Connecting Sunnyside to Auburn, this 177.1-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Washington that takes approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-82, US 97, and State Route 18 to navigate between these two Pacific Coast region locations. Budgeting around $37 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Whether you are heading west for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a practical, efficient path that avoids unnecessary detours.
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
88.5 miles from Sunnyside, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
85.7 mi
1h 35m
I 82
62.6 mi
1h 8m
State Route 18
23.2 mi
29m
Yakima Valley Highway
3.1 mi
5m
South 6th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Snoqualmie Parkway
0.3 mi
<1m
Franklin Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
A Street Southeast
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 85.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sunnyside, WA and Auburn, WA.
1
Start on South 9th Street
468 ft·22 sec·South 9th Street
2
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
0.2 mi·48 sec·Franklin Avenue
3
Turn right onto South 6th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South 6th Street
4
Turn left onto Yakima Valley Highway
3.1 mi·5 min·Yakima Valley Highway
5
Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·West Sunnyside Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
7
Merge onto I 82; US 12
32 mi·35 min·I 82; US 12
8
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
86 mi·1 hr 35 min·US 97
Toward I 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 25Toward WA 18 West: AuburnUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft·13 sec
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, TacomaUse the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Merge onto WA 18
0.3 mi·25 sec·Snoqualmie Parkway
13
Continue on WA 18
23 mi·29 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward WA 164 East: AuburnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Auburn Way South
321 ft·12 sec·Auburn Way South
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Cross Street Southeast
0.1 mi·20 sec·Cross Street Southeast
17
Turn right onto A Street Southeast
0.2 mi·28 sec·A Street Southeast
18
Turn right onto East Main Street
27 ft·0 sec·East Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 3 hour and 25 minute duration. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, checking traffic reports before you leave Sunnyside is a smart way to avoid potential congestion on State Route 18. With fuel costs estimated at $37, consider filling your tank before departing to avoid higher prices along the more remote stretches of the highway. Because the trip is short enough to handle in one go, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep a close eye on your mileage during that long 85.7-mile stretch on US 97 to ensure you are timing your rest breaks effectively.
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 88.5 miles from Sunnyside, WA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.7 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.5 miles or 1h 41m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sunnyside, 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 Sunnyside, WA
This is one driving day of about 177.1 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Sunnyside, 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 US 97 for about 85.7 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 66.9 and 176.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 West
7
152.6 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25
Toward WA 18 West: Auburn
9
152.9 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn,...
6
176.5 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward WA 164 East: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WA 164 East: Auburn
7
176.7 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|Auburn Way South
Turn right onto Auburn Way South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.07 one way
$74.13 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$38.87
$77.74
premium
$5.77
$40.22
$80.43
diesel
$5.61
$39.10
$78.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.1
0
$18.60
$8.50
Efficient EV
44.3
0
$15.50
$7.08
EV Truck/SUV
70.8
0
$24.79
$11.33
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 12, 2026
Origin
Sunnyside, WA
Late night
in Sunnyside on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Light Rain
SW 2 to 7 mph36% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:36PM PDT until April 13 at 5:30AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 12:32PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR
Destination
Auburn, WA
Late night
in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain
NW 3 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:36PM PDT until April 13 at 5:30AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Winter Storm Watch
Winter Storm Watch issued April 12 at 12:32PM PDT until April 16 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Portland OR
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
6 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
3h 25m 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?
Expect a highly efficient experience on this route, as 97% of your travel takes place on major highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the road tackling a 85.7-mile stretch on US 97, which stands as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. The character of the drive is distinctly highway-focused, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding local backroads. As you transition between the various segments of I-82 and State Route 18, you will find a consistent, steady pace that keeps your travel time predictable. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive designed to get you to your destination with minimal fuss.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.7 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and I 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 66.9 miles in near US 97.
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 15 significant decision points across 177.1 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 66.9 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sunnyside, WA and Auburn, WA, road signs point toward Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn and Tacoma.
Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn
152.9 mi in|~2h 53m
Tacoma
152.9 mi in|~2h 53m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 177.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.7 miles on US 97. 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 Auburn, 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 66.9 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Auburn, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
