Drive Time
21m
Distance
11.1 mi
18 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Photo: Ken Cheatham
The drive from Blurock Landing, WA to Salmon Creek, WA covers 11.1 miles and takes about 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northwest Lower River Road, I 5, West Fourth Plain Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 3.7 miles on Northwest Lower River Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
5.6 miles from Blurock Landing, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
The drive from Blurock Landing, WA to Salmon Creek, WA covers 11.1 miles and takes about 21m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
359 ft
Total Descent
229 ft
Highest Point
213 ft
~8.3 mi in
Elevation Range
187 ft
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near I 5.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 11.1 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 5.8 miles (I 5): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto I 5
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Northeast 99th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Northeast Highway 99
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Northeast Strand Road
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Lower River Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| I 5 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| West Fourth Plain Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 5m |
| Northeast Highway 99 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Northeast 99th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northeast Strand Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Northeast 20th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Blurock Landing, WA and Salmon Creek, WA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto WA 501
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 501
Continue on WA 501
Continue on West Fourth Plain Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Northeast 99th Street
Turn left onto Northeast Highway 99
Turn right onto Northeast 20th Avenue
Turn right onto Northeast Strand Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 11.1 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.6 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salmon Creek, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Blurock Landing, 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 Blurock Landing, WA
This is one driving day of about 11.1 miles and 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.6 mi from Blurock Landing, WA · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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.
A short stop after about 11.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 5.6 miles from Blurock Landing, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Salmon Creek, 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 Salmon Creek, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.33 one way
$4.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $2.43 | $4.87 |
| premium | $5.77 | $2.52 | $5.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.47 | $4.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.17 | $0.53 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.97 | $0.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Blurock Landing on Sunday
Local time
1:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Salmon Creek on Sunday
Local time
1:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
41°F
Vancouver, WA
6 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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