Spokane to White Salmon is 278.2 miles and takes about 5h 22m via Lewis and Clark Trail Highway, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington State, moving from the Pacific Coast region to the Pacific Coast region. Given that it's mostly surface roads and can be completed in under six hours, it's a straightforward drive. You'll find this route offers a generally rural feel for most of its length, making it a good option if you're looking for a less highway-intensive experience.
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
139.1 miles from Spokane, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
135.5 mi
2h 40m
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
73.7 mi
1h 19m
I 90
58.6 mi
1h 3m
Lewis and Clark Trail
5.7 mi
7m
North US 395
1.1 mi
2m
East Jewett Boulevard
1 mi
2m
East Steuben Street
0.7 mi
1m
US 395
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
— 135.5 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~645 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,095
Quietest
2 AM
~63 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 101 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 White Salmon, 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
22 mi·24 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
16
Take the exit onto Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
0.3 mi·46 sec·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
Toward SR 14: Plymouth, Vancouver
17
Continue on WA 14
114 mi·2 hr 15 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
18
Continue on WA 14
0.7 mi·1 min·East Steuben Street
19
Turn right onto WA 141
0.2 mi·27 sec·Oak Street
20
Continue on WA 141
0.3 mi·49 sec·State Route 141
21
Continue on WA 141
1.0 mi·2 min·East Jewett Boulevard
22
Arrive at destination
WA 141
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 22m estimated drive time, leaving Spokane in the morning will get you to White Salmon with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll only have one recommended stop, so plan for that to be your main break point. Keep an eye on your fuel as you leave the more populated areas around Spokane; the longest stretch without a major town could be 135.5 miles on the Lewis and Clark Trail Highway. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but be aware that the fuel cost is estimated at $58, so budget accordingly before you depart.
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 139.1 miles from Spokane, WA, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.5 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 61 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.1 miles or 2h 34m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near White Salmon, 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 278.2 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 Lewis and Clark Trail Highway for about 135.5 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 13
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
$60.00 one way
$120.00 round trip
$5.48/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.72
$62.66
$125.32
premium
$5.94
$65.03
$130.05
diesel
$6.18
$67.68
$135.35
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: 97.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.5
1
$29.21
$13.35
Efficient EV
69.6
0
$24.34
$11.13
EV Truck/SUV
111.3
1
$38.95
$17.80
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Spokane, WA
Late night
in Spokane on Saturday
Local time
4:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Patchy Frost
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
White Salmon, WA
Late night
in White Salmon on Saturday
Local time
4:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive 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
5 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 22m 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?
This route involves 22% highway driving, with the majority of your miles on surface roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 135.5 miles on the Lewis and Clark Trail Highway, which is a significant portion of the drive. Expect to transition from highway driving, likely on I 90, to more local roads as you head toward your destination. The prevalence of surface roads means you'll likely notice more town crossings and varied speed limits.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 135.5 mi on Lewis and Clark Trail 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 13 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 278.2 miles you will encounter 13 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
2,346 ft350 ft
Total Climb
1,447 ft
Total Descent
2,663 ft
Highest Point
2,346 ft
~19.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,996 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 White Salmon, WA, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport and Vancouver.
Ritzville
59.5 mi in|~1h 6m|via US 395
Pasco
59.5 mi in|~1h 6m|via US 395
Pendleton
133.2 mi in|~2h 25m|via US 395
Columbia Basin College
135.6 mi in|~2h 29m|via US 395
Tri Cities Airport
135.6 mi in|~2h 29m|via US 395
Vancouver
162.2 mi in|~3h 1m|via Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
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 22m. Total distance: 278.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 135.5 miles on Lewis and Clark Trail Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 White Salmon, 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 18 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at White Salmon, WA before the return drive.
