Walla Walla, WA to Bellevue, WA is 266.6 miles and takes about 5h 1m via US 12, US 97, and I 82, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington state, moving from the Pacific Coast region to the same region. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making for a straightforward drive. It's a solid option if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without a significant time commitment.
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
133.3 miles from Walla Walla, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
116.8 mi
2h 10m
US 97
101.4 mi
1h 53m
I 82
31 mi
33m
I 182
11.8 mi
12m
I 405
1 mi
1m
West Pine Street
0.9 mi
1m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
116th Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 116.8 mi, about 2h 10m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 63 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,533 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,340
Quietest
2 AM
~135 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.8×
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 Walla Walla, WA and Bellevue, WA.
1
Start on South 5th Avenue
0.1 mi·23 sec·South 5th Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Rose Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·West Rose Street
3
Turn right onto WA 125
0.4 mi·37 sec·North 9th Avenue
4
Turn left onto WA 125
0.9 mi·1 min·West Pine Street
5
Enter roundabout onto WA 125 Spur
11 ft·0 sec·Northeast Myra Road
6
Continue on WA 125 Spur
0.2 mi·10 sec·Northeast Myra Road
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
8
Merge onto US 12
27 mi·31 min·US 12
9
Keep slight right at fork
287 ft·3 sec
10
Merge onto US 12
19 mi·21 min·US 12
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12
12 mi·12 min·I 182; US 12
Toward I 182, US 12Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
71 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
13
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
101 mi·1 hr 53 min·US 97
Toward I 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 10Toward I 405: Renton, EverettUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 405 North: Everett, BellevueUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 405
1.0 mi·1 min·I 405
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 12Toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue SoutheastUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward 116th Avenue SoutheastUse the left / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto 116th Avenue Southeast
0.4 mi·1 min·116th Avenue Southeast
21
Turn left onto Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right
45 ft·3 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, leaving Walla Walla in the morning is ideal to allow ample daylight for your arrival in Bellevue. With only one recommended stop and 98% highway driving, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 116.8-mile stretch on US 12, as services might be less frequent than in more urban areas. Budgeting around $56 for fuel should cover the 266.6-mile trip.
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 133.3 miles from Walla Walla, WA, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.8 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.3 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellevue, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Walla Walla, 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 Walla Walla, WA
This is one driving day of about 266.6 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Walla Walla, 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 12 for about 116.8 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 48.2 and 265.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
48.2 mi into trip|~57m in|I 182; US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 182; US 12 toward I 182, US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 182, US 12
8
263.3 mi into trip|~4h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 405: Renton, Everett
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 10
Toward I 405: Renton, Everett
8
263.5 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
8
265 mi into trip|~4h 57m in
Take the exit toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue Southeast
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 12
Toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue South...
8
265.2 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 116th Avenue Southeast
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward 116th Avenue Southeast
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.93 one way
$103.87 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$54.41
$108.82
premium
$5.39
$56.58
$113.17
diesel
$4.80
$50.34
$100.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80
0
$27.99
$12.80
Efficient EV
66.7
0
$23.33
$10.66
EV Truck/SUV
106.6
1
$37.32
$17.06
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Walla Walla, WA
Late night
in Walla Walla on Sunday
Local time
3:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Smoke
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Bellevue, WA
Late night
in Bellevue on Sunday
Local time
3:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 9:08PM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM 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
4 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 1m 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.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 266.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 98% of the 266.6 miles on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 116.8 miles on US 12 before transitioning. Expect relatively consistent cruising for the majority of the trip. The transition from highway to any surface roads will likely be near your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.8 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US 97. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 48.2 miles in near I 182; US 12.
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 18 significant decision points across 266.6 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 48.2 miles (I 182; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,447 ft82 ft
Total Climb
2,775 ft
Total Descent
3,634 ft
Highest Point
2,447 ft
~209.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,366 ft
Notable High Points
2,394 ft at ~152.3 miles+783 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Walla Walla, WA to Bellevue, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Yakima along the way.
Known for its funny name and its famous Sweet Onions, Walla Walla in the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State is a pleasant stop with a charming downtown and booming wine industry.
This guide includes the neighboring city of College Place.
Top landmarks
•Dacres Hotel — hotel in Walla Walla, United States of America
Bellevue is a city in the Puget Sound region of Washington state, just across Lake Washington from Seattle. Bellevue had a population of 150,000 in 2021, making it the largest city on the Eastside of King County.
Bellevue is perhaps the most ritzy part of the Seattle metro area, mainly due to the presence of Microsoft at nearby Redmond and other tech companies occupying the downtown office towers. The dense downtown has much of the region's upscale and luxury retail. It also has many neighborhoods comprised of large houses, and excellent vistas of the water for the lucky few. It is generally considered more pleasant and safe than Seattle, if blander, though the influx of international tech workers has led to a vibrant Chinese community.
=== Local information ===
Bellevue City Council website
Top landmarks
•Bellevue Arts Museum — museum in Bellevue, Washington, US
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 266.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.8 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 Bellevue, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 48.2 miles (I 182; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bellevue, WA before the return drive.
