The drive from Kennewick, WA to Aberdeen, WA covers 287.4 miles and takes about 5h 54m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 12, US Highway 12, WA 240 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 256 miles on US 12.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.15 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
143.7 miles from Kennewick, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 287.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 54m highway drive covering 287.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 12 and US Highway 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 256 miles on US 12.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 12 is the longest continuous segment at about 256 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 12 and US Highway 12. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in near WA 240.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 287.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (WA 240): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.6 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
8.3 mi into trip|~12m in|WA 240
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 240
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
13.5 mi into trip|~18m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
6
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12 toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
6
240.9 mi into trip|~4h 45m in|US 12
Turn left onto US 12
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
266.3 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|US 12
Take the ramp onto US 12 toward Montesano, Aberdeen
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Montesano, Aberdeen
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kennewick, WA and Aberdeen, WA, road signs point toward 1St Street: White Pass, Chinook Pass, Naches, White Pass, Tenino and Montesano.
1St Street: White Pass
84.5 mi in|~1h 35m|via US 12
Chinook Pass
84.5 mi in|~1h 35m|via US 12
Naches
84.5 mi in|~1h 35m|via US 12
White Pass
84.6 mi in|~1h 35m|via US 12
Tenino
240.6 mi in|~4h 44m
Montesano
266.3 mi in|~5h 24m|via US 12
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 12
256 mi
5h 7m
US Highway 12
16.8 mi
25m
WA 240
11.6 mi
13m
East Pine Street
0.6 mi
1m
North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Kennewick Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Columbia Drive
0.5 mi
1m
West Pine Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 12
— 256 mi, about 5h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kennewick, WA and Aberdeen, WA.
1
Start on North Newport Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·North Newport Street
2
Turn left onto West Kennewick Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Kennewick Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Fruitland Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Fruitland Street
4
Turn left onto West Columbia Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·West Columbia Drive
5
Enter roundabout onto WA 240
0.1 mi·8 sec·WA 240
6
Continue on WA 240
6.4 mi·8 min·WA 240
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 240
5.1 mi·5 min·WA 240
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 182; US 12
0.1 mi·7 sec·I 182; US 12
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
71 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 12
Toward I 82 West, US 12 West: Prosser, Yakima
10
Take the exit onto US 12
0.1 mi·10 sec·US 12
Toward US 12 west, North 1st Street: White Pass, Chinook Pass, Naches
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 12
18 mi·23 min·US 12
Toward US 12 West: Naches, White Pass
12
Turn left onto US 12
119 mi·2 hr 22 min·US 12
13
Take the exit onto US 12
20 mi·22 min·US 12
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 12 West: Aberdeen, Tenino
15
Turn left onto US 12
0.6 mi·1 min·US 12
Use the straight lane.
16
Enter roundabout onto US 12
143 ft·2 sec·US 12
17
Continue on US 12
7.2 mi·10 min·US 12
18
Enter roundabout onto US 12
90 ft·1 sec·US Highway 12
19
Continue on US 12
3.3 mi·4 min·US Highway 12
20
Continue on US 12
0.6 mi·1 min·East Pine Street
21
Continue on US 12
0.2 mi·40 sec·West Pine Street
22
Continue on US 12
13 mi·20 min·US Highway 12
23
Take the ramp onto US 12
21 mi·29 min·US 12
Toward Montesano, AberdeenUse the straight lane.
24
Arrive at destination
US 101
Trip Plan
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 143.7 miles from Kennewick, WA, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 256 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 63 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.7 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aberdeen, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kennewick, 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 Kennewick, WA
This is one driving day of about 287.4 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Kennewick, 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 US 12 for about 256 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 143.7 mi from Kennewick, WA
· 2h 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Mount Rainier National Park
National Park
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning fi...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$30
near mile 148.6
Park Closure: Paradise Road Status: Gate closed at Longmire, projected to open tomorrow
Park Closure: SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge is closed: no access to Carbon River or Mowich Lake.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.2
1
$30.18
$13.80
Efficient EV
71.9
0
$25.15
$11.50
EV Truck/SUV
115
1
$40.24
$18.39
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kennewick, WA
Late night
in Kennewick on Friday
Local time
1:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aberdeen, WA
Late night
in Aberdeen on Friday
Local time
1:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
5h 54m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kennewick, WA to Aberdeen, WA covers 287.4 miles and takes about 5h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 12, US Highway 12, WA 240. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.7 miles from Kennewick, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $60.15 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 287.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (WA 240): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.6 miles (US 12): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kennewick, WA and Aberdeen, WA, road signs point toward 1St Street: White Pass, Chinook Pass, Naches, White Pass, Tenino and Montesano.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
