This 222.1-mile drive from Sudden Valley, WA, to Yakima, WA, is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 4 hours and 26 minutes. With 93% of the journey on highways, it's a focused drive primarily utilizing I-90 and I-5, with US-97 also playing a role. Budget around $46 for fuel to cover the distance. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll transition from the Pacific Coast region to another Pacific Coast locale, experiencing a change in scenery as you head inland.
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
111 miles from Sudden Valley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
100.5 mi
1h 51m
I 5
57.7 mi
1h 7m
US 97
31.3 mi
34m
I 405
18 mi
22m
Lake Whatcom Boulevard
3.5 mi
6m
Alger Cain Lake Road
2.8 mi
4m
Cain Lake Road
2.1 mi
3m
North 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 100.5 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 63 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,533 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,340
Quietest
2 AM
~135 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.8×
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 Sudden Valley, WA and Yakima, WA.
1
Start on Tawny Circle
280 ft·11 sec·Tawny Circle
2
Turn left onto Lost Fork Lane
0.2 mi·41 sec·Lost Fork Lane
3
At end of road, turn right onto Sudden Valley Drive
0.7 mi·2 min·Sudden Valley Drive
4
Continue on Sudden Valley Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Sudden Valley Drive
5
Continue on Sudden Valley Drive
169 ft·8 sec·Sudden Valley Drive
6
Turn right onto Lake Whatcom Boulevard
3.5 mi·6 min·Lake Whatcom Boulevard
7
Turn right onto Cain Lake Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Cain Lake Road
8
Continue on Alger Cain Lake Road
2.8 mi·4 min·Alger Cain Lake Road
9
Continue on Lake Samish Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Lake Samish Road
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
11
Merge onto I 5
58 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 182Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, RentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 405
0.9 mi·1 min·I 405
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
17 mi·21 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward I 90: Spokane, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: SpokaneUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 90
101 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto US 97
31 mi·34 min·US 97
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
314 ft·4 sec
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
21
Continue on WA 823
0.1 mi·13 sec·Selah Road
22
Continue on North 1st Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North 1st Street
23
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour and 26-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially around major interchanges. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 100.5 miles on I-90, you can easily manage your fuel and rest breaks. The $46 fuel estimate should be sufficient for the entire 222.1-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the longer stretches on I-90, as services can be more spread out in certain sections.
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 111 miles from Sudden Valley, WA, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.5 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 49 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yakima, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sudden Valley, 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 Sudden Valley, WA
This is one driving day of about 222.1 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Sudden Valley, 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 I 90 for about 100.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 68.4 and 188.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
68.4 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 182
Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, Renton
6
70.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 405
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
87.3 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward I 90: Spokane, Seattle
7
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
7
188.8 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|US 97
Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.27 one way
$86.53 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$45.33
$90.66
premium
$5.39
$47.14
$94.28
diesel
$4.80
$41.94
$83.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.6
0
$23.32
$10.66
Efficient EV
55.5
0
$19.43
$8.88
EV Truck/SUV
88.8
1
$31.09
$14.21
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Sudden Valley, WA
Late night
in Sudden Valley on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
NW 3 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
54°F
North Bend, WA
111 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
18 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
4h 26m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 84.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 222.1-mile trip, with 93% of the route on interstates. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 100.5 miles on I-90, which forms the backbone of this journey. While primarily interstate driving, the route offers a consistent pace, allowing for efficient travel. As you progress, you'll notice the landscape subtly shifting from coastal influences to the drier environment characteristic of the Yakima region.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.4 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 222.1 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 68.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.2 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,462 ft28 ft
Total Climb
3,672 ft
Total Descent
3,278 ft
Highest Point
2,462 ft
~142.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,434 ft
Notable High Points
2,295 ft at ~206.2 miles+827 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sudden Valley, WA and Yakima, WA, road signs point toward Renton and Seattle.
Yakima is the principal city of the Yakima Valley, an agricultural region noted for apple, wine, and hop production on the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State. It is the county seat of Yakima County.
This article also covers the nearby communities of Union Gap and Selah.
Top landmarks
•Capitol Theatre, Yakima — theater and performing arts center in Yakima, Washington, United States
•A. E. Larson Building — building in Yakima, Washington, United States
•E. William Brackett House — house in Yakima, Washington
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 222.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.5 miles on I 90. 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 Yakima, 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: at 68.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.2 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Yakima, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
