pasco, 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: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pasco, WA before heading back.
