Origin
Kittitas, WA
Evening in Kittitas on Sunday
Local time
8:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kittitas, WA to South Cle Elum, WA
Drive Time
40m
Distance
33.5 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kittitas, WA
Harrison Reilly
South Cle Elum, WA
Chris F
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition across the Pacific Coast region, the 33.5-mile journey from Kittitas to South Cle Elum is an efficient choice. Expect to spend about 40 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, the route is as economical as it is straightforward. You will primarily rely on I-90 before transitioning onto Main Street and South Cle Elum Way to reach your destination. Because the travel time is so brief, you do not need to worry about an overnight split; it is a simple, direct connection that gets you where you need to go without any unnecessary fuss.
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
16.8 miles from Kittitas, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 30.7 miles on I-90. While the interstate portion allows for consistent cruising, the character of the drive shifts once you exit onto local connectors like Main Street and South Cle Elum Way. Transitioning from the open highway to these local roads provides a clear change in pace as you arrive at your destination. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that favors efficiency over technical maneuvering or winding backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 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 30.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 8 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 90 West
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
32 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward Exit 84: Cle Elum
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Exit 84: Cle Elum
4
32.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
West Railroad Street
Turn left onto West Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 30.7 mi | 32m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Cle Elum Way | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South Oaks Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Railroad Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East First Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 30.7 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kittitas, WA and South Cle Elum, WA.
1
Start on East First Avenue
148 ft
·
9 sec
·
East First Avenue
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 90 West
4
Merge onto I 90
31 mi
·
32 min
·
I 90
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Exit 84: Cle Elum
6
Turn right onto South Oaks Avenue
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Oaks Avenue
7
Turn left onto West Railroad Street
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Railroad Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto South Cle Elum Way
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cle Elum Way
9
Turn right
188 ft
·
13 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 40-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, allowing you to easily work it into a larger itinerary. Because you will spend the vast majority of the 33.5 miles on the interstate, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained highway speeds before you pull out of Kittitas. You likely won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the duration is manageable without a break. Keep your $7 fuel estimate in mind when planning your budget, and prioritize checking traffic reports for I-90 before you depart to ensure your quick trip remains on schedule.
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 16.8 miles from Kittitas, WA, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.7 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 33.5 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.8 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Cle Elum, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kittitas, 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 Kittitas, WA
This is one driving day of about 33.5 miles and 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kittitas, 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 I 90 for about 30.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.8 mi from Kittitas, WA · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.8 miles from Kittitas, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in South Cle Elum, WA
The final approach into South Cle Elum, 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 South Cle Elum, 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
$7.03 one way
$14.06 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $7.34 | $14.68 |
| premium | $5.77 | $7.61 | $15.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.44 | $14.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
South Cle Elum, WA
Evening in South Cle Elum on Sunday
Local time
8:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
17 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
40m 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 Kittitas, WA to South Cle Elum, WA covers 33.5 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, Main Street, South Cle Elum Way. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.8 miles from Kittitas, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.03 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 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Kittitas, WA to South Cle Elum, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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