This 213.6-mile drive from Yakima, WA to Mead, WA will take you approximately 4 hours and 1 minute, making it a perfect single-day road trip. You'll spend 95% of your time on major highways, primarily I-90 and I-82, with a portion on the North Spokane Corridor. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $45. Given the relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this route is best tackled in one go. It offers a straightforward path connecting two points within Washington's Pacific Coast region, ideal for those prioritizing efficiency.
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
106.8 miles from Yakima, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
171.5 mi
3h 4m
I 82
30.3 mi
32m
North Spokane Corridor
3.3 mi
4m
South 1st Street
1.6 mi
3m
North Freya Street
1.4 mi
3m
South Freya Street
1 mi
2m
North Market Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Greene Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 171.5 mi, about 3h 4m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 27 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,520 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,907
Quietest
1 AM
~102 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Mead, 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 right at fork
0.6 mi·54 sec
Toward I 90 East: Vantage, Spokane
7
Merge onto I 90
166 mi·2 hr 58 min·I 90
8
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
5.3 mi·6 min·I 90; US 2; US 395
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward Freya Street, Thor Street
10
Continue on East 3rd Avenue
0.3 mi·48 sec·East 3rd Avenue
11
Turn left onto South Freya Street
1.0 mi·2 min·South Freya Street
12
Continue on North Freya Way
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Freya Way
13
Continue on North Greene Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Greene Street
14
Turn right onto East Carlisle Avenue
0.3 mi·55 sec·East Carlisle Avenue
15
Turn left onto North Freya Street
1.4 mi·3 min·North Freya Street
16
Enter roundabout onto East Wellesley Avenue
234 ft·13 sec·East Wellesley Avenue
17
Continue on East Wellesley Avenue
408 ft·17 sec·East Wellesley Avenue
18
Enter roundabout
17 ft·0 sec
19
Continue
0.4 mi·54 sec
20
Merge onto Future US 395
3.3 mi·4 min·North Spokane Corridor
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward East Parksmith Drive
22
Turn right onto East Parksmith Drive
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Parksmith Drive
23
Turn left onto North Market Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Market Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive at your destination with plenty of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but consider breaking up the longest stretch of 171.5 miles on I-90 for fuel or a quick stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $45, and planning a stop around the halfway point or before entering more remote sections can be wise. Pay attention to the transition onto the North Spokane Corridor as you approach Mead for the final leg.
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 106.8 miles from Yakima, WA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 171.5 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 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.8 miles or 1h 57m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mead, 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 213.6 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 I 90 for about 171.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 208.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
32.3 mi into trip|~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Vantage, Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East: Vantage, Spokane
5
204.5 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward Freya Street, Thor Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Freya Street, Thor Street
4
207.1 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|North Freya Street
Turn left onto North Freya Street
Navigation decision point
5
208.7 mi into trip|~3h 53m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.61 one way
$83.22 round trip
$4.95/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.18
$43.59
$87.19
premium
$5.39
$45.34
$90.67
diesel
$4.80
$40.33
$80.66
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: 74.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.1
0
$22.43
$10.25
Efficient EV
53.4
0
$18.69
$8.54
EV Truck/SUV
85.4
1
$29.90
$13.67
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Yakima, WA
Late night
in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
12:22 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
Mead, WA
Late night
in Mead on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
SW 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 1m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 95% of your journey taking place on interstates like I-90 and I-82. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 171.5 miles on I-90, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While much of the drive is on high-speed roads, the inclusion of the North Spokane Corridor suggests a modern highway segment towards the end. This profile points to a drive where efficiency and covering distance are key.
95% 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: 171.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
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 213.6 miles you will encounter 16 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 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 32.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,357 ft1,067 ft
Total Climb
3,375 ft
Total Descent
2,534 ft
Highest Point
2,357 ft
~183.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,290 ft
Notable High Points
2,286 ft at ~15.3 miles+841 ft prominence
2,211 ft at ~45.8 miles+766 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Yakima, WA to Mead, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Spokane along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 213.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 1m 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 171.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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 Mead, 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 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 32.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Mead, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.
