Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 7m
Distance
87.8 mi
141 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coulee Dam, WA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Spokane, WA to Coulee Dam, WA covers 87.8 miles and takes about 2h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sunset Highway, WA 174, West Sunset Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.7 miles on Sunset Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Spokane, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 87.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 2h 7m drive with frequent turns across 87.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,277 ft
Total Descent
1,963 ft
Highest Point
2,763 ft
~75.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,614 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.8 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (West Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West Freeway Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto West Freeway Avenue toward I 90 West: Seattle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2 toward US 2 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Enter roundabout onto West Sunset Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset Highway | 39.7 mi | 50m |
| WA 174 | 18.6 mi | 24m |
| West Sunset Highway | 15.3 mi | 24m |
| US 2 | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| I 90 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Coulee Corridor | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East Broadway Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Morgan Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Spokane, WA and Coulee Dam, WA.
Start on South Gorge Trail
Turn right
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
Turn right onto North Monroe Street
Turn slight right onto West Freeway Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto West Freeway Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90; US 2; US 395
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2
Enter roundabout onto US 2
Continue on US 2
Enter roundabout onto West Sunset Highway
Continue on West Sunset Highway
Continue on US 2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2; WA 231
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Continue on US 2
Turn right onto WA 21
Continue on WA 174
Turn slight right onto Spokane Way
Turn right onto Federal Avenue
Continue on WA 155
Continue on WA 155
Continue on WA 155
Turn right onto WA 155
Continue on Roosevelt Way
Arrive at destination
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.
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 19 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 1h 6m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coulee Dam, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Spokane, 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 Spokane, WA
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 2h 7m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.9 mi from Spokane, WA · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Spokane, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Coulee Dam, 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 Coulee Dam, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$18.38 one way
$36.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $19.27 | $38.54 |
| premium | $5.77 | $19.94 | $39.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.39 | $38.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.22 | $4.21 |
| Efficient EV | 22 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Spokane on Saturday
Local time
4:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Light Rain
Destination
Late night in Coulee Dam on Saturday
Local time
4:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
37°F
Creston, WA
44 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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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