Drive Time
45m
Distance
35.5 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Photo: William Jacobs
The drive from Sunnyside, WA to Yakima, WA covers 35.5 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 82, Yakima Valley Highway, East Yakima Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.7 miles on I 82. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.45 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
17.7 miles from Sunnyside, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
This is a 45m highway drive covering 35.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 82 and Yakima Valley Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.7 miles on I 82.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 82 and Yakima Valley Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (Franklin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (South 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (West Sunnyside Road): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto South 6th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward Yakima Avenue, Terrace Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Yakima Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 82 | 29.7 mi | 32m |
| Yakima Valley Highway | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| East Yakima Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South 6th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Franklin Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Sunnyside Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 9th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Sunnyside, WA and Yakima, WA.
Start on South 9th Street
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
Turn right onto South 6th Street
Turn left onto Yakima Valley Highway
Turn left onto West Sunnyside Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 82; US 12
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto East Yakima Avenue
Turn left onto South 1st Street
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 35.5 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.7 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yakima, WA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Sunnyside, 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 Sunnyside, WA
This is one driving day of about 35.5 miles and 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.7 mi from Sunnyside, WA · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.7 miles from Sunnyside, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Yakima, 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 Yakima, WA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.45 one way
$14.90 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.57 | $7.78 | $15.56 |
| premium | $5.77 | $8.07 | $16.13 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.89 | $15.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Sunnyside on Saturday
Local time
3:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
35°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Yakima on Saturday
Local time
3:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
38°F
Hermiston, OR
18 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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