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Trip from Kent, WA to Coulee Dam, WA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 45m

Distance

229 mi

369 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 32m ★
6 AM
4h 45m
8 AM
5h 12m
10 AM
4h 55m
12 PM
4h 52m
3 PM
4h 56m
5 PM
5h 11m
8 PM
4h 37m

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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concrete hydroelectric gravity dam on the Columbia River in Washington, United States

Coulee Dam, WA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Kent, WA to Coulee Dam, WA covers 229 miles and takes about 4h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, Coulee Boulevard, WA 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 125.5 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.93 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

114.5 miles from Kent, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 125.5 mi 2h 16m
Coulee Boulevard 25.1 mi 32m
WA 17 21.3 mi 29m
WA 283 20 mi 26m
State Route 18 15.7 mi 20m
Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway 4.3 mi 6m
WA 28 3.7 mi 5m
Southeast 272nd Street 2.1 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 125.5 mi, about 2h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 2nd Avenue South

10 ft · 7 sec · 2nd Avenue South
2

Turn left onto West Gowe Street

0.3 mi · 52 sec · West Gowe Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3

Continue on East Titus Street

0.2 mi · 36 sec · East Titus Street
4

Turn right onto WA 516

0.1 mi · 19 sec · East Smith Street
5

Continue on WA 516

0.9 mi · 1 min · Canyon Drive
6

Continue on WA 516

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Southeast 256th Street
7

Keep slight right at fork onto WA 516

1.9 mi · 3 min · Southeast Kent Kangley Road
8

Continue on WA 516

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Southeast Kent-Kangley Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Continue on WA 516

2.1 mi · 4 min · Southeast 272nd Street
10

Turn left

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward WA 18 East: North Bend Use the left lane.
11

Merge onto WA 18

16 mi · 20 min · State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on WA 18

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Snoqualmie Parkway
13

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
14

Merge onto I 90

126 mi · 2 hr 16 min · I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward WA 283 North: Ephrata, Soap Lake
16

Continue on WA 281 Spur

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Burke Spur
17

Turn right onto WA 283

20 mi · 26 min · WA 283
18

Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southwest

392 ft · 14 sec · 5th Avenue Southwest
19

Turn left onto Alder Street Southwest

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Alder Street Southwest
20

Continue on Alder Street Northwest

1.6 mi · 2 min · Alder Street Northwest
21

Turn right onto WA 28

3.7 mi · 5 min · WA 28
22

Turn left onto WA 17

21 mi · 29 min · WA 17
23

At end of road, turn right onto US 2

4.3 mi · 6 min · Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway
24

Continue on WA 155

25 mi · 32 min · Coulee Boulevard
25

Continue on WA 155

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Grand Coulee Avenue
26

Continue on WA 155

0.5 mi · 1 min · Midway Avenue
27

Continue on WA 155

1.7 mi · 3 min · Coulee Corridor
28

Continue on WA 155

0.2 mi · 25 sec · State Route 155
29

Continue on WA 155

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Columbia Avenue
30

Turn right onto WA 155

0.2 mi · 21 sec · State Highway 155
31

Continue on Roosevelt Way

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Roosevelt Way
32

Arrive at destination

Marina Way

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 114.5 miles from Kent, WA, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.5 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 50 miles or 1h 4m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 114.5 miles or 2h 15m 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 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coulee Dam, 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 229 miles and 4h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 125.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Cle Elum, WA, WA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cle Elum, WA

115 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

Monroe, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ellensburg, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 114.5 miles from Kent, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 125.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Mama Stortini's Restaurant & Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Kent, Washington

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12538545050

Visit website

Banks Lake Brew & Bistro

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Coulee City, Washington

2 mi

Steamboat Rock Restaurant LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Coulee City, Washington

1.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Daisy Mae's Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kent, Washington

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 4:30 am–5 pm

+12538725580

Mama Stortini's Restaurant & Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Kent, Washington

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12538545050

Visit website

Banks Lake Brew & Bistro

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 196.3

Coulee City, Washington

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+15096325611

Visit website

Steamboat Rock Restaurant LLC

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 196.3

Coulee City, Washington

Hours: 12–8 pm

+15097010660

Visit website

509 Philly Stop

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 114.5

Kittitas, Washington

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+15098565946

Visit website

Cloudview Kitchen

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 180

Soap Lake, Washington

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+15093903489

Visit website

Daisy Mae's Café

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Kent, Washington

Hours: 4:30 am–5 pm

+12538725580

Candor Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Renton, Washington

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+12532368630

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 147.2

George, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 81.8

Cle Elum, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 32.7

North Bend, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EVCS Charging Station

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 49.1

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 81.8

Cle Elum, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Pilot EV Charging Station

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 98.2

Ellensburg, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15099251777

Visit website

EVCS Charging Station

2.7 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 81.8

Cle Elum, Washington

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18663003827

Visit website

Wanapum Recreation Area

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 130.9

Vantage, Washington

+15098562700

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 148.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Gowe Street

Turn left onto West Gowe Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
7
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
5
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 straight / slight right lanes.
5
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 straight / slight right lanes.
5
148.4 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in

Take the exit toward WA 283 North: Ephrata, Soap Lake

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward WA 283 North: Ephrata, Soap Lake

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.93 one way

$95.86 round trip

$5.32/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.58 $50.26 $100.53
premium $5.77 $52.00 $104.01
diesel $5.61 $50.56 $101.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 80.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 68.7 0 $24.04 $10.99
Efficient EV 57.3 0 $20.04 $9.16
EV Truck/SUV 91.6 1 $32.06 $14.66

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Kent, WA

Afternoon in Kent on Saturday

Local time

1:56 PM

PDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Coulee Dam, WA

Afternoon in Coulee Dam on Saturday

Local time

1:56 PM

PDT

Current temp

51°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

4 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

4h 45m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Seattle flourished during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Merchants supplied people from around the world passing through this port city on their way to a remarkable adventure in the Yukon Territory...

16 mi from route ~39 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

229 mi in 4h 45m, mostly highway — 125.5 mi of that is on I 90.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.5 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Coulee Boulevard. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Gowe Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 229 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Gowe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (WA 18 / State Route 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Kent, WA to Coulee Dam, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Soap Lake along the way.

Soap Lake

148.4 mi in | ~2h 52m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 45m. Total distance: 229 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 125.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Gowe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (WA 18 / State Route 18): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Coulee Dam, WA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Coulee Dam, WA to Kent, WA

Plan the drive back the other way.

228.9 mi 4h 44m

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