If you are planning to travel from West Pasco to Yakima, you are looking at a straightforward 81.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to manage the distance. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to cover the transit. Because both the origin and destination sit within the Pacific Coast region of Washington, you won't experience significant regional shifts, but the drive offers a distinct change of scenery between the two cities. It is a practical, efficient route for those needing to move between these two points without the complexity of long-haul travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from West Pasco, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
69.1 mi
1h 14m
I 182
8.3 mi
8m
Road 68
1.2 mi
2m
East Yakima Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
West Wernett Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Road 72
0.2 mi
<1m
Pearl Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South 1st Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Pasco, WA and Yakima, 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
69 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Yakima Avenue
10
Turn straight onto East Yakima Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·East Yakima Avenue
11
Turn left onto South 1st Street
75 ft·2 sec·South 1st Street
12
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just over an hour, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. You don't need to worry about planning for multiple stops, as the duration is manageable in a single, continuous stretch. Before you head out, ensure your vehicle is fueled up, keeping the $17 fuel estimate in mind for your budget. Because you are navigating local roads like Road 72 and Road 68, keep a close eye on your navigation to ensure you don't miss any of the frequent turns. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on the road ahead without the stress of rigid, long-distance pacing.
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 40.8 miles from West Pasco, WA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 47m 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 18m
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 West Pasco, WA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Pasco, WA
This is one driving day of about 81.6 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from West Pasco, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 12 for about 69.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 80.2 — 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
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 182; US 12
Merge onto I 182; US 12
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
11.1 mi into trip|~15m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
5
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.08 one way
$34.16 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$17.91
$35.82
premium
$5.77
$18.53
$37.06
diesel
$5.61
$18.02
$36.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.57
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.14
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 14, 2026
Origin
West Pasco, WA
Late night
in West Pasco on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
SW 14 to 18 mph24% 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
20 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
1h 34m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless interstate cruise, as this route avoids major highways entirely with a 0% highway share. You will navigate via local infrastructure, specifically utilizing Road 72, West Wernett Road, and Road 68 to reach your destination. Since the route relies on local roads, you should prepare for a more engaged driving experience compared to a standard freeway commute. The nature of these roads means you will encounter more frequent turns and transitions, requiring your full attention behind the wheel throughout the 81.3-mile trip. This is not a route defined by long, straight stretches, but rather a series of local connections.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.1 mi on US 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and I 182. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Road 72.
Driving Effort5/10
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 81.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 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 2.7 miles (I 182; US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 81.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m 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 69.1 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 2.7 miles (I 182; US 12): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yakima, WA before heading back.
