Origin
Spokane Valley, WA
Afternoon in Spokane Valley on Monday
Local time
12:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spokane Valley, WA to La Center, WA
Drive Time
7h 8m
Distance
379.3 mi
610 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
15 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 57m
★
6 AM
7h 8m
8 AM
7h 30m
10 AM
7h 16m
12 PM
7h 14m
3 PM
7h 17m
5 PM
7h 29m
8 PM
7h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Center, WA
Julio Lopez
Trip Overview
The drive from Spokane Valley, WA to La Center, WA covers 379.3 miles and takes about 7h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Columbia River Highway, Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, I 90 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 158.3 miles on Columbia River Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $79.61 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.6 miles from Spokane Valley, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 8m drive with frequent turns across 379.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Columbia River Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 158.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Montgomery Avenue.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 379.3 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: at 0.2 miles (East Montgomery Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.4 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 353.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Montgomery Avenue
Turn left onto East Montgomery Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
68.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway toward Ritzville, Pasco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
8
353.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
8
377 mi into trip
|
~7h 3m in
Take the exit toward La Center, Cowlitz Reservation
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16
Toward La Center, Cowlitz Reservation
7
377.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward La Center, Paradise Point State Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward La Center, Paradise Point State Park
Towns Along This Route
Between Spokane Valley, WA and La Center, WA, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport and Seattle - among others.
Ritzville
68.4 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via US 395
Pasco
68.4 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via US 395
Pendleton
142.1 mi in
|
~2h 35m
|
via US 395
Columbia Basin College
144.5 mi in
|
~2h 39m
|
via US 395
Tri Cities Airport
144.5 mi in
|
~2h 39m
|
via US 395
Seattle
353 mi in
|
~6h 34m
Portland Airport
353 mi in
|
~6h 34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River Highway | 158.3 mi | 2h 56m |
| Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway | 73.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 90 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| Lewis and Clark Trail Highway | 33.4 mi | 37m |
| I 205 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| Spokane Valley Freeway | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| Old Oregon Trail Highway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| I 5 | 8.6 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia River Highway
— 158.3 mi, about 2h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spokane Valley, WA and La Center, WA.
1
Start on WA 27
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Pines Road
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto East Montgomery Avenue
155 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Montgomery Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
4
Merge onto I 90
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Spokane Valley Freeway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; US 395
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 90; US 395
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
74 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway
Toward Ritzville, Pasco
7
Take the exit onto US 395
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 395
Toward I 182 West, US 395 South: Richland, Pendleton
8
Merge onto I 182; US 12; US 395
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lewis and Clark Trail
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 395
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Lewis and Clark Trail
Toward US 395: Kennewick, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport
10
Continue on US 395
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North US 395
11
Continue on US 395
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 84 West: Portland
13
Merge onto I 84; US 30
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Old Oregon Trail Highway
14
Continue on I 84; US 30
158 mi
·
2 hr 56 min
·
Columbia River Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 9
Toward I 205: Salem, Seattle, Portland Airport
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 205 North: Seattle, Portland Airport
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 205
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 205
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 5
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 16
Toward La Center, Cowlitz Reservation
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
348 ft
·
8 sec
Toward La Center, Paradise Point State Park
21
Turn straight onto Northwest La Center Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest La Center Road
22
Continue on Northwest Pacific Highway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Northwest Pacific Highway
23
Enter roundabout onto West 4th Street
24 ft
·
0 sec
·
West 4th Street
24
Continue on West 4th Street
522 ft
·
19 sec
·
West 4th Street
25
Turn right
58 ft
·
4 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.6 miles from Spokane Valley, WA, or about 3h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.3 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 83 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.6 miles or 3h 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 5h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Center, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Spokane Valley, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Spokane Valley, WA
This is one driving day of about 379.3 miles and 7h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Spokane Valley, WA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Columbia River Highway for about 158.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 189.6 mi from Spokane Valley, WA · 3h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
190 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 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 189.6 miles from Spokane Valley, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Columbia River Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 158.3 miles.
Arriving in La Center, WA
The final approach into La Center, 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 La Center, 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
$79.61 one way
$159.22 round trip
$5.33/gal
25.4 MPG avg
133 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $83.13 | $166.26 |
| premium | $5.77 | $86.18 | $172.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $84.27 | $168.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
15 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Walmart 2539 (Spokane Valley, WA)
Spokane Valley, WA
Electrify America
8 DCFC
Spokane, WA
Spokane Valley, WA
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE
6 DCFC
2409 AutoNation Acura Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Blink Network
6 DCFC
Kroger-Fred Meyer 657 (Spokane, WA)
Spokane, WA
Electrify America
6 DCFC
West Valley School
8900 E. Buckeye Ave., WA
EV Connect
2 DCFC
Avista - Moran Prairie STA DCFC
Spokane, WA
FLO
2 DCFC
The Hive
Spokane, WA
EV Connect
2 DCFC
North East Community Center
Spokane, WA
EV Connect
2 DCFC
EV Connect: 6
FLO: 4
Electrify America: 2
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1
Blink Network: 1
Non-Networked: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.8 | 1 | $39.83 | $18.21 |
| Efficient EV | 94.8 | 1 | $33.19 | $15.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 151.7 | 1 | $53.10 | $24.28 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Destination
La Center, WA
Afternoon in La Center on Monday
Local time
12:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
31°F
Madras, OR
190 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
23 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
7h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Spokane Valley, WA to La Center, WA covers 379.3 miles and takes about 7h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Columbia River Highway, Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway, I 90. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 189.6 miles from Spokane Valley, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $79.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks 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 17 significant decision points across 379.3 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: at 0.2 miles (East Montgomery Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.4 miles (US 395 / Thomas S. Foley Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 353.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Spokane Valley, WA and La Center, WA, road signs point toward Ritzville, Pasco, Pendleton, Columbia Basin College, Tri Cities Airport and Seattle - among others.
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