Trip from Waterville, WA to Spokane Valley, 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 13m

Distance

144.6 mi

233 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

3h 2m ★

6 AM

3h 14m

8 AM

3h 37m

10 AM

3h 22m

12 PM

3h 20m

3 PM

3h 23m

5 PM

3h 36m

8 PM

3h 7m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Waterville, WA

Frank Cone

Trip Overview

This 144.6-mile drive from Waterville, WA, to Spokane Valley, WA, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 13 minutes. Primarily utilizing Sunset Highway and US 2, with a significant portion on West Sunset Highway, this route is best described as a turn-heavy local drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $30, it's an economical option for a single day's adventure. The drive offers a practical way to traverse between two points within the Pacific Coast region of Washington State. It's a straightforward journey that doesn't require an overnight stop, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

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

72.3 miles from Waterville, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Sunset Highway	117.5 mi	2h 28m
US 2	13.3 mi	17m
West Sunset Highway	4.8 mi	10m
Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway	4.2 mi	6m
West Broadway Avenue	1 mi	2m
Morgan Street	0.9 mi	2m
West Watson Street	0.7 mi	1m
East Poplar Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Sunset Highway — 117.5 mi, about 2h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waterville, WA and Spokane Valley, WA.

Start on South Chelan Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · South Chelan Avenue

Turn right onto US 2

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Poplar Street

Continue on US 2

38 mi · 44 min · Sunset Highway

Continue on US 2

4.2 mi · 6 min · Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway

Turn slight right onto Sunset Highway

28 mi · 35 min · Sunset Highway

Toward Spokane

Continue on US 2

0.2 mi · 29 sec · West Main Avenue

Continue on US 2

0.3 mi · 51 sec · Northwest Main Avenue

Continue on US 2

0.2 mi · 23 sec · East Main Street

Continue on US 2

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Main Avenue

Continue on US 2

7.8 mi · 9 min · Sunset Highway

Continue on US 2

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Watson Street

Continue on US 2

20 mi · 24 min · Sunset Highway

Continue on US 2

0.9 mi · 2 min · Morgan Street

Continue on US 2

12 mi · 15 min · Sunset Highway

Continue on US 2; WA 231

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Broadway Avenue

Continue on US 2

13 mi · 18 min · Sunset Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 2

1.8 mi · 4 min · West Sunset Highway

Enter roundabout onto West Sunset Highway

95 ft · 1 sec · West Sunset Highway

Continue on West Sunset Highway

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Sunset Highway

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Enter roundabout onto US 2

97 ft · 2 sec · West Sunset Highway

Continue on US 2

2.0 mi · 3 min · West Sunset Highway

Turn straight onto US 2

13 mi · 17 min · US 2

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Toward WA 27

Turn left onto WA 27

148 ft · 11 sec · North Pines Road

Use the straight / left lanes.

Arrive at destination

WA 27

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 13-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and arrive with ample time for activities. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $30, this trip is well-suited for a single day without much concern for extensive refueling. Pay attention to the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; it means you'll want to stay alert for changes in road direction and speed limits, especially on US 2 and Sunset Highway. The longest stretch of 117.5 miles on Sunset Highway is your best opportunity for steady progress, so plan your break before or after this segment.

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 72.3 miles from Waterville, WA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.5 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 32 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.3 miles or 1h 31m 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 33m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Waterville, 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 Waterville, WA

This is one driving day of about 144.6 miles and 3h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Waterville, 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 Sunset Highway for about 117.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Creston, WA

72 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

Coulee City, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wilbur, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.3 miles from Waterville, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Sunset Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117.5 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.

Best meal stop · early in the drive

Steamboat Rock Restaurant LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Coulee City, Washington

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch · 55min in 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 12–8 pm

+15097010660

Visit website

Best coffee break · home stretch

Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Spokane, Washington

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 14min to go 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15094563931

Visit website

Caffe Capri

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Spokane, Washington

0.6 mi

Ladder Coffee Roasters-Downtown

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Spokane, Washington

0.9 mi

Steamboat Rock Restaurant LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Coulee City, Washington

Hours: 12–8 pm

+15097010660

Visit website

Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+15094563931

Visit website

Caffe Capri

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+15097473088

Visit website

Ladder Coffee Roasters-Downtown

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+15099925258

Visit website

First Avenue Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+15099708185

Visit website

Indaba Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+15094433566

Visit website

Atticus Coffee & Gifts

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 7:30 am–6 pm

+15097470336

Visit website

Meeting House Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour Inexpensiv

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15099341591

Visit website

Ca Phe Nguyen Coffee & Tea

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 10 am–6 pm

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Spokane, Washington

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Spokane, Washington

+15096256200

Visit website

The Great Northern Clocktower

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Spokane, WA

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15096256600

Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Spokane Valley, Washington

Hours: 2–9 pm

+15092423831

Visit website

Get Air Trampoline Park

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Spokane, Washington

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+15093811757

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 144.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 2 / East Poplar Street

Turn right onto US 2 / East Poplar Street

Navigation decision point

126.1 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in | US 2 / West Sunset Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 2 / West Sunset Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

127.9 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in | West Sunset Highway

Enter roundabout onto West Sunset Highway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

128.9 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in | US 2 / West Sunset Highway

Enter roundabout onto US 2 / West Sunset Highway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

144.2 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in

Take the exit toward WA 27

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward WA 27

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.26 one way

$60.53 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.58	$31.74	$63.48
premium	$5.77	$32.84	$65.67
diesel	$5.61	$31.93	$63.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43.4	$15.18	$6.94
Efficient EV	36.2	$12.65	$5.78
EV Truck/SUV	57.8	$20.24	$9.25

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Waterville, WA

Late night in Waterville on Tuesday

Local time

5:23 AM

PDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Spokane Valley, WA

Late night in Spokane Valley on Tuesday

Local time

5:23 AM

PDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

37°F

Creston, WA

72 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

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 13m 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 more engaging driving experience on this route, as it's characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive.' While 9% of the journey is on highways, the majority involves navigating local roads and US 2. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 117.5 miles on Sunset Highway, offering a good period of consistent travel before more intricate sections. This profile suggests a route that may require more active navigation and attention to road changes compared to a pure interstate journey, keeping you engaged behind the wheel.

Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 117.5 mi on Sunset Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 2 / East Poplar Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Waterville, WA to Spokane Valley, WA is easy. At 3h 13m with 9% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 2 / East Poplar Street): Navigation decision point; at 126.1 miles (US 2 / West Sunset Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 127.9 miles (West Sunset Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

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 Waterville, WA to Spokane Valley, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Spokane along the way.

Spokane

42.5 mi in | ~52m | via Sunset Highway

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 144.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 117.5 miles on Sunset 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.

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.

Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Spokane Valley, 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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Explore more options from Waterville, WA or browse trips ending in Spokane Valley, WA.

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Trip from Waterville, WA to Spokane Valley, WA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Steamboat Rock Restaurant LLC

Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture

Steamboat Rock Restaurant LLC

Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture

Caffe Capri

Ladder Coffee Roasters-Downtown

First Avenue Coffee

Indaba Coffee

Atticus Coffee & Gifts

Meeting House Café

Ca Phe Nguyen Coffee & Tea

EV Connect Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Rivian Adventure Network

Tesla Destination Charger

BTCPower Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Riverfront Park

Mobius Discovery Center

Manito Park

The Great Northern Clocktower

Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park

Get Air Trampoline Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Waterville, WA

Spokane Valley, WA

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 13m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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