Trip from Moses Lake, WA to Pasco, WA

Drive Time

1h 38m

Distance

71.2 mi

115 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 31m ★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m

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

Downtown Moses Lake, WA, WA

Moses Lake, WA

Tom Fisk

Downtown Pasco, WA, WA

Pasco, WA

nicholas hatherly

Trip Overview

Traveling from Moses Lake to Pasco covers a 71.2-mile stretch across Washington state, typically taking about 1 hour and 38 minutes of drive time. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the journey between these two Pacific Coast region points. Since the route is straightforward and efficient, it serves as an excellent connector if you are navigating the central part of the state. Expect a functional, mixed-drive experience that gets you to your destination with minimal 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

35.6 miles from Moses Lake, WA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a varied driving experience that balances faster highway segments with more localized travel. With a 40% highway share, you will transition between higher-speed zones and slower, more deliberate stretches along State Highway 17, the Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, and the Coulee Corridor. The longest uninterrupted portion of the journey spans 28 miles on State Highway 17, offering a steady rhythm before the road character shifts. Because this is a mixed-profile drive, you will encounter changing road conditions that require you to stay alert behind the wheel. The journey maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to focus on the road as you navigate toward Pasco.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 28 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 3rd Avenue.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 38m drive. You will face about 10 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 (East 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (US 395): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East 3rd Avenue

Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
69 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | US 395

Take the exit onto US 395 toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton

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

Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pend...
4
69.9 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
6
70.2 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | North 4th Avenue

Turn right onto North 4th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
71.1 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | North 8th Avenue

Turn left onto North 8th Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 17 28 mi 41m
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway 22.4 mi 24m
Coulee Corridor 16.2 mi 23m
South Pioneer Way 1.7 mi 2m
North 4th Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
US 395 0.6 mi 1m
Lewis and Clark Trail 0.3 mi <1m
Court Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 17 — 28 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Moses Lake, WA and Pasco, WA.

1

Start on South Division Street

10 ft · 2 sec · South Division Street
2

Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue

0.3 mi · 32 sec · East 3rd Avenue
3

Turn right onto I 90 Bus; US 10 Hist

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Pioneer Way
4

Continue on WA 17; I 90 Bus; US 10 Hist

16 mi · 23 min · Coulee Corridor
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5

Continue on WA 17

28 mi · 41 min · State Highway 17
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 47 sec
7

Merge onto US 395

22 mi · 24 min · Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
8

Take the exit onto US 395

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 395
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
9

Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395

0.3 mi · 23 sec · Lewis and Clark Trail
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward North 4th Avenue: Pasco City Center
11

Turn right onto North 4th Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · North 4th Avenue
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn right onto Court Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Court Street
13

Turn left onto North 8th Avenue

0.1 mi · 28 sec · North 8th Avenue
14

Arrive at destination

North 8th Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 1 hour and 38 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time. You can easily complete this drive in one go without the need for forced stops, as there are zero mandatory pauses required along the way. Keep in mind that the total fuel cost is quite manageable at $15, so fueling up in Moses Lake before you head out should be sufficient for the entire 71.2-mile trip. Since you will be navigating a mix of roads, including the Coulee Corridor, try to plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to ensure the smoothest transit possible. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to spend more time at your destination rather than behind the wheel.

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 35.6 miles from Moses Lake, WA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28 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 71.2 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 35.6 miles or 52m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 23m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Moses 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 Moses Lake, WA

This is one driving day of about 71.2 miles and 1h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Moses Lake, 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 State Highway 17 for about 28 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 35.6 mi from Moses Lake, WA · 52m into the drive

Downtown Basin City, WA, WA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Basin City, WA

36 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

Basin City, WA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 71.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Basin City, WA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.6 miles from Moses Lake, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pasco, WA

The final approach into Pasco, 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 Pasco, 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

$14.94 one way

$29.89 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.57 $15.61 $31.21
premium $5.77 $16.18 $32.35
diesel $5.64 $15.82 $31.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.4 0 $7.48 $3.42
Efficient EV 17.8 0 $6.23 $2.85
EV Truck/SUV 28.5 0 $9.97 $4.56

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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

Moses Lake, WA

Evening in Moses Lake on Sunday

Local time

6:07 PM

PDT

Current temp

34°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pasco, WA

Evening in Pasco on Sunday

Local time

6:07 PM

PDT

Current temp

39°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

5 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

1h 38m 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 Moses Lake, WA to Pasco, WA covers 71.2 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 17, Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, Coulee Corridor. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.6 miles from Moses Lake, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.94 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 1h 38m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 69 miles (US 395): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Moses Lake, WA to Pasco, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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