Origin
Seattle, WA
Evening in Seattle on Sunday
Local time
7:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Seattle, WA to Colfax, WA
Drive Time
5h 27m
Distance
271.1 mi
436 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 14m
★
6 AM
5h 27m
8 AM
5h 54m
10 AM
5h 36m
12 PM
5h 34m
3 PM
5h 38m
5 PM
5h 53m
8 PM
5h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Seattle, WA
Josh Hild
Colfax, WA
Abraham Castro
Trip Overview
Driving from Seattle to Colfax is a 271.1-mile journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 27 minutes. This route is perfectly manageable as a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight split. You should budget approximately $57 for fuel to cover the distance across Washington. The trek transitions from the urban Pacific Coast environment of Seattle into the interior of the state. With a blend of major interstates and state highways, the drive offers a straightforward path for travelers looking to cross the region efficiently. It is a practical choice for those who prefer to keep their travel time under six hours.
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
135.5 miles from Seattle, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed interstate travel with state highway navigation. You will spend roughly 50% of your time on highways, utilizing I-90 and WA 26 to bridge the gap between the coast and Colfax. The longest uninterrupted portion of the trip spans 134.3 miles along the Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel corridor, providing a significant stretch of consistent driving. As you move away from the metropolitan start, the road profile shifts, requiring you to remain attentive to changing road types. This combination of varied infrastructure keeps the journey engaging without being overly technical for the average driver.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel is the longest continuous segment at about 134.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 271.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Spring Street
Turn right onto Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 East: Bellevue, Spokane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East: Bellevue, Spokane
6
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 90 / Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Seattle, WA to Colfax, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Pullman along the way.
Pullman
136.8 mi in
|
~2h 33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel | 134.3 mi | 2h 29m |
| WA 26 | 133.3 mi | 2h 50m |
| I 90 | 1 mi | 1m |
| I 5 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Spring Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Walla Walla Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
— 134.3 mi, about 2h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Seattle, WA and Colfax, WA.
1
Start on this road
31 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Madison Street
204 ft
·
11 sec
·
Madison Street
3
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
308 ft
·
14 sec
·
4th Avenue
4
Turn right onto Spring Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Spring Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 5 South: Portland
6
Continue on I 5
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5
Use the left / none lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
147 ft
·
2 sec
·
I 5
Toward I 90 East, I 5 South: Bellevue, Portland
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 90 East: Bellevue, Spokane
9
Merge onto I 90
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
134 mi
·
2 hr 29 min
·
Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward WA 26 East: Othello, Pullman
12
Turn straight onto WA 26
133 mi
·
2 hr 50 min
·
WA 26
13
Continue on WA 26
415 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Walla Walla Highway
14
Merge onto US 195
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
15
Turn left onto East Spring Street
139 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Spring Street
16
Turn right
257 ft
·
18 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure wisely is key to maintaining a smooth pace throughout the 5-hour and 27-minute duration. Since the route allows for only one major stop, ensure you choose a location that maximizes your fuel efficiency and personal rest needs. Given the $57 fuel cost, keep an eye on your gauge during the 134.3-mile stretch on the Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel section, as services may be more limited there than on the interstate portions. Being flexible with your timing helps you avoid potential congestion on the busiest segments of I-90. Always double-check your route map before leaving Seattle to ensure you are comfortable with the transition onto WA 26, which serves as a vital link to Colfax.
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 135.5 miles from Seattle, WA, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.3 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.5 miles or 2h 32m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colfax, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Seattle, 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 Seattle, WA
This is one driving day of about 271.1 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Seattle, 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 Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel for about 134.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 135.5 mi from Seattle, WA · 2h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 135.5 miles from Seattle, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 134.3 miles.
Arriving in Colfax, WA
The final approach into Colfax, 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 Colfax, 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
$56.90 one way
$113.80 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $59.42 | $118.84 |
| premium | $5.77 | $61.60 | $123.19 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $60.23 | $120.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.3 | 1 | $28.47 | $13.01 |
| Efficient EV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.72 | $10.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.4 | 1 | $37.95 | $17.35 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Colfax, WA
Evening in Colfax on Sunday
Local time
7:45 PM
PDT
Current temp
33°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
8 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
5h 27m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Seattle, WA to Colfax, WA covers 271.1 miles and takes about 5h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mount Baker Ridge Tunnel, WA 26, I 90. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 135.5 miles from Seattle, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.90 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 271.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Seattle, WA to Colfax, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Pullman along the way.
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