Connecting Wenatchee to Yakima via US 97 and US 2, this 107.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Washington state. You can comfortably complete the drive in about 2 hours and 15 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Budget approximately $23 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast region cities. Because the route is compact and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading south for business or leisure, this path serves as a reliable link through the central part of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.6 miles from Wenatchee, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
87.4 mi
1h 44m
US 2
14 mi
18m
South Wenatchee Avenue
3.7 mi
8m
North 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
Selah Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Orondo Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 1st Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 87.4 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wenatchee, WA and Yakima, WA.
1
Start on Orondo Avenue
33 ft·5 sec·Orondo Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Wenatchee Avenue
3.7 mi·8 min·South Wenatchee Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 2; US 97
140 ft·2 sec·US 2; US 97
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2; US 97
14 mi·17 min·US 2; US 97
5
Take the exit onto US 97
0.3 mi·46 sec·US 2
Toward US 97 South to I-90, Ellensburg, SeattleUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 97
35 mi·44 min·US 97
7
Turn left onto US 97
13 mi·15 min·US 97
8
Continue on US 97
2.4 mi·4 min·US 97
9
Enter roundabout onto US 97
32 ft·1 sec·US 97
10
Continue on US 97
5.2 mi·6 min·US 97
11
Take the exit onto US 97
31 mi·34 min·US 97
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
314 ft·4 sec
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
14
Continue on WA 823
0.1 mi·13 sec·Selah Road
15
Continue on North 1st Street
1.6 mi·3 min·North 1st Street
16
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is relatively short, you have the advantage of planning your departure around your personal preference rather than strict daylight constraints. While there are no official stops designated for this 107.2-mile stretch, keep in mind that the majority of your time will be spent on the long US 97 corridor. Ensure your fuel tank is ready for the journey, as the $23 estimated cost reflects the highway-heavy nature of the route. If you find yourself needing a break during the 87.4-mile primary segment, plan your rest stops before merging onto the main highway to avoid unnecessary detours. Flexibility is your best tool here, allowing you to adjust your pace to suit your arrival needs in Yakima.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.6 miles from Wenatchee, WA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.4 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 24 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.6 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yakima, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wenatchee, 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 Wenatchee, WA
This is one driving day of about 107.2 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Wenatchee, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 97 for about 87.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 105.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
17.5 mi into trip|~26m in|US 97 / US 2
Take the exit onto US 97 / US 2 toward US 97 South to I-90, Ellensburg, Seattle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 97 South to I-90, Ellensburg, Seattle
5
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 97
Enter roundabout onto US 97
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|US 97
Take the exit onto US 97 toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
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 I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
5
105.2 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
5
105.2 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.44 one way
$44.87 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$23.53
$47.06
premium
$5.77
$24.34
$48.69
diesel
$5.61
$23.67
$47.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.2
0
$11.26
$5.15
Efficient EV
26.8
0
$9.38
$4.29
EV Truck/SUV
42.9
0
$15.01
$6.86
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Wenatchee, WA
Late night
in Wenatchee on Tuesday
Local time
2:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Tuesday
Local time
2:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
16 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
2h 15m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of your travel spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on US 97, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 87.4 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience as you transition away from South Wenatchee Avenue and onto the open highway. The road maintains a predictable pace, allowing you to focus on the road ahead without the need for constant navigation changes. It is a functional, streamlined drive that prioritizes efficiency over technical mountain passes or complex intersections.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.4 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and US 2. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.5 miles in near US 97 / US 2.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 107.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.5 miles (US 97 / US 2): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.7 miles (US 97): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 73.9 miles (US 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wenatchee, WA and Yakima, WA, road signs point toward Ellensburg and Seattle.
Wenatchee, "The Apple Capital of the World", is a city of about 35,000 people in the North Central Cascades of Washington State. It sits at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers, and is a popular destination for outdoor adventurers and enthusiasts looking for a refreshing getaway.
The metropolitan area also incorporates East Wenatchee. See its own article for detailed listings on the east bank of the Columbia River.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 107.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.4 miles on US 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Yakima, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.5 miles (US 97 / US 2): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.7 miles (US 97): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 73.9 miles (US 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yakima, WA before heading back.
