This 176.2-mile drive from Tulalip, WA to Yakima, WA, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 29 minutes. With 94% of the route on highways, primarily I-90 and US-97, it's a practical choice for a day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $37. As you travel from the Pacific Coast region to a different area within Washington, expect a transition in scenery. This route is designed for efficiency, making it a solid option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points.
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
88.1 miles from Tulalip, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
100.5 mi
1h 51m
US 97
31.3 mi
34m
I 405
18 mi
22m
I 5
15.8 mi
19m
Marine Drive
6.2 mi
11m
North 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
Marine Drive Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Selah Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 100.5 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tulalip, WA and Yakima, WA.
1
Start on Marine Drive
6.2 mi·11 min·Marine Drive
2
Enter roundabout onto Marine Drive Northeast
137 ft·2 sec·Marine Drive Northeast
3
Continue on Marine Drive Northeast
0.2 mi·34 sec·Marine Drive Northeast
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 5 South: SeattleUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 5
16 mi·19 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 182Toward I 405 South: Bellevue, RentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 405
0.9 mi·1 min·I 405
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
17 mi·21 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 11Toward I 90: Spokane, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 East: SpokaneUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
101 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Take the exit
314 ft·4 sec
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
15
Continue on WA 823
0.1 mi·13 sec·Selah Road
16
Continue on North 1st Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North 1st Street
17
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 29-minute duration for this 176.2-mile trip, it's a comfortable day drive, so you have flexibility with your departure time. You'll want to account for the longest stretch of 100.5 miles on I-90, ensuring you're fueled up and ready for that segment. With only one recommended stop, plan for efficiency. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition to US-97, and consider topping off before departing Tulalip to cover the initial highway miles comfortably. The estimated fuel cost is $37.
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 88.1 miles from Tulalip, WA, or about 1h 49m 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 39 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.1 miles or 1h 49m 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 51m
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 Tulalip, 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 Tulalip, WA
This is one driving day of about 176.2 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Tulalip, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.5 and 142.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.5 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Seattle
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 5 South: Seattle
8
22.5 mi into trip|~32m 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
8
41.4 mi into trip|~56m 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
41.9 mi into trip|~57m 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
142.9 mi into trip|~2h 50m 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
$36.88 one way
$73.75 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$38.67
$77.35
premium
$5.77
$40.01
$80.03
diesel
$5.61
$38.90
$77.81
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: 61.6 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
52.9
0
$18.50
$8.46
Efficient EV
44.1
0
$15.42
$7.05
EV Truck/SUV
70.5
0
$24.67
$11.28
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 18, 2026
Origin
Tulalip, WA
Late night
in Tulalip on Sunday
Local time
4:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
4:34 AM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
59°F
Monroe, WA
88 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
21 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 29m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 42.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 176.2-mile trip, with 94% of the drive utilizing major interstate and U.S. highways. You'll spend a significant portion on I-90, including a notable stretch of 100.5 miles without needing to exit. This means a consistent pace for much of your journey, allowing for steady progress. While the profile is highway-focused, the transition between I-90 and US-97 will offer some variation in the road's immediate surroundings as you move through different terrains within Washington.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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 US 97. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 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 13 significant decision points across 176.2 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 6.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Tulalip, WA and Yakima, WA, road signs point toward Renton and Seattle.
Renton
22.5 mi in|~32m
Seattle
41.4 mi in|~56m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 176.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.4 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Yakima, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
