The drive from Vancouver, WA to Lea Hill, WA covers 148.7 miles and takes about 2h 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, State Route 18, Lea Hill Road Southeast for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 139.9 miles on I 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.12 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.3 miles from Vancouver, WA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 148.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 56m highway drive covering 148.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 5 and State Route 18. The longest continuous stretch is about 139.9 miles on I 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 139.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 and State Route 18. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 131.9 miles in near I 5.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 148.7 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 131.9 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
131.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
140.1 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot 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 142A
Toward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot Reservat...
7
144.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward WA 164 East: Auburn Way, Enumclaw
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.
Toward WA 164 East: Auburn Way, Enumclaw
6
144.6 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Auburn Way
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Auburn Way
6
148.2 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|124th Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto 124th Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Vancouver, WA to Lea Hill, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Muckleshoot Reservation along the way.
Muckleshoot Reservation
140.1 mi in|~2h 40m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 5
139.9 mi
2h 39m
State Route 18
3.8 mi
4m
Lea Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi
1m
Southeast 312th Street
0.8 mi
1m
4th Street Southeast
0.6 mi
1m
M Street Northeast
0.5 mi
1m
8th Street Northeast
0.4 mi
<1m
124th Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 5
— 139.9 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vancouver, WA and Lea Hill, WA.
1
Start on East Fourth Plain Boulevard
100 ft·9 sec·East Fourth Plain Boulevard
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 5 North: Seattle
3
Merge onto I 5
132 mi·2 hr 29 min·I 5
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
8.2 mi·10 min·I 5
Use the slight right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 142AToward WA 18 East: Auburn, Muckleshoot ReservationUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto WA 18
3.8 mi·4 min·State Route 18
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward WA 164 East: Auburn Way, EnumclawUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
251 ft·6 sec
Toward Auburn Way
9
Turn slight right onto WA 164
0.1 mi·21 sec·Auburn Way South
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto 4th Street Southeast
0.6 mi·1 min·4th Street Southeast
11
At end of road, turn left onto M Street Southeast
0.2 mi·33 sec·M Street Southeast
12
Continue on M Street Northeast
0.5 mi·1 min·M Street Northeast
13
Turn right onto 8th Street Northeast
0.4 mi·52 sec·8th Street Northeast
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on Southeast 320th Street
432 ft·10 sec·Southeast 320th Street
15
Continue on Lea Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi·1 min·Lea Hill Road Southeast
16
Continue on Southeast 312th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Southeast 312th Street
17
Turn left onto 124th Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi·45 sec·124th Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Southeast 307th Place
0.2 mi·48 sec·Southeast 307th Place
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.3 miles from Vancouver, WA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.9 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.3 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lea Hill, 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 148.7 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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.
The longest stretch is on I 5 for about 139.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.3 mi from Vancouver, WA
· 1h 24m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.12 one way
$62.24 round trip
$5.32/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.58
$32.64
$65.28
premium
$5.77
$33.77
$67.54
diesel
$5.61
$32.83
$65.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.6
0
$15.61
$7.14
Efficient EV
37.2
0
$13.01
$5.95
EV Truck/SUV
59.5
0
$20.82
$9.52
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Vancouver, WA
Evening
in Vancouver on Thursday
Local time
6:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lea Hill, WA
Evening
in Lea Hill on Thursday
Local time
6:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
18 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
2h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Lea Hill, WA covers 148.7 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 5, State Route 18, Lea Hill Road Southeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.3 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 $31.12 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 148.7 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 131.9 miles (I 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Vancouver, WA to Lea Hill, WA, road signs begin pointing toward Muckleshoot Reservation along the way.
