Drive Time
5h 29m
Distance
345.6 mi
556 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
Photo: Josh Hild
The drive from Medical Lake, WA to Vancouver, WA covers 345.6 miles and takes about 5h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Lefevre Street, State Route 902, South Salnave Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $71.20 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
172.8 miles from Medical Lake, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 29m drive with frequent turns across 345.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Lefevre Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Route 902 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Salnave Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Seattle | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Thomas S | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 182 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lewis and Clark Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 395 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Medical Lake, WA and Vancouver, WA.
Start on East Lake Street
Turn left onto South Lefevre Street
Continue on State Route 902
Continue on South Salnave Road
Take the ramp right toward Seattle
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
Merge slight left onto Lewis and Clark Trail
Keep slight right to continue on Lewis and Clark Trail
Continue on North US 395
Continue on Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
Keep slight right to continue on I 84 West: Portland
Merge slight left onto Old Oregon Trail Highway
Continue on Columbia River Highway
Take the exit slight left toward I 205: Salem, Seattle, Portland Airport
Keep slight right to continue on I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward WA 14: Vancouver, Camas
Keep slight right to continue on WA 14 West: Vancouver, City Center
Keep slight left to continue on WA 14 West
Merge slight left onto Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 North: Seattle
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward WA 501: 4th Plain Boulevard, Mill Plain Boulevard
Keep slight left to continue on 4th Plain Boulevard
Keep slight left
Turn left onto East Fourth Plain Boulevard
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.8 miles or 2h 44m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vancouver, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Medical Lake, 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 Medical Lake, WA
This is one driving day of about 345.6 miles and 5h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 172.8 mi from Medical Lake, WA · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
173 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 172.8 miles from Medical Lake, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Vancouver, 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 Vancouver, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$71.20 one way
$142.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $75.75 | $151.49 |
| premium | $5.77 | $78.52 | $157.04 |
| diesel | $5.47 | $74.39 | $148.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.7 | 1 | $36.29 | $16.59 |
| Efficient EV | 86.4 | 0 | $30.24 | $13.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.2 | 1 | $48.38 | $22.12 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Medical Lake on Saturday
Local time
7:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
31°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Vancouver on Saturday
Local time
7:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
31°F
Madras, OR
173 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Medical Lake, WA or browse trips ending in Vancouver, WA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WA road trips.
Explore maps for Medical Lake, WA or Vancouver, WA on MapSof.net.
