Spokane to Zillah is 197.4 miles and takes about 3h 37m via Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway and I 90, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington state, connecting the Pacific Coast region from start to finish. With a profile that's mostly highway, you'll find this a straightforward drive. It's a good option for a single-day trip, offering a direct path between two points in the state.
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
98.7 miles from Spokane, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m 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
US 12
48.3 mi
51m
I 182
11.8 mi
12m
Lewis and Clark Trail
1.9 mi
2m
1st Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
US 395
0.6 mi
1m
North Monroe Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
— 73.7 mi, about 1h 19m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~640 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,070
Quietest
2 AM
~61 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Zillah, 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 left at fork onto I 182; US 12
12 mi·12 min·I 182; US 12
Toward I 182, US 12Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
48 mi·51 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Division Road – Zillah
16
Turn right onto Yakima Valley Highway
275 ft·11 sec·Yakima Valley Highway
17
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·1st Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
1st Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 3.5 hours, this route is easily completed in a single day. Leaving Spokane in the morning allows ample time to reach Zillah with daylight to spare. The longest stretch without a fuel stop is 73.7 miles, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you're starting with less than a full tank. You'll pass through various towns, offering opportunities for quick breaks or refueling as needed.
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 98.7 miles from Spokane, WA, or about 1h 48m 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 43 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.7 miles or 1h 48m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Zillah, 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 197.4 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 147.4 — 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
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
8
135.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 182; US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12 toward I 182, US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 182, US 12
6
147.4 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.74 one way
$87.48 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.91
$45.89
$91.78
premium
$6.08
$47.25
$94.50
diesel
$5.35
$41.58
$83.16
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: 69.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
Efficient EV
49.4
0
$17.27
$7.90
EV Truck/SUV
79
0
$27.64
$12.63
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 May 10, 2026
Origin
Spokane, WA
Afternoon
in Spokane on Wednesday
Local time
1:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 9 at 11:06AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Zillah, WA
Afternoon
in Zillah on Wednesday
Local time
1:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 9 at 11:06AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
48°F
Hatton, WA
99 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 37m 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?
You'll spend 61% of this drive on the highway, with the remaining portion on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 73.7 miles along Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway cruising and potentially more frequent exits as you approach towns, especially on I 90.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway and I 90. You will hit about 15 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 197.4 miles you will encounter 15 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; 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,378 ft427 ft
Total Climb
930 ft
Total Descent
1,950 ft
Highest Point
2,378 ft
~14.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,950 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 Zillah, WA, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton and Yakima.
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
Yakima
147.4 mi in|~2h 41m|via US 12
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Zillah is a town in the Yakima Valley, on the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State. It sports two quirky attractions: the unfortunately-named Church of God-Zillah and the Teapot Dome Gas Station.
Top landmarks
•Teapot Dome Service Station — service station shaped like a teapot
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 197.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Zillah, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Zillah, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
