SeaTac Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Yakima, WA to Bethel, WA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
178.4 mi
287 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yakima, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Bethel, WA
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
Yakima to Bethel is 178.4 miles and takes about 3h 32m via US 97 and I-82, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Washington state, moving between the Pacific Coast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it a solid option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so expect a consistent driving experience from start to finish. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to cover this distance without significant detours.
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
89.2 miles from Yakima, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 97 | 85.7 mi | 1h 35m |
| I 82 | 30.3 mi | 32m |
| State Route 18 | 26.7 mi | 34m |
| WA 16 | 19.4 mi | 24m |
| I 5 | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| South 1st Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Bethel Burley Road Southeast | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Bethel Road Southeast | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 85.7 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~6,616 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~759 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Yakima, WA and Bethel, WA.
1
Start on South 1st Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South 1st Street
2
Continue on Selah Road
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Selah Road
3
Take the ramp
111 ft
·
2 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
5
Merge onto I 82; US 97
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 82; US 97
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 97
86 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
US 97
Toward I 90 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 25
Toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft
·
13 sec
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Merge onto WA 18
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Snoqualmie Parkway
10
Continue on WA 18
27 mi
·
34 min
·
State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5: Seattle, Tacoma
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 5 South: Tacoma
14
Merge onto I 5
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 132B
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Toward WA 16 West: Union Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto WA 16
19 mi
·
24 min
·
WA 16
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Toward Mullenix Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Southeast Mullenix Road
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Southeast Mullenix Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
At end of road, turn right onto Bethel Burley Road Southeast
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Bethel Burley Road Southeast
22
Continue on Bethel Road Southeast
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bethel Road Southeast
23
Turn right onto Southeast Cedar Road
129 ft
·
3 sec
·
Southeast Cedar Road
24
Arrive at destination
Southeast Cedar Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 32 minutes, this is a perfect one-day trip, offering flexibility for when you depart. You'll want to ensure you have sufficient fuel before leaving Yakima, as there's only one recommended stop noted on this route. The longest stretch of 85.7 miles on US 97 means you can cover a good portion of the distance without needing to pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the latter half of the drive, particularly if you plan to skip the suggested stop.
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 89.2 miles from Yakima, WA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.7 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 39 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.2 miles or 1h 40m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethel, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yakima, 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 Yakima, WA
This is one driving day of about 178.4 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Yakima, 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 85.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.2 miles from Yakima, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 97 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.7 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.
Selah Creek Rest Area, I-82 Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Selah Creek Rest Area, I-82 Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Indian John Hill Rest Area, I-90 Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Indian John Hill Rest Area, I-90 Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Travelers Rest Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 32.3 and 155.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
32.3 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
7
118 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25
Toward WA 18 West: Auburn
9
118.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn,...
8
146 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway South, Tacoma
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 5 South, WA 161: Enchanted Parkway Sou...
8
155.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
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 132B
Toward WA 16 West: Gig Harbor, Bremerton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.53 one way
$79.06 round trip
$5.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.91 | $41.47 | $82.95 |
| premium | $6.08 | $42.70 | $85.41 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $37.58 | $75.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.73 | $8.56 |
| Efficient EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.61 | $7.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.4 | 0 | $24.98 | $11.42 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Origin
Yakima, WA
Afternoon in Yakima on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 6 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Destination
Bethel, WA
Afternoon in Bethel on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 6 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 12:21PM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
51°F
Hobart, WA
89 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
3 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
3h 32m 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.
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 178.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 96% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 85.7 miles on US 97, offering a significant period of uninterrupted travel. The profile suggests a consistent pace, allowing you to maintain speed for most of the journey. Expect a typical highway driving experience, where efficiency and directness are key. The transition between US 97, I-82, and State Route 18 is designed for smooth travel.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.7 mi on US 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and I 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.3 miles in near US 97.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 178.4 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 32.3 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,654 ft
16 ft
Total Climb
3,165 ft
Total Descent
3,921 ft
Highest Point
2,654 ft
~76.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,638 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Yakima, WA and Bethel, WA, road signs point toward Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma and Bremerton.
Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn
118.3 mi in
|
~2h 13m
Tacoma
118.3 mi in
|
~2h 13m
Bremerton
155.4 mi in
|
~3h 1m
About the Cities
Starting in Yakima, WA
Full guide →Founded 1847
Yakima is the principal city of the Yakima Valley, an agricultural region noted for apple, wine, and hop production on the Columbia River Plateau of Washington State. It is the county seat of Yakima County. This article also covers the nearby communities of Union Gap and Selah.
Top landmarks
- • Capitol Theatre, Yakima — theater and performing arts center in Yakima, Washington, United States
- • A. E. Larson Building — building in Yakima, Washington, United States
- • E. William Brackett House — house in Yakima, Washington
Arriving in Bethel, WA
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 178.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.7 miles on US 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Bethel, 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. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.3 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 118 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Bethel, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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