Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Vancouver, WA to Pullman, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 52m
Distance
353.8 mi
569 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 41m
★
6 AM
6h 53m
8 AM
7h 16m
10 AM
7h 1m
12 PM
6h 58m
3 PM
7h 2m
5 PM
7h 15m
8 PM
6h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vancouver, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Pullman, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Vancouver, WA to Pullman, WA is 353.8 miles and takes about 6h 52m via Columbia River Highway and WA 26, with a fuel budget near $78 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Washington State, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same region, but with a significant inland shift. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel as you make your way east. Given the 6-hour drive time and a single recommended day, it's a feasible one-day excursion, but consider your departure time to avoid arriving too late.
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
176.9 miles from Vancouver, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 20m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River Highway | 158.1 mi | 2h 55m |
| WA 26 | 68.3 mi | 1h 20m |
| US 395 | 43.7 mi | 47m |
| McNary Highway | 29.9 mi | 33m |
| East James Street | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| Old Oregon Trail Highway | 11.4 mi | 12m |
| Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Lewis and Clark Trail | 4.9 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.1 mi, about 2h 55m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,276 veh/hr typical · worst 1,842
Quietest
2 AM
~122 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Pullman, 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 1A
Toward WA 14 East: Camas
Use 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 6
Toward I 205: Salem, Seattle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 205 South: Salem
Use 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 22
Toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi
·
2 hr 55 min
·
Columbia River Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 84; US 30
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Old Oregon Trail Highway
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 82 West: Hermiston, Umatilla
13
Continue on I 82
30 mi
·
33 min
·
McNary Highway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
Toward US 395 north to I‑182: Kennewick, Pasco, Spokane
15
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South US 395
16
Continue on US 395
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Lewis and Clark Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 395
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 395
Toward US 395 north, SR 397 south (Oregon Street): Spokane, Finley
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 395
Toward US 395
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
43 mi
·
47 min
·
US 395
Toward US 395 North: Spokane
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
21
Turn right onto WA 26
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
WA 26
22
Turn right onto Colfax Airport Road
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Colfax Airport Road
23
At end of road, turn left onto West Almota Road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Almota Road
24
Continue on West Fairview Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Fairview Street
25
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Main Street
26
Continue on South Main Street
104 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Main Street
27
Turn right onto US 195
13 mi
·
17 min
·
East James Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto WA 270
316 ft
·
5 sec
·
Davis Way
Use the left lane.
29
Continue on WA 270
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Davis Way
30
Continue on WA 270
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Northwest Davis Way
31
Continue on Northeast Olsen Street
358 ft
·
17 sec
·
Northeast Olsen Street
32
Turn left onto Northeast Kamiaken Street
368 ft
·
14 sec
·
Northeast Kamiaken Street
33
Turn left
89 ft
·
6 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Aim to leave Vancouver, WA in the morning to maximize daylight for your 6-hour drive. With only one recommended day and a total distance of 353.8 miles, you can comfortably complete this trip in one go. Plan for at least one stop to refuel and stretch your legs, especially considering the 158.1-mile longest stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services might be more spread out on the WA 26 and US 395 segments. The estimated fuel cost is around $78, so factor that into your budget.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.9 miles from Vancouver, WA, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.1 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 78 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.9 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pullman, 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 353.8 miles and 6h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 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 158.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 176.9 miles from Vancouver, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Columbia River Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 158.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Memaloose Park Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Memaloose Park Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Boardman Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Boardman Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Dusty Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Chamberlain Lake Safety Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Kodak Point Highway Pullout
1.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 222.1 — 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
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
7
222.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 14m in
|
US 395
Take the exit onto US 395 toward US 395 north, SR 397 south (Oregon Street): Spokane, Finley
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 US 395 north, SR 397 south (Oregon Stree...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.39 one way
$156.79 round trip
$5.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.91 | $82.25 | $164.50 |
| premium | $6.08 | $84.69 | $169.38 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $74.52 | $149.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.1 | 1 | $37.15 | $16.98 |
| Efficient EV | 88.5 | 1 | $30.96 | $14.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.5 | 1 | $49.53 | $22.64 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Origin
Vancouver, WA
Afternoon in Vancouver on Wednesday
Local time
12:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Pullman, WA
Afternoon in Pullman on Wednesday
Local time
12:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
E 1 mph
4% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
52°F
Boardman, OR
177 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
14 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
6h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 32% of this 353.8-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 158.1 miles on the Columbia River Highway. After that, expect to transition to surface roads. This means you'll experience periods of faster highway travel interspersed with more direct surface road cruising, especially once you move away from the initial highway segments.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.1 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 Effort
10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 353.8 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
2,353 ft
49 ft
Total Climb
3,093 ft
Total Descent
928 ft
Highest Point
2,353 ft
~353.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,305 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Pullman, WA, road signs point toward Umatilla, Pasco, Spokane and Finley.
Umatilla
182 mi in
|
~3h 26m
Pasco
212.8 mi in
|
~4h 1m
|
via US 395
Spokane
212.8 mi in
|
~4h 1m
|
via US 395
Finley
222.1 mi in
|
~4h 14m
|
via US 395
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
Arriving in Pullman, WA
Full guide →Founded 1875
Pullman is a city in the Palouse region of eastern Washington. It is home to Washington State University and the National Lentil Festival.
Top landmarks
- • Cordova Theatre — former movie theater in Pullman, Washington, United States, now used as a church
- • United Presbyterian Church — church in Pullman, Washington, U.S.
- • Old Post Office — microbrewery in Washington, USA
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 6h 52m. Total distance: 353.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.1 miles on Columbia River Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Pullman, 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 19 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 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pullman, WA before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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