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Trip from Vancouver, WA to Meadowdale, WA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 40m

Distance

182.5 mi

294 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 28m ★
6 AM
3h 40m
8 AM
4h 5m
10 AM
3h 49m
12 PM
3h 46m
3 PM
3h 50m
5 PM
4h 4m
8 PM
3h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Meadowdale, WA, WA

Meadowdale, WA

JOHN CALLERY

Trip Overview

This 182.5-mile drive from Vancouver, WA, to Meadowdale, WA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes. With 97% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward journey focused on efficiency. The estimated fuel cost is around $38, making it a budget-friendly option. This trip offers a primarily highway-focused experience, ideal for those looking to cover ground quickly between two points within the Pacific Coast region of Washington. Given its manageable duration, it’s perfectly suited for a day trip without the need for an overnight stop.

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

91.2 miles from Vancouver, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 5 177.2 mi 3h 26m
76th Avenue West 3.5 mi 8m
220th Street Southwest 1 mi 2m
75th Place West 0.1 mi <1m
162nd Street Southwest <0.1 mi <1m
East Fourth Plain Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
74th Place West

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: I 5 — 177.2 mi, about 3h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Vancouver, WA and Meadowdale, WA.

1

Start on East Fourth Plain Boulevard

100 ft · 9 sec · East Fourth Plain Boulevard
2

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
3

Merge onto I 5

132 mi · 2 hr 29 min · I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

45 mi · 56 min · I 5
Use the slight right lane.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 49 sec
Exit 179 Toward 220th Street Southwest Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Turn left onto 220th Street Southwest

1.0 mi · 2 min · 220th Street Southwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
7

Turn right onto 76th Avenue West

3.5 mi · 8 min · 76th Avenue West
Use the right lane.
8

Continue on 75th Place West

0.1 mi · 32 sec · 75th Place West
9

Turn right onto 162nd Street Southwest

439 ft · 20 sec · 162nd Street Southwest
10

Arrive at destination

74th Place West

Trip Plan

For this 182.5-mile trip, departing earlier in the day can help you avoid heavier traffic, especially on I-5. With only one significant stop suggested, you have plenty of flexibility to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is substantial at 177.2 miles. The $38 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to fill up before embarking on such a long highway segment. Since this drive is easily completed in under four hours, you can start and finish within the same day with ample time to spare.

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 91.2 miles from Vancouver, WA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.2 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 40 miles or 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 91.2 miles or 1h 43m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meadowdale, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Vancouver, 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 Vancouver, WA

This is one driving day of about 182.5 miles and 3h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Vancouver, 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 5 for about 177.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tacoma, WA

91 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Tacoma, WA to Meadowdale, WA

52.1 mi · 1h 13m

Pacing Suggestions

Longview Heights, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tumwater, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.2 miles from Vancouver, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 5 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 177.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 177.7 — 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

Take the ramp toward I 5 North: Seattle

Navigation decision point

Toward I 5 North: Seattle
5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 5

Merge onto I 5

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
131.9 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in | I 5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
7
177.4 mi into trip | ~3h 26m in

Take the exit toward 220th Street Southwest

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 179 Toward 220th Street Southwest
6
177.7 mi into trip | ~3h 27m in | 220th Street Southwest

Turn left onto 220th Street Southwest

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.20 one way

$76.39 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $40.06 $80.11
premium $5.77 $41.44 $82.89
diesel $5.61 $40.29 $80.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 63.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 54.8 0 $19.16 $8.76
Efficient EV 45.6 0 $15.97 $7.30
EV Truck/SUV 73 0 $25.55 $11.68

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Vancouver, WA

Late night in Vancouver on Tuesday

Local time

2:04 AM

PDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Meadowdale, WA

Late night in Meadowdale on Tuesday

Local time

2:04 AM

PDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live 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

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 40m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 97% of your journey on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 177.2 miles, primarily on I-5. This means you'll be on the interstate for the vast majority of your trip, offering a consistent driving experience. While the bulk of the route is on I-5, you will transition to local roads like 76th Avenue West and 220th Street Southwest as you approach your destination, offering a slight change of pace before arriving.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 177.2 mi on I 5.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and 76th Avenue West. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 40m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.9 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Vancouver, WA

Full guide →

Founded 1825

Vancouver is a city in southwest Washington State, immediately north of the border with Oregon. The city was established around Fort Vancouver, a fur trading outpost dating back to 1824, making this one of the oldest continuously-inhabited European communities in the Pacific Northwest. Two bridges across the Columbia River connect Vancouver to the rest of the Portland Metropolitan Area.

Top landmarks

  • Fort Vancouver National Historic Site — National Historic Site of the United States in Washington (state)
  • Interstate Bridge — highway bridge in Oregon and Washington, USA
  • Kiggins Theatre — single-screen theatre located in downtown Vancouver, WA

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 182.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 177.2 miles on I 5. 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.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.9 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 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 Meadowdale, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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