Spanning 216.9 miles, this drive from Yakima to Clarkston is a straightforward journey across Washington that typically takes about 4 hours and 33 minutes. You will primarily navigate via US 12, I-82, and State Route 124, making this a highly efficient trip that functions perfectly as a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $46 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trek. Because the route remains entirely within the Pacific Coast region, you won’t encounter jarring transitions between vastly different geographic zones. While you could technically split the journey, its manageable length means you can easily complete it in one go without feeling overly fatigued.
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
108.4 miles from Yakima, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
97.9 mi
2h 1m
I 82
68 mi
1h 13m
State Route 124
35.5 mi
52m
State Highway 124
7.7 mi
11m
Lewis and Clark Trail
3 mi
3m
Preston Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
East Chestnut Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
West Second Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 97.9 mi, about 2h 1m
Traffic on I-82
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,789 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~102 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.5×
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 Yakima, WA and Clarkston, WA.
1
Start on South 1st Street
415 ft·19 sec·South 1st Street
2
Turn left onto East Chestnut Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·East Chestnut Avenue
3
Turn left onto South Fair Avenue
359 ft·12 sec·South Fair Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
5
Merge onto I 82; US 12; US 97
3.9 mi·4 min·I 82; US 12; US 97
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
64 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 82; US 12
7
Take the exit onto US 12
23 mi·25 min·US 12
Exit 102Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, PascoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 12
3.0 mi·3 min·Lewis and Clark Trail
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
10
Turn slight right onto WA 124
13 ft·0 sec·State Route 124
11
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 124
36 mi·52 min·State Route 124
12
Continue on WA 124
0.8 mi·1 min·West Second Street
13
Continue on WA 124
7.7 mi·11 min·State Highway 124
14
Continue on WA 124
0.4 mi·40 sec·West 2nd Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto WA 124
143 ft·7 sec·Main Street
16
Turn left onto WA 124
1.4 mi·2 min·Preston Avenue
17
Continue on US 12
32 mi·42 min·US 12
18
Take the exit onto US 12
43 mi·54 min·US 12
19
Turn right onto WA 129 Spur
0.3 mi·45 sec·6th Street
20
Arrive at destination
WA 129 Spur
Trip Plan
Since this is a roughly 4.5-hour trip, departing in the morning is your best bet for avoiding late-afternoon traffic and arriving in Clarkston with plenty of daylight. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep your pace steady throughout the day. Given that you will be spending nearly 100 miles on a single stretch of US 12, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Yakima to avoid unnecessary anxiety during that long middle leg. Use the flexibility of this one-day route to your advantage by keeping your luggage light and your schedule open for a spontaneous break whenever you hit that single recommended 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 108.4 miles from Yakima, WA, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.9 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 48 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.4 miles or 2h 5m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarkston, 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 216.9 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 12 for about 97.9 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 95.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Chestnut Avenue
Turn left onto East Chestnut Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
5.3 mi into trip|~8m in|I 82; US 12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 82; US 12
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
69.5 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 12
Take the exit onto US 12 toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
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 102
Toward I‑182 east, US 12 east: Richland, Pasco
4
95.9 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|WA 124 / State Route 124
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 124 / State Route 124
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.25 one way
$84.51 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$44.27
$88.54
premium
$5.39
$46.04
$92.07
diesel
$4.80
$40.95
$81.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 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
65.1
0
$22.77
$10.41
Efficient EV
54.2
0
$18.98
$8.68
EV Truck/SUV
86.8
1
$30.37
$13.88
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
3:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 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
Clarkston, WA
Late night
in Clarkston on Sunday
Local time
3:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
100°F
Patchy Smoke
NW 9 to 13 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
9 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
4h 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 96% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time focused on the road, particularly during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 97.9 miles along US 12. The character of the drive is consistent and functional, designed for steady progress rather than winding, technical maneuvers. Transitions between the interstate and state routes are smooth, allowing for a predictable rhythm behind the wheel. Prepare for long, open stretches where the highway dominates your view, keeping the drive efficient and focused on reaching your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.9 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 82. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Chestnut Avenue.
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 216.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 (East Chestnut Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (I 82; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,103 ft412 ft
Total Climb
2,397 ft
Total Descent
2,657 ft
Highest Point
2,103 ft
~154.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,691 ft
Notable High Points
2,103 ft at ~154.9 miles+876 ft prominence
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 Clarkston, WA, road signs point toward I‑182 East and Pasco.
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
Clarkston is a city of 7,200 people (2020) in the Palouse region of eastern Washington. It sits across the Snake River to the west of Lewiston, Idaho.
This article also includes the neighboring city of Asotin, as well as rural Asotin County.
Top landmarks
•C. C. Van Arsdol House — single-family detached home in Clarkston, United States of America
•Clarkston Public Library — library in Clarkston, Washington, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 33m. Total distance: 216.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m 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 97.9 miles on US 12. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Chestnut Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.3 miles (I 82; US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Clarkston, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
