Origin
Renton, WA
Evening in Renton on Sunday
Local time
7:16 PM
PDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Renton, WA to Ephrata, WA
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
170.6 mi
275 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 11m
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 Renton to Ephrata covers 170.6 miles, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 17 minutes. Because this is a highway-focused drive, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $36 for fuel to complete the trek. The route relies primarily on I-90, WA 283, and WA 900 to transition you between these two Washington locations. While both points are within the Pacific Coast region, you will experience a distinct shift in landscape as you move inland. It is a straightforward, practical route that prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours.
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
85.3 miles from Renton, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as 98% of this drive takes place on highways. The vast majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 141.5-mile stretch along I-90, which serves as the backbone of your journey. This long, uninterrupted segment defines the personality of the drive, favoring steady cruising over technical maneuvers or frequent turns. You will notice the character of the road change from the more localized WA 900 and WA 283 segments to the heavy-duty interstate flow. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal interference.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 141.5 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near North 3rd Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 170.6 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.7 miles (North 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 3rd Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
WA 900
Take the ramp onto WA 900 toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
8
7.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 90: Seattle, Spokane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward I 90: Seattle, Spokane
7
8.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Renton, WA to Ephrata, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Soap Lake along the way.
Soap Lake
149.9 mi in
|
~2h 49m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 141.5 mi | 2h 35m |
| WA 283 | 20.1 mi | 27m |
| WA 900 | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| North 3rd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Airport Way | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Sunset Boulevard North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Logan Avenue South | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Burke Spur | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 141.5 mi, about 2h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Renton, WA and Ephrata, WA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
71 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn left
98 ft
·
9 sec
4
Turn right onto Rainier Avenue South
520 ft
·
12 sec
·
Rainier Avenue South
5
Turn right onto Airport Way
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Way
6
Continue on Logan Avenue South
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Logan Avenue South
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 3rd Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto WA 900
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto WA 900
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Sunset Boulevard North
10
Take the ramp onto WA 900
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
WA 900
Toward I 405 North, WA 900 East
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 11
Toward I 90: Seattle, Spokane
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 90 East: Spokane
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 90
141 mi
·
2 hr 35 min
·
I 90
Use the none lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward WA 283 North: Ephrata, Soap Lake
15
Continue on WA 281 Spur
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Burke Spur
16
Turn right onto WA 283
20 mi
·
27 min
·
WA 283
17
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue Southwest
43 ft
·
0 sec
·
3rd Avenue Southwest
18
Arrive at destination
3rd Avenue Southwest
Trip Plan
To keep your 3-hour and 17-minute drive stress-free, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though monitoring traffic patterns on I-90 is always a smart move. Keep in mind that the longest stretch of 141.5 miles requires you to be prepared for extended time on the interstate without many deviations. Since you are budgeting $36 for fuel, consider topping off your tank before hitting the I-90 corridor to avoid premium prices at smaller highway-adjacent stations. Staying hydrated and keeping a steady pace will make this transition from Renton to Ephrata feel effortless.
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 85.3 miles from Renton, WA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.5 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.3 miles or 1h 38m 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 38m
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 Renton, 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 Renton, WA
This is one driving day of about 170.6 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Renton, 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 141.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.3 mi from Renton, WA · 1h 38m 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 85.3 miles from Renton, 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 141.5 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
$35.81 one way
$71.61 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $37.39 | $74.78 |
| premium | $5.77 | $38.76 | $77.52 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.90 | $75.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.91 | $8.19 |
| Efficient EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.93 | $6.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.88 | $10.92 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Ephrata, WA
Evening in Ephrata on Sunday
Local time
7:16 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
6 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 17m 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 Renton, WA to Ephrata, WA covers 170.6 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, WA 283, WA 900. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.3 miles from Renton, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.81 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 170.6 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.7 miles (North 3rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (WA 900 / Sunset Boulevard North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.7 miles (WA 900): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Renton, WA to Ephrata, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Soap Lake along the way.
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