Drive Time
4h 44m
Distance
283.3 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
Photo: Josh Hild
The drive from Ephrata, WA to Vancouver, WA covers 283.3 miles and takes about 4h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Basin Street Southwest, I 90 West, I 82 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.37 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
141.7 miles from Ephrata, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 44m drive with frequent turns across 283.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Basin Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 82 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| SR 22 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Evergreen Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Buena Way | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Elm Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lewis and Clark Trail Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Ephrata, WA and Vancouver, WA.
Start on 3rd Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto Basin Street Southwest
Take the ramp straight toward I 90 West: Seattle
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward SR 22 East: Toppenish, Buena
Turn right onto Evergreen Highway
Continue on Buena Way
Turn right onto South Elm Street
Continue on Evergreen Highway
Keep slight left
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
Turn right onto United States Route 97
Take the exit right
Continue straight
Merge slight left onto Columbia River Highway
Take the exit slight left toward I 205: Salem, Seattle, Portland Airport
Keep slight right to continue on I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward WA 14: Vancouver, Camas
Keep slight right to continue on WA 14 West: Vancouver, City Center
Keep slight left to continue on WA 14 West
Merge slight left onto Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 North: Seattle
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain Boulevard
Keep slight left to continue on 4th Plain Boulevard
Keep slight left
Turn left onto East Fourth Plain Boulevard
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 141.7 miles or 2h 22m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vancouver, WA than in the middle of the route.
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 283.3 miles and 4h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 141.7 mi from Ephrata, WA · 2h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
142 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 141.7 miles from Ephrata, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Vancouver, 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 Vancouver, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$58.37 one way
$116.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $62.09 | $124.18 |
| premium | $5.77 | $64.37 | $128.73 |
| diesel | $5.47 | $60.98 | $121.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85 | 1 | $29.75 | $13.60 |
| Efficient EV | 70.8 | 0 | $24.79 | $11.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113.3 | 1 | $39.66 | $18.13 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Ephrata on Saturday
Local time
4:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Vancouver on Saturday
Local time
4:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
34°F
Yakima, WA
142 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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