Trip from Kent, WA to Chelan, WA

Drive Time

3h 49m

Distance

178.1 mi

287 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 37m ★

6 AM

3h 50m

8 AM

4h 15m

10 AM

3h 59m

12 PM

3h 56m

3 PM

4h 0m

5 PM

4h 14m

8 PM

3h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Chelan, WA

Jack Davis

Trip Overview

Driving from Kent to Chelan covers 178.1 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 49 minutes. Because this is a manageable distance, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, though staying overnight in Chelan provides more time to relax. You should budget approximately $37 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily relies on I-90, US-97, and US-97 Alt to navigate through Washington. Since the entire trip stays within the Pacific Coast region, you will experience a consistent regional feel while transitioning from the Kent area toward the destination. It is a practical, highway-focused drive that gets you from point A to point B 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

89.1 miles from Kent, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will start with a significant 59.8-mile stretch on I-90, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. As you transition onto US-97 and US-97 Alt, the character of the road shifts to accommodate the geography of the route. Expect a consistent pace behind the wheel that prioritizes efficiency over technical, winding backroads. It is a reliable, high-speed transit experience that allows you to cover the distance without constant navigation changes.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 29 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 59.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 97. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Gowe Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 178.1 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: near the start (West Gowe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (WA 516 / Southeast Kent Kangley Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Gowe Street

Turn left onto West Gowe Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / none lanes.

2 mi into trip | ~4m in | WA 516 / Southeast Kent Kangley Road

Keep slight right at fork onto WA 516 / Southeast Kent Kangley Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

6.1 mi into trip | ~12m in

Turn left toward WA 18 East: North Bend

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward WA 18 East: North Bend

6.5 mi into trip | ~13m in | WA 18 / State Route 18

Merge onto WA 18 / State Route 18

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

22.9 mi into trip | ~35m in | I 90

Merge onto I 90

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

Between Kent, WA and Chelan, WA, road signs point toward Cle Elum and Leavenworth.

Cle Elum

82.8 mi in | ~1h 41m

Leavenworth

82.8 mi in | ~1h 41m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	59.8 mi	1h 6m
US 97	35.2 mi	44m
US 97 Alt	33.2 mi	45m
State Route 18	15.7 mi	20m
US 2	14.8 mi	19m
WA 970	9.9 mi	12m
Southeast 272nd Street	2.1 mi	4m
Southeast Kent Kangley Road	1.9 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 59.8 mi, about 1h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Chelan, WA.

Start on 2nd Avenue South

10 ft · 7 sec · 2nd Avenue South

Turn left onto West Gowe Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · West Gowe Street

Use the straight / left / none lanes.

Continue on East Titus Street

0.2 mi · 36 sec · East Titus Street

Turn right onto WA 516

0.1 mi · 19 sec · East Smith Street

Continue on WA 516

0.9 mi · 1 min · Canyon Drive

Use the none lane.

Continue on WA 516

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Southeast 256th Street

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto WA 516

1.9 mi · 3 min · Southeast Kent Kangley Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on WA 516

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Southeast Kent-Kangley Road

Use the none / straight / right lanes.

Continue on WA 516

2.1 mi · 4 min · Southeast 272nd Street

Use the none lane.

Turn left

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Toward WA 18 East: North Bend Use the left lane.

Merge onto WA 18

16 mi · 20 min · State Route 18

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on WA 18

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Snoqualmie Parkway

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 90 East: Spokane

Merge onto I 90

60 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 90

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Toward Cle Elum, Leavenworth

Turn left onto WA 970

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Sunset Highway

At end of road, turn right onto WA 970

0.1 mi · 10 sec · WA 970

Take the exit onto WA 970

9.8 mi · 12 min · WA 970

Continue on US 97

35 mi · 44 min · US 97

Take the exit onto US 97

15 mi · 19 min · US 2

Enter roundabout onto Easy Street

225 ft · 9 sec · Easy Street

Continue on Easy Street

350 ft · 11 sec · Easy Street

Turn right onto Ohme Garden Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Ohme Garden Road

Enter roundabout onto US 97 Alt

198 ft · 2 sec · US 97 Alt

Continue on US 97 Alt

33 mi · 45 min · US 97 Alt

Continue on West Woodin Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Woodin Avenue

Turn left onto North Columbia Street

349 ft · 21 sec · North Columbia Street

Turn right onto WA 150

0.1 mi · 14 sec · East Johnson Avenue

Arrive at destination

WA 150

Trip Plan

To keep your travel smooth, plan for at least one stop during the 3-hour and 49-minute drive to stretch your legs. Since you are spending $37 on fuel, check your tank levels before merging onto the longer stretches of I-90 to avoid unnecessary detours. Leaving early in the day is your best bet to beat traffic, especially given the high reliance on major highways. With a single-day itinerary, you have the flexibility to adjust your arrival time based on your personal pace. Always keep an eye on the transition points between I-90 and the US-97 corridors to ensure you stay on the most direct path.

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 89.1 miles from Kent, WA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 89.1 miles or 1h 50m 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 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chelan, WA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Kent, 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 Kent, WA

This is one driving day of about 178.1 miles and 3h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kent, 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 59.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89.1 mi from Kent, WA · 1h 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Yakima, WA

89 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

Yakima, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yakima, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.1 miles from Kent, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chelan, WA

The final approach into Chelan, 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 Chelan, 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

$37.38 one way

$74.76 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.57	$39.03	$78.07
premium	$5.77	$40.47	$80.93
diesel	$5.64	$39.57	$79.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	53.4	$18.70	$8.55
Efficient EV	44.5	$15.58	$7.12
EV Truck/SUV	71.2	$24.93	$11.40

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Kent, WA

Evening in Kent on Sunday

Local time

8:17 PM

PDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chelan, WA

Evening in Chelan on Sunday

Local time

8:17 PM

PDT

Current temp

59°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

21 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 49m 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 Kent, WA to Chelan, WA covers 178.1 miles and takes about 3h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, US 97, US 97 Alt. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 89.1 miles from Kent, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.38 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.

Between Kent, WA and Chelan, WA, road signs point toward Cle Elum and Leavenworth.

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Return Trip

Chelan, WA to Kent, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

178.1 mi 3h 48m

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Trip from Kent, WA to Chelan, WA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Chelan, WA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Kent, WA

Chelan, WA

Same local time

21 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 49m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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