Origin
Goldendale, WA
Morning in Goldendale on Wednesday
Local time
7:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
31°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Goldendale, WA to Yakima, WA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
70.8 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Goldendale, WA
Elizabeth Iris
Trip Overview
This 70.8-mile journey from Goldendale, WA to Yakima, WA is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 26 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, with a modest estimated fuel cost of $15. The route primarily utilizes US 97 and I-82, with a short segment on Evergreen Highway, meaning you'll spend about 91% of your time on faster roads. Given its manageable distance and duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays. This drive offers a practical way to transition between two points within the Pacific Coast region.
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
35.4 miles from Goldendale, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 91% of the drive taking place on faster roads like US 97 and I-82. You'll encounter one significant uninterrupted stretch of 48.2 miles on US 97, allowing for steady progress. While the highway focus means less time for leisurely exploration, it ensures an efficient transit. The Evergreen Highway segment offers a brief change of pace before rejoining the main arteries. Overall, this drive prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 97 is the longest continuous segment at about 48.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 97 and I 82. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Columbus Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 26m 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 (South Columbus Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (WA 142 / East Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 97): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Columbus Avenue
Turn right onto South Columbus Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WA 142 / East Broadway Street
Turn right onto WA 142 / East Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 97
Turn left onto US 97
Navigation decision point
5
69.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
5
69.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Yakima Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Yakima Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 97 | 48.2 mi | 56m |
| I 82 | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| Evergreen Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Broadway Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Yakima Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Buena Way | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Elm Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Columbus Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 97
— 48.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goldendale, WA and Yakima, WA.
1
Start on East Allyn Street
242 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Allyn Street
2
Turn right onto South Columbus Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Columbus Avenue
3
Turn right onto WA 142
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Broadway Street
4
Turn left onto US 97
48 mi
·
56 min
·
US 97
5
Continue on WA 22
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Elm Street
6
Continue on WA 22
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Buena Way
7
Continue on WA 22
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Evergreen Highway
8
Continue on WA 22
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Buena Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
10
Merge onto I 82; US 12
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 82; US 12
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward Yakima Avenue
13
Turn straight onto East Yakima Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
East Yakima Avenue
14
Turn left onto South 1st Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 1st Street
15
Arrive at destination
South 1st Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just under 1.5 hours, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart anytime that suits you, as there are no specific overnight stops to plan for. Given the 70.8-mile distance and the $15 fuel cost, stopping for gas is unlikely to be a major concern unless your vehicle has very low mileage. Pay attention to road conditions on US 97, as it's your longest stretch and can be a factor in your overall pace. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight, though the short duration means an evening arrival is also perfectly feasible.
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 35.4 miles from Goldendale, WA, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.2 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 70.8 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 42m 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 12m
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 Goldendale, 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 Goldendale, WA
This is one driving day of about 70.8 miles and 1h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Goldendale, 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 US 97 for about 48.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.4 mi from Goldendale, WA · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 70.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.4 miles from Goldendale, 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
$14.82 one way
$29.64 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $15.54 | $31.08 |
| premium | $5.77 | $16.08 | $32.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.43 | $3.40 |
| Efficient EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Yakima, WA
Morning in Yakima on Wednesday
Local time
7:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
SW 14 to 18 mph
24% chance
Live forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 14 at 11:13AM PDT until April 14 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
Winter Storm Warning
Winter Storm Warning issued April 14 at 11:13AM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Seattle WA
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
27 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
1h 26m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Goldendale, WA to Yakima, WA covers 70.8 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 97, I 82, Evergreen Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.4 miles from Goldendale, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.82 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 26m 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 (South Columbus Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (WA 142 / East Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 97): Navigation decision point.
The route from Goldendale, WA to Yakima, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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