Origin
Vancouver, WA
Late night in Vancouver on Saturday
Local time
1:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vancouver, WA to Coulee Dam, WA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 56m
Distance
343.2 mi
552 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$72
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 45m
★
6 AM
6h 56m
8 AM
7h 19m
10 AM
7h 4m
12 PM
7h 2m
3 PM
7h 5m
5 PM
7h 18m
8 PM
6h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coulee Dam, WA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Vancouver, WA to Coulee Dam, WA covers 343.2 miles and takes about 6h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 5 South, WA 14 East, Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $71.83 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
171.6 miles from Vancouver, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 28m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 56m. Total distance: 343.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 56m drive with frequent turns across 343.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 South is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 56m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Vancouver, WA to Coulee Dam, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 South | — | — |
| WA 14 East | — | — |
| Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway | — | — |
| I 205 | — | — |
| I 205 South | — | — |
| Glenn L | — | — |
| I 84 East | — | — |
| Columbia River Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 5 South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vancouver, WA and Coulee Dam, WA.
1
Start on East Fourth Plain Boulevard
328 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Fourth Plain Boulevard
2
Take the ramp slight right toward I 5 South: Portland
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
I 5 South: Portland
3
Merge slight left
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
4
Take the exit slight right toward WA 14 East: Camas
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 14 East: Camas
5
Continue on Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 205: Salem, Seattle
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 205: Salem, Seattle
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 205 South: Salem
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 205 South: Salem
8
Merge slight left onto Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84 East, US 30 East: The Dalles
10
Continue on Columbia River Highway
95 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
Columbia River Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward US 97: Yakima, Bend
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 97: Yakima, Bend
12
Turn left onto Sherman Highway
505 ft
·
9 sec
·
Sherman Highway
13
Continue on Sam Hill Memorial Bridge
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Sam Hill Memorial Bridge
14
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Lewis and Clark Trail Highway
15
Take the exit slight right
8.7 mi
·
10 min
16
Continue straight
50 mi
·
58 min
17
Continue on South Elm Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Elm Street
18
Continue on Buena Way
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Buena Way
19
Continue on Evergreen Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Evergreen Highway
20
Continue on Buena Road
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Buena Road
21
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
22
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
20 min
23
Continue straight
31 mi
·
33 min
24
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East: Vantage, Spokane
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 90 East: Vantage, Spokane
25
Merge slight left
40 mi
·
42 min
26
Take the exit slight right toward WA 283 North: Ephrata, Soap Lake
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
WA 283 North: Ephrata, Soap Lake
27
Continue on Burke Spur
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Burke Spur
28
Turn right
20 mi
·
26 min
29
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southwest
394 ft
·
14 sec
·
5th Avenue Southwest
30
Turn left onto Alder Street Southwest
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Alder Street Southwest
31
Continue on Alder Street Northwest
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Alder Street Northwest
32
Turn right
3.7 mi
·
5 min
33
Turn left
21 mi
·
29 min
34
At the end of the road, turn right onto Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Coulee Corridor / Sunset Highway
35
Continue on Coulee Boulevard
25 mi
·
32 min
·
Coulee Boulevard
36
Continue on Grand Coulee Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Grand Coulee Avenue
37
Continue on Midway Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Midway Avenue
38
Continue on Coulee Corridor
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Coulee Corridor
39
Continue on State Route 155
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
State Route 155
40
Continue on Columbia Avenue
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Columbia Avenue
41
Turn right onto State Highway 155
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
State Highway 155
42
Continue on Roosevelt Way
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Roosevelt Way
43
Arrive at your 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 171.6 miles from Vancouver, WA, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
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 76 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 171.6 miles or 3h 28m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coulee Dam, WA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Vancouver, 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 Vancouver, WA
This is one driving day of about 343.2 miles and 6h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Vancouver, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 171.6 mi from Vancouver, WA · 3h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 171.6 miles from Vancouver, WA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Coulee Dam, WA
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$71.83 one way
$143.66 round trip
$5.32/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.58 | $75.33 | $150.66 |
| premium | $5.77 | $77.94 | $155.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.77 | $151.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$72
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$97–$122
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103 | 1 | $36.04 | $16.47 |
| Efficient EV | 85.8 | 0 | $30.03 | $13.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.3 | 1 | $48.05 | $21.96 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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
Coulee Dam, WA
Late night in Coulee Dam on Saturday
Local time
1:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°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
2 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
6h 56m 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 Vancouver, WA to Coulee Dam, WA covers 343.2 miles and takes about 6h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5 South, WA 14 East, Southeast Lewis and Clark Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 171.6 miles from Vancouver, WA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $71.83 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 56m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Vancouver, WA to Coulee Dam, WA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Vancouver, WA to Coulee Dam, WA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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