The drive from Coulee Dam, WA to Spokane, WA covers 88.1 miles and takes about 2h 9m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sunset Highway, State Route 174, West Sunset Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.3 miles on Sunset Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.44 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.
Midpoint
44.1 miles from Coulee Dam, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 88.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 9m drive with frequent turns across 88.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sunset Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 52.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near WA 155 / Columbia Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 9m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WA 155 / Columbia Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 22.2 miles (US 2 / Sunset Highway): Navigation decision point; at 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|WA 155 / Columbia Avenue
Turn left onto WA 155 / Columbia Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
22.2 mi into trip|~31m in|US 2 / Sunset Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 2 / Sunset Highway
Navigation decision point
5
86.8 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Str...
5
88.1 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
88.1 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|South Gorge Trail
Turn left onto South Gorge Trail
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sunset Highway
52.3 mi
1h 8m
State Route 174
17.8 mi
22m
West Sunset Highway
4.8 mi
10m
US 2
3.8 mi
5m
Coulee Corridor
1.7 mi
3m
West Broadway Avenue
1 mi
2m
Morgan Street
0.9 mi
2m
East Grand Coulee Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Sunset Highway
— 52.3 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Coulee Dam, WA and Spokane, WA.
1
Start on Marina Way
93 ft·4 sec·Marina Way
2
Continue on Roosevelt Way
0.1 mi·20 sec·Roosevelt Way
3
Continue on WA 155
0.2 mi·27 sec·State Highway 155
4
Turn left onto WA 155
0.2 mi·33 sec·Columbia Avenue
5
Continue on WA 155
0.2 mi·26 sec·State Route 155
6
Continue on WA 155
1.7 mi·3 min·Coulee Corridor
7
Turn left onto Federal Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·Federal Avenue
8
Turn slight left onto Spokane Way
0.3 mi·27 sec·Spokane Way
9
Continue on WA 174
0.8 mi·1 min·East Grand Coulee Avenue
10
Continue on WA 174
18 mi·22 min·State Route 174
11
Continue on WA 21
0.5 mi·43 sec·WA 21
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
0.3 mi·24 sec·Sunset Highway
13
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Main Avenue
14
Continue on US 2
0.3 mi·51 sec·Northwest Main Avenue
15
Continue on US 2
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Main Street
16
Continue on US 2
0.5 mi·1 min·East Main Avenue
17
Continue on US 2
7.8 mi·9 min·Sunset Highway
18
Continue on US 2
0.7 mi·1 min·West Watson Street
19
Continue on US 2
20 mi·24 min·Sunset Highway
20
Continue on US 2
0.9 mi·2 min·Morgan Street
21
Continue on US 2
12 mi·15 min·Sunset Highway
22
Continue on US 2; WA 231
1.0 mi·2 min·West Broadway Avenue
23
Continue on US 2
13 mi·18 min·Sunset Highway
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2
1.8 mi·4 min·West Sunset Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto West Sunset Highway
95 ft·1 sec·West Sunset Highway
26
Continue on West Sunset Highway
1.0 mi·2 min·West Sunset Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
27
Enter roundabout onto US 2
97 ft·2 sec·West Sunset Highway
28
Continue on US 2
2.0 mi·3 min·West Sunset Highway
29
Turn straight onto US 2
3.8 mi·5 min·US 2
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Maple Street, Lincoln Street, Walnut Street
31
Continue on West 5th Avenue
382 ft·12 sec·West 5th Avenue
32
Turn straight onto West Freeway Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Freeway Avenue
33
Continue on West 4th Avenue
0.2 mi·31 sec·West 4th Avenue
34
Continue on West 4th Avenue
167 ft·4 sec·West 4th Avenue
35
Continue on South Lincoln Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
36
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Main Avenue
37
Turn right
26 ft·8 sec
38
Turn left onto South Gorge Trail
157 ft·17 sec·South Gorge Trail
39
Arrive at destination
South Gorge Trail
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.1 miles from Coulee Dam, WA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.3 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.1 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spokane, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Coulee Dam, 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 Coulee Dam, WA
This is one driving day of about 88.1 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Coulee Dam, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sunset Highway for about 52.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.1 mi from Coulee Dam, WA
· 1h 1m into the drive
The midpoint is around 44.1 miles from Coulee Dam, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Spokane, WA
The final approach into Spokane, 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 Spokane, 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.
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The ancient geologic landscape of the upper Columbia River cradles Lake Roosevelt in walls of stone carved by massive ice age floods. Come explore the shorelines and learn the stories of American Indi...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 30.4
Park Closure: Hawk Creek Area Closed for 2026 Recreation Season
Park Closure: Fort Spokane Museum and Visitor Center to Close for Repairs
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.44 one way
$36.88 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$19.34
$38.67
premium
$5.77
$20.01
$40.01
diesel
$5.61
$19.45
$38.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
62 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
EV Connect Charging Station
Spokane, Washington
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Spokane, Washington
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Spokane, Washington
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Spokane, Washington
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Davenport, Washington
Other
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Airway Heights, Washington
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Spokane, Washington
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
BTCPower Charging Station
Spokane, Washington
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 17
ChargePoint: 16
EV Connect: 13
Tesla Destination: 6
Shell Recharge: 4
FLO: 4
Tesla: 1
Blink: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.25
$4.23
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.71
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.33
$5.64
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Coulee Dam, WA
Late night
in Coulee Dam on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Spokane, WA
Late night
in Spokane on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Davenport, WA
44 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 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 9m 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 Coulee Dam, WA to Spokane, WA covers 88.1 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sunset Highway, State Route 174, West Sunset Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.1 miles from Coulee Dam, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.44 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 9m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WA 155 / Columbia Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 22.2 miles (US 2 / Sunset Highway): Navigation decision point; at 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Coulee Dam, WA to Spokane, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
