Origin
Kent, WA
Evening in Kent on Sunday
Local time
8:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kent, WA to Ephrata, WA
Drive Time
3h 20m
Distance
169.1 mi
272 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 9m
★
6 AM
3h 21m
8 AM
3h 45m
10 AM
3h 29m
12 PM
3h 27m
3 PM
3h 30m
5 PM
3h 44m
8 PM
3h 13m
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
Traveling from Kent to Ephrata covers 169.1 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it as a round trip or a direct one-way excursion. You should budget approximately $35 for fuel to cover the distance, making this a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route primarily utilizes I-90, State Route 18, and WA-283 to navigate across Washington state. Since the entire trip stays within the Pacific Coast region, you won't need to worry about significant regional climate shifts, though you should prepare for the transition from the metropolitan west side to the more arid interior. It is a straightforward drive that works well for those looking to reach their destination efficiently without needing an overnight stay.
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
84.6 miles from Kent, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your journey—125.5 miles—on the long, uninterrupted stretch of I-90. Expect a functional, high-speed experience that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads. While State Route 18 and WA-283 provide the necessary transitions, the core of the experience remains a steady interstate grind. Because of this high highway percentage, you can maintain a consistent pace, allowing you to focus on the road ahead rather than navigating complex local intersections.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 125.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WA 283. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Gowe Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 169.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 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 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
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.
6
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.
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 none / 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Kent, WA to Ephrata, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Soap Lake along the way.
Soap Lake
148.4 mi in
|
~2h 52m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 125.5 mi | 2h 16m |
| WA 283 | 20.1 mi | 27m |
| State Route 18 | 15.7 mi | 20m |
| Southeast 272nd Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Southeast Kent Kangley Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Canyon Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Southeast 256th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Gowe Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 125.5 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kent, WA and Ephrata, 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 / none 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
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on WA 516
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Southeast 256th Street
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 516
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Kent Kangley Road
Use the none lane.
8
Continue on WA 516
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Southeast Kent-Kangley Road
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on WA 516
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast 272nd Street
Use the none lane.
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 none / 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 none / 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
·
27 min
·
WA 283
18
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue Southwest
43 ft
·
0 sec
·
3rd Avenue Southwest
19
Arrive at destination
3rd Avenue Southwest
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 20 minute journey, try to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion near Kent. Since the route includes one planned stop, use that break strategically to refuel and stretch your legs, especially given the long 125.5-mile segment on I-90. Keep in mind that your fuel budget of $35 may fluctuate based on current gas prices, so check your levels before hitting the interstate. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to monitor traffic reports for I-90 before you leave, as this is your longest stretch and any delays there will significantly impact your total travel time. The flexibility of a one-day trip gives you the freedom to adjust your departure time to suit your personal preferences.
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 84.6 miles from Kent, WA, or about 1h 42m 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.6 miles or 1h 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 2h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ephrata, 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 169.1 miles and 3h 20m.
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 125.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.6 mi from Kent, WA · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 84.6 miles from Kent, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 125.5 miles.
Arriving in Ephrata, WA
The final approach into Ephrata, 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 Ephrata, WA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.49 one way
$70.98 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $37.06 | $74.12 |
| premium | $5.77 | $38.42 | $76.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.57 | $75.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.76 | $8.12 |
| Efficient EV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.80 | $6.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.67 | $10.82 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Ephrata, WA
Evening in Ephrata on Sunday
Local time
8:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Monroe, WA
85 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 20m 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 Ephrata, WA covers 169.1 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, WA 283, State Route 18. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.6 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 $35.49 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 169.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
On the drive from Kent, WA to Ephrata, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Soap Lake along the way.
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