Trip from Benton City, WA to Bellevue, WA

Drive Time

3h 47m

Distance

201.6 mi

324 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 35m ★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 13m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Benton City, WA, WA

Benton City, WA

JOHN CALLERY

Trip Overview

Spanning 201.6 miles, this drive from Benton City to Bellevue is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 47 minutes. Since the entire trip is located within Washington, you will stay in the Pacific Coast region for the duration of your travel. With a fuel budget of approximately $42, this route is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion. You’ll primarily rely on a combination of I-82, US 97, and I-405 to reach your destination. Whether you are heading to the city for business or a change of pace, the efficiency of this highway-focused drive makes it a reliable choice for a quick transition.

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

100.8 miles from Benton City, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highly efficient experience, as 98% of this route consists of highway driving. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the road, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 101.4 miles on US 97. The journey maintains a consistent pace, prioritizing speed and directness over winding, technical backroads. Because the route is so heavily focused on major thoroughfares, you can anticipate a predictable driving environment from start to finish. It is the type of trip where you can easily find a comfortable cruising speed and focus on the miles ahead.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 97 is the longest continuous segment at about 101.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 97 miles in near US 97.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 201.6 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 97 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
97 mi into trip | ~1h 47m 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 none lane. Toward I 90 West
8
198.4 mi into trip | ~3h 40m in

Take the exit toward I 405: Renton, Everett

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 10 Toward I 405: Renton, Everett
8
198.6 mi into trip | ~3h 41m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue
8
200.1 mi into trip | ~3h 43m in

Take the exit toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue Southeast

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12 Toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue South...
8
200.2 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in

Keep slight left at fork toward 116th Avenue Southeast

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes. Toward 116th Avenue Southeast

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 97 101.4 mi 1h 53m
I 82 95.4 mi 1h 43m
I 405 1 mi 1m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Babs Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
1st Street 0.4 mi <1m
116th Avenue Southeast 0.4 mi 1m
9th Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 97 — 101.4 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Benton City, WA and Bellevue, WA.

1

Start on WA 225

0.4 mi · 57 sec · 9th Street
2

Continue on WA 225

0.5 mi · 1 min · Babs Avenue
3

Turn straight onto WA 225

0.4 mi · 52 sec · 1st Street
4

Enter roundabout

29 ft · 0 sec
5

Continue

0.3 mi · 19 sec
6

Merge onto I 82; US 12

64 mi · 1 hr 10 min · I 82; US 12
7

Continue on I 82; US 97

31 mi · 33 min · I 82; US 97
8

Keep slight left at fork onto US 97

101 mi · 1 hr 53 min · US 97
Toward I 90 West Use the none lane.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 10 Toward I 405: Renton, Everett Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 405 North: Everett, Bellevue Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto I 405

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 405
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Exit 12 Toward Southeast 8th Street, 116th Avenue Southeast Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward 116th Avenue Southeast Use the left / right lanes.
14

Turn left onto 116th Avenue Southeast

0.4 mi · 1 min · 116th Avenue Southeast
Use the none lane.
15

Turn left onto Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right

45 ft · 3 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 3 hour and 47 minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours when approaching Bellevue on I-405. Since you are looking at a $42 fuel estimate, it is wise to check your levels before leaving Benton City to ensure you don't need to hunt for a station during the long 101.4-mile stretch on US 97. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to utilize that single planned stop whenever you feel the need for a break. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between the primary interstates to stay on track.

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 100.8 miles from Benton City, WA, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.4 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 100.8 miles or 1h 51m 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 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellevue, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Benton City, 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 Benton City, WA

This is one driving day of about 201.6 miles and 3h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Benton City, 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 101.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 100.8 mi from Benton City, WA · 1h 51m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames Lake, WA

101 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

Yakima, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yakima, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.8 miles from Benton City, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 97 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.4 miles.

Arriving in Bellevue, WA

The final approach into Bellevue, WA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bellevue, WA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.31 one way

$84.62 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $44.19 $88.37
premium $5.77 $45.80 $91.61
diesel $5.64 $44.79 $89.58

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: 70.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.5 0 $21.17 $9.68
Efficient EV 50.4 0 $17.64 $8.06
EV Truck/SUV 80.6 1 $28.22 $12.90

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Benton City, WA

Evening in Benton City on Sunday

Local time

6:36 PM

PDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bellevue, WA

Evening in Bellevue on Sunday

Local time

6:36 PM

PDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live 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

2 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

3h 47m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Benton City, WA to Bellevue, WA covers 201.6 miles and takes about 3h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 97, I 82, I 405. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.8 miles from Benton City, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 201.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 97 miles (US 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Benton City, WA to Bellevue, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Bellevue, WA to Benton City, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

202.4 mi 3h 48m

Explore more options from Benton City, WA or browse trips ending in Bellevue, WA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.

Explore maps for Benton City, WA or Bellevue, WA on MapSof.net.