Vancouver, WA to Othello, WA is 254.5 miles and takes about 5h 17m via Columbia River Highway and US 97, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Pacific Coast region of Washington to another part of the same region, mostly sticking to major highways. Expect a mixed driving experience with a significant portion on surface roads. Given the duration, it's a straightforward drive that can be completed in a single day.
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
127.2 miles from Vancouver, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
94.9 mi
1h 48m
US 97
49.2 mi
57m
State Route 24
35.3 mi
41m
North Hanford Road
17.2 mi
30m
I 82
9.7 mi
10m
Vantage Highway
5.4 mi
6m
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
5.2 mi
6m
Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 94.9 mi, about 1h 48m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,741 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,308
Quietest
1 AM
~160 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
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 Vancouver, WA and Othello, WA.
1
Start on East Fourth Plain Boulevard
329 ft·9 sec·East Fourth Plain Boulevard
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·57 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
3
Merge onto I 5
0.7 mi·55 sec·I 5
4
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward WA 14 East: CamasUse the slight right lane.
5
Continue on WA 14
5.2 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 6Toward I 205: Salem, SeattleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·55 sec
Toward I 205 South: SalemUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 205
4.1 mi·5 min·Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 22Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The DallesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 84; US 30
95 mi·1 hr 48 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 97: Yakima, Bend
12
Turn left onto US 97
506 ft·8 sec·Sherman Highway
13
Continue on US 97
2.4 mi·2 min·Sam Hill Memorial Bridge
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 97; WA 14
0.4 mi·26 sec·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
15
Take the exit
8.7 mi·10 min
16
Continue on US 97
49 mi·57 min·US 97
17
Turn right onto Larue Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Larue Road
18
Turn slight right onto WA 22
3.5 mi·5 min·WA 22
19
Turn left onto WA 223
3.7 mi·6 min·WA 223
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
21
Merge onto I 82; US 12
9.7 mi·10 min·I 82; US 12
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward SR 241: Waneta Road, Sunnyside, Mabton, Vernita Bridge
23
Turn left onto WA 241
0.5 mi·55 sec·Waneta Road
24
Continue on WA 241
17 mi·30 min·North Hanford Road
25
At end of road, turn right onto WA 24
8.0 mi·9 min·State Route 24
26
At end of road, turn left onto WA 24
5.4 mi·6 min·Vantage Highway
27
Turn right onto WA 24
27 mi·32 min·State Route 24
28
Continue on WA 24
3.3 mi·4 min·WA-24
29
Continue on WA 24
3.8 mi·5 min·South Radar Road
30
Enter roundabout onto WA 24
106 ft·1 sec·South Broadway Avenue
31
Continue on WA 24
2.0 mi·3 min·South Broadway Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
South Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
For this single-day trip, leaving Vancouver, WA in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Othello, WA. With a total drive time of around 5 hours and 17 minutes, you won't need to split the drive, but you can take your time. The longest stretch on the Columbia River Highway is nearly 95 miles, so plan a brief stop before or after that segment if you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $54, and services might 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 127.2 miles from Vancouver, WA, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.9 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.2 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Othello, 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 254.5 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 Columbia River Highway for about 94.9 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 11.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward WA 14 East: Camas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward WA 14 East: Camas
8
6.9 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 205: Salem, Seattle
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 6
Toward I 205: Salem, Seattle
7
7.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 205 South: Salem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 205 South: Salem
5
7.6 mi into trip|~11m in|I 205 / Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge
Merge onto I 205 / Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
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 22
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.39 one way
$112.78 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.91
$59.17
$118.33
premium
$6.08
$60.92
$121.84
diesel
$5.35
$53.61
$107.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.4
0
$26.72
$12.22
Efficient EV
63.6
0
$22.27
$10.18
EV Truck/SUV
101.8
1
$35.63
$16.29
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Vancouver, WA
Afternoon
in Vancouver on Wednesday
Local time
12:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Clear
NNW 3 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 8:44AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Othello, WA
Afternoon
in Othello on Wednesday
Local time
12:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
W 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 8:44AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
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
1 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
5h 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 41% of your time on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 94.9 miles on the Columbia River Highway. The route transitions from highway driving to surface roads, offering a mix of cruising and more direct travel. Expect to encounter varied road conditions as you move between these different types of thoroughfares.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.9 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 254.5 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 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,349 ft50 ft
Total Climb
4,048 ft
Total Descent
3,180 ft
Highest Point
2,349 ft
~127.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,299 ft
Notable High Points
2,349 ft at ~127.2 miles+744 ft prominence
1,921 ft at ~200 miles+1,128 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Vancouver, WA and Othello, WA, road signs point toward Bend, Sunnyside and Mabton.
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
Othello is a city of about 8,500 people in the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State. It's a food processing hub for the region, processing approximately 1.5 billion pounds (680 kt) of frozen potato products annually, comprising 15 percent of production in North America.
Top landmarks
•Abraham Lincoln — oldest operable passenger car in the United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 254.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.9 miles on Columbia River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Othello, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Othello, WA before the return drive.
