Origin
Ephrata, WA
Evening in Ephrata on Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ephrata, WA to Seattle, WA
Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
170.7 mi
275 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ephrata, WA
Ahmad Shaufi
Seattle, WA
Josh Hild
Trip Overview
Traveling from Ephrata to Seattle covers 170.7 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 16 minutes. Since this is a highway-focused drive, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $36 on fuel for the journey, which primarily utilizes I-90 to navigate from the interior toward the coast. While the route is straightforward, it is best viewed as a functional transit between the two cities rather than a multi-day excursion. Whether you are heading west for business or a change of scenery, this direct path offers a reliable way to reach the coast efficiently.
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
85.3 miles from Ephrata, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Drive Character
With 87% of the journey spent on highways, this route is dominated by a consistent interstate experience. The centerpiece of your drive is the 148.8-mile stretch on I-90, which provides the bulk of the mileage and dictates the pace of your travel. You will start on local roads like Basin Street Southwest and Madison Street before transitioning onto the main highway system. Expect a steady, high-speed flow that allows you to cover distance quickly. Transitioning from the regional interior onto a major interstate artery, you will find the driving environment shifts from local transit to a focused, long-haul highway rhythm.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 148.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Basin Street Southwest. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.5 miles in near I 90.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 170.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.5 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 170 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
20.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
169.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison Street
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 2C
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, J...
6
170 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, Madison Street, Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, M...
8
170.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Madison Street, Convention Place
6
170.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
|
Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 148.8 mi | 2h 44m |
| Basin Street Southwest | 20.1 mi | 27m |
| Madison Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 148.8 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ephrata, WA and Seattle, WA.
1
Start on 3rd Avenue Southwest
43 ft
·
6 sec
·
3rd Avenue Southwest
2
Turn left onto WA 28
20 mi
·
27 min
·
Basin Street Southwest
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 90 West: Seattle
4
Merge onto I 90
149 mi
·
2 hr 44 min
·
I 90
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 2C
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, James Street, Madison Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 5 North: Vancouver British Columbia, Madison Street, Convention Center
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Madison Street, Convention Place
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Madison Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is key to a smooth trip, as the 3-hour and 16-minute duration can be influenced by traffic as you approach the Seattle area. You only need to budget for one stop to keep the drive comfortable, so try to time your break to coincide with the end of your long 148.8-mile stint on I-90. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge; while $36 is the estimated cost, having a buffer for heavy traffic or unexpected congestion is always a smart move. Because the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to leave early in the morning or mid-afternoon to avoid peak urban congestion. Prioritize your comfort by planning that single stop early, ensuring you stay refreshed for the final approach into the city.
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 85.3 miles from Ephrata, WA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.8 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.3 miles or 1h 40m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seattle, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ephrata, 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 Ephrata, WA
This is one driving day of about 170.7 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ephrata, 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 I 90 for about 148.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.3 mi from Ephrata, WA · 1h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.3 miles from Ephrata, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.8 miles.
Arriving in Seattle, WA
The final approach into Seattle, 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 Seattle, 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
$35.83 one way
$71.65 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $37.41 | $74.83 |
| premium | $5.77 | $38.78 | $77.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.92 | $75.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.92 | $8.19 |
| Efficient EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.94 | $6.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.90 | $10.92 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Seattle, WA
Evening in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
6:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Monroe, WA
85 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
7 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 16m 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 Ephrata, WA to Seattle, WA covers 170.7 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, Basin Street Southwest, Madison Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.3 miles from Ephrata, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.83 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 170.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.5 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 170 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Ephrata, WA to Seattle, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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