Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
259.5 mi
418 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
The drive from College Place, WA to Auburn, WA covers 259.5 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North College Avenue, the route, Wallula Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
129.8 miles from College Place, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 22m drive with frequent turns across 259.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North College Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wallula Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 12 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Spalding Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 182 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 82 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between College Place, WA and Auburn, WA.
Start on East Whitman Drive
Turn right onto North College Avenue
Turn left
Continue on North College Avenue
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
Exit the roundabout
Continue on Wallula Avenue
At the end of the road, turn left onto Old Highway 12
Turn right onto Spalding Road
Turn left
Keep slight right
Merge slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 182, US 12
Keep slight right to continue on I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West
Take the exit slight right toward WA 18 West: Auburn
Keep slight left to continue on SR 18 west, Snoqualmie Parkway: Auburn, Tacoma
Merge slight right onto Snoqualmie Parkway
Continue on State Route 18
Take the exit slight right toward WA 164 East: Auburn
Turn right onto Auburn Way South
Turn left onto Cross Street Southeast
Turn right onto A Street Southeast
Turn right onto East Main Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.8 miles or 2h 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 3h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving College Place, 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 College Place, WA
This is one driving day of about 259.5 miles and 4h 22m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.8 mi from College Place, WA · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 129.8 miles from College Place, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$53.46 one way
$106.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $56.88 | $113.75 |
| premium | $5.77 | $58.96 | $117.92 |
| diesel | $5.47 | $55.85 | $111.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.9 | 0 | $27.25 | $12.46 |
| Efficient EV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.71 | $10.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.8 | 1 | $36.33 | $16.61 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in College Place on Saturday
Local time
6:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
37°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
6:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
34°F
Yakima, WA
130 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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