West Pasco, WA to Seattle, WA is 223.3 miles and takes about 4h 12m via US 97, US 12, and I 82, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route crosses the Pacific Coast region of Washington State, largely on highways. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for a single-day drive. You'll find it's a practical option for getting from Eastern Washington to the Seattle area without much fuss. Consider this trip if you're looking for efficiency and directness.
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
111.6 miles from West Pasco, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 97
107.5 mi
2h 1m
US 12
70.9 mi
1h 17m
I 82
31 mi
33m
I 182
8.3 mi
8m
Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
1.3 mi
1m
Road 68
1.2 mi
2m
West Wernett Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Road 72
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 107.5 mi, about 2h 1m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 149 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,875 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,580
Quietest
2 AM
~143 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
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 West Pasco, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on Pearl Street
0.1 mi·50 sec·Pearl Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto Road 72
0.2 mi·46 sec·Road 72
3
Turn right onto West Wernett Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·West Wernett Road
4
Turn left onto Road 68
1.2 mi·2 min·Road 68
5
Take the ramp
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 182 West, US 12 West: Richland, YakimaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 182; US 12
8.3 mi·8 min·I 182; US 12
Use the straight lane.
7
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
8
Continue on I 82; US 97
31 mi·33 min·I 82; US 97
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
107 mi·2 hr 1 min·US 97
Toward I 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 90
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 2CToward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, Madison Street, Convention Center
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward Madison Street, Convention PlaceUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Madison Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn left
31 ft·2 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid evening traffic into Seattle. With only one recommended stop and 98% highway travel, you can easily complete this route in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without services is over 100 miles on US 97. The $47 fuel cost estimate is based on the total mileage. Since this is a relatively short, direct trip, you have flexibility to start whenever works best for you.
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 111.6 miles from West Pasco, WA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.5 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 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.6 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Pasco, 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 West Pasco, WA
This is one driving day of about 223.3 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from West Pasco, 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 97 for about 107.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 222.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Road 72
At end of road, turn right onto Road 72
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 182 West, US 12 West: Richland, Yakima
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 182 West, US 12 West: Richland, Yakima
7
113.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 97
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97 toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 90 West
8
221.9 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison Street
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 2C
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, J...
8
222.8 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.50 one way
$87.00 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$45.57
$91.15
premium
$5.39
$47.39
$94.79
diesel
$4.80
$42.16
$84.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67
0
$23.45
$10.72
Efficient EV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
EV Truck/SUV
89.3
1
$31.26
$14.29
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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
West Pasco, WA
Late night
in West Pasco on Monday
Local time
12:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SW 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Seattle, WA
Late night
in Seattle on Monday
Local time
12:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
WNW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM PDT until July 18 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 18 at 11:42AM 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
19 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
4h 12m 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...
0 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 223.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 98% of the 223.3 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 107.5 miles on US 97. The transition from surface roads to highways is minimal. Expect mostly rural cruising for much of the route until you approach the Seattle area.
98% 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: 107.5 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and US 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Road 72.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 223.3 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 0.1 miles (Road 72): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.1 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Seattle, Washington sits at one of the most beautiful spots in the United States. Occupying a narrow isthmus between the Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it is the biggest city in the Pacific Northwest, with 780,000 people in Seattle and over four million people in the metro area. Seen from above, carpets of evergreen trees, pristine blue waters, and snowy white mountains surround the downtown's metallic skyscrapers, earning the city its nickname The Emerald City.
On the ground, you will find a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. Next to the progressive downtown and the freewheeling feel of Capitol Hill, you can find a laid-back atmosphere in the districts to the north and ethnically diverse neighborhoods to the south.
Top landmarks
•Space Needle — observation tower in Seattle, Washington, United States
•Climate Pledge Arena — sports arena in Seattle, Washington, USA
•Museum of Pop Culture — museum in Seattle, Washington, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 223.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m 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 107.5 miles on US 97. 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 Seattle, 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 0.1 miles (Road 72): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.1 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Seattle, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
