Warden, WA to Vancouver, WA is 275.5 miles and takes about 5h 32m via Columbia River Highway, Lewis and Clark Trail Highway, and Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington State, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. With a recommended one-day duration, this route offers a straightforward drive with minimal overnight planning needed. Consider this trip if you're looking for a direct path between these two points without extensive time commitments.
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
137.8 miles from Warden, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia River Highway
158.3 mi
2h 56m
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
33.4 mi
37m
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
22.4 mi
24m
South Booker Road
12.6 mi
21m
WA 17
12.6 mi
18m
Old Oregon Trail Highway
11.3 mi
12m
Lewis and Clark Trail
5.7 mi
7m
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
5.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.3 mi, about 2h 56m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 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
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 Warden, WA and Vancouver, WA.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
217 ft·14 sec·East 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto West 6th Street
380 ft·15 sec·West 6th Street
4
Turn left onto South Oak Avenue
365 ft·10 sec·South Oak Avenue
5
At end of road, turn right onto West Hillside Drive
506 ft·15 sec·West Hillside Drive
6
Turn right onto West 8th Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·West 8th Street
7
Turn left onto County Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·County Road
8
Continue on Road U Southeast
3.3 mi·7 min·Road U Southeast
9
Continue on South Booker Road
13 mi·21 min·South Booker Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto WA 17
13 mi·18 min·WA 17
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
12
Merge onto US 395
22 mi·24 min·Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
13
Take the exit onto US 395
0.6 mi·1 min·US 395
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
14
Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395
1.9 mi·2 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
3.8 mi·5 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
Toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport
16
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi·2 min·North US 395
17
Continue on US 395
33 mi·37 min·Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 84 West: Portland
19
Merge onto I 84; US 30
11 mi·12 min·Old Oregon Trail Highway
20
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi·2 hr 56 min·Columbia River Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·29 sec
Exit 9Toward I 205: Salem, Seattle, Portland Airport
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland AirportUse the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto I 205
4.2 mi·5 min·I 205
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Exit 27Toward WA 14: Vancouver, CamasUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City CenterUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward WA 14 WestUse the straight lane.
27
Merge onto WA 14
5.4 mi·6 min·Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·55 sec
Toward I 5 North: SeattleUse the slight right lane.
29
Merge onto I 5
451 ft·7 sec·I 5
30
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 1D; 1CToward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 1DToward 4th Plain BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork
220 ft·12 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
33
Turn left onto East Fourth Plain Boulevard
100 ft·2 sec·East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
34
Arrive at destination
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5.5-hour drive, consider leaving Warden in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a mostly surface road profile, you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $58, and plan for refueling opportunities before you hit longer stretches, especially the 158.3-mile segment on the Columbia River Highway. This route is easily manageable in a single day, so you can adjust your pace as needed.
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 137.8 miles from Warden, WA, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.3 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 61 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.8 miles or 2h 54m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vancouver, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Warden, 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 Warden, WA
This is one driving day of about 275.5 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Warden, 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 158.3 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 263.4 and 274.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
263.4 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
8
267.9 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Take the exit toward WA 14: Vancouver, Camas
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 27
Toward WA 14: Vancouver, Camas
8
268.1 mi into trip|~5h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward WA 14 West: Vancouver, City Center
9
274.7 mi into trip|~5h 30m in
Take the exit toward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain Boulevard
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 1D; 1C
Toward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain...
8
274.8 mi into trip|~5h 30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1D
Toward 4th Plain Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.67 one way
$107.34 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$56.23
$112.46
premium
$5.39
$58.47
$116.95
diesel
$4.80
$52.02
$104.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.7
1
$28.93
$13.22
Efficient EV
68.9
0
$24.11
$11.02
EV Truck/SUV
110.2
1
$38.57
$17.63
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Warden, WA
Late night
in Warden on Monday
Local time
2:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Clear then Patchy Smoke
SW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Vancouver, WA
Late night
in Vancouver on Monday
Local time
2:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 2 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 17 at 11:13AM PDT until July 17 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
2 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 32m 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?
This drive is primarily on surface roads, with only about 7% of the 275.5 miles on highways. You'll experience the longest continuous stretch on the Columbia River Highway for 158.3 miles. Expect to encounter more frequent intersections and varied speed limits typical of non-highway travel for the majority of your time behind the wheel. This means you'll be navigating through more towns and rural areas.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.3 mi on Columbia River Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 263.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 27 significant decision points across 275.5 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 263.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,300 ft45 ft
Total Climb
547 ft
Total Descent
1,660 ft
Highest Point
1,300 ft
Elevation Range
1,255 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Warden, WA and Vancouver, WA, road signs point toward Pendleton, Columbia Basin College and Tri Cities Airport.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 275.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.3 miles on Columbia River Highway. 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 Vancouver, 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 263.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Vancouver, WA before the return drive.
