Buckley, WA to Yakima, WA is 113.9 miles and takes about 2h 50m via State Route 410, US 12, and Chinook Pass Highway, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward drive. With a highway-focused profile, it’s a practical choice for a single-day excursion. Expect a total duration of under three hours, making it an easy option if you're looking for a relatively quick transition between locations within Washington.
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
56.9 miles from Buckley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 113.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 73% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 63.5 miles along State Route 410. The road generally maintains a consistent character, facilitating steady progress. While it’s not a winding scenic byway, the consistent highway segments allow for efficient travel without frequent stops or significant changes in road type.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Route 410 is the longest continuous segment at about 63.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 410 and US 12. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Cottage Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Buckley, WA to Yakima, WA is easy. At 2h 50m with 73% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Cottage Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North River Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Park Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Cottage Street
Turn right onto North Cottage Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North River Avenue
Turn right onto North River Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Park Avenue
Turn left onto Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
112 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward North 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward North 1st Street
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 410
63.5 mi
1h 36m
US 12
16.9 mi
22m
Chinook Pass Highway
10 mi
14m
Southeast Enumclaw Chinook Pass Road
6.9 mi
9m
Enumclaw Chinook Pass Road
4.8 mi
6m
Southeast Enumclaw-Chinook Pass Road
3.8 mi
5m
State Route 410 East
2.9 mi
5m
Roosevelt Avenue East
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
State Route 410
— 63.5 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buckley, WA and Yakima, WA.
Given the manageable 2h 50m drive time, starting your journey from Buckley, WA anytime in the morning should allow you to reach Yakima, WA with plenty of daylight. With a fuel cost estimate around $24 and only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Yakima, as the longest stretch without a major town is 63.5 miles on State Route 410, so it's wise to fuel up before that segment if needed.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 56.9 miles from Buckley, WA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.5 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.9 miles or 1h 25m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yakima, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buckley, 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 Buckley, WA
This is one driving day of about 113.9 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Buckley, 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 State Route 410 for about 63.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.9 mi from Buckley, WA
· 1h 25m into the drive
The midpoint is around 56.9 miles from Buckley, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Yakima, WA
The final approach into Yakima, 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 Yakima, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Mount Rainier National Park
National Park
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning fi...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$30
near mile 43.2
Park Closure: Regular nightly closures of the Longmire gate have ended for the season.
Park Closure: SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge is closed: no access to Carbon River or Mowich Lake.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.84 one way
$47.68 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$25.00
$50.00
premium
$5.77
$25.87
$51.73
diesel
$5.61
$25.15
$50.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.2
0
$11.96
$5.47
Efficient EV
28.5
0
$9.97
$4.56
EV Truck/SUV
45.6
0
$15.95
$7.29
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Buckley, WA
Afternoon
in Buckley on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yakima, WA
Afternoon
in Yakima on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
PDT
Current temp
46°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
19 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
2h 50m 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 Buckley, WA to Yakima, WA covers 113.9 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 410, US 12, Chinook Pass Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.9 miles from Buckley, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Buckley, WA to Yakima, WA is easy. At 2h 50m with 73% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Cottage Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North River Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Park Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Buckley, WA to Yakima, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
