Origin
Ephrata, WA
Night in Ephrata on Sunday
Local time
9:08 PM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ephrata, WA to Yakima, WA
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
94.7 mi
152 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ephrata, WA
Ahmad Shaufi
Trip Overview
Connecting Ephrata to Yakima is a straightforward 94.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 51 minutes behind the wheel. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. Budgeting roughly $20 for fuel should cover the trip comfortably in most vehicles. You will navigate primarily via Basin Street Southwest, I-90, and I-82. Both cities are located within the Pacific Coast region, making this a localized transit between two central Washington hubs. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without requiring a major travel commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
47.4 miles from Ephrata, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive, as 75% of your travel time will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly transition from local roads onto the interstate, where you can settle in for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 40.6 miles on I-90. The road character shifts from the initial local exit to the more consistent rhythm of high-speed highway driving. While there are no scheduled stops included in this route, the transition between I-90 and I-82 requires you to stay alert for highway signage. It is a functional commute that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, secondary roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 40.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 82. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest
Turn left onto WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
3
20.1 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 West: Seattle
Navigation decision point
Toward I 90 West: Seattle
5
61.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
5
92.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
5
92.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 40.6 mi | 43m |
| I 82 | 30.2 mi | 32m |
| Basin Street Southwest | 20.1 mi | 27m |
| North 1st Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Selah Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue Southwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 40.6 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ephrata, WA and Yakima, 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
41 mi
·
43 min
·
I 90
5
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 82 East, US 97 South: Yakima
6
Merge onto I 82; US 97
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 82; US 97
7
Take the exit
314 ft
·
4 sec
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
9
Continue on WA 823
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Selah Road
10
Continue on North 1st Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North 1st Street
11
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the sub-two-hour duration, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid local congestion. Since there are no designated stops on this 94.7-mile trek, make sure your fuel tank is ready to go before you pull out of Ephrata so you can complete the drive in one steady push. Keep an eye on your speed when moving between the interstate systems, as traffic patterns can shift quickly at the junctions. Because the drive is short, you have the advantage of arriving in Yakima with plenty of time to spare for your afternoon plans. Prioritize a quick vehicle check before you leave to ensure a smooth transition through the 1 hour and 51 minutes of travel time.
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 47.4 miles from Ephrata, WA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.6 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.4 miles or 56m 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 30m
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 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 94.7 miles and 1h 51m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 40.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.4 mi from Ephrata, WA · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 47.4 miles from Ephrata, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.88 one way
$39.75 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $20.76 | $41.51 |
| premium | $5.77 | $21.52 | $43.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $21.04 | $42.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.94 | $4.55 |
| Efficient EV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.29 | $3.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.26 | $6.06 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Yakima, WA
Night in Yakima on Sunday
Local time
9:08 PM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
33°F
Waterville, WA
47 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 51m 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 Yakima, WA covers 94.7 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, I 82, Basin Street Southwest. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.4 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 $19.88 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 1h 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WA 28 / Basin Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Ephrata, WA to Yakima, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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